Best Subaru Forester All Terrain Tires

The Subaru Forester is a great all-around car that can handle both city roads and off-road driving well. With the right set of tires, you can take your Forester just about anywhere. I use my car mostly for commuting to work, but I love going out off-roading on weekends. I’ll admit that my factory touring tires just didn’t work for me!

You shouldn’t have any problems driving your Subaru Forester on the highway or in the city using the factory tires. But if want to take it off-road occasionally or even regularly, you will want a set of all terrains. The best Subaru Forester all terrain tires will help you get around on both pavement and rugged terrains (even snowy or icy roads) without sacrificing a lot of performance in either environment.

Here is a quick look at our top picks for the best Subaru Forester All Terrain Tires.

• Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S
• BF Goodrich A/T K02
• Pirelli Scorpion AT Plus
• Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail
• Toyo Open Country A/T
• Geolandar A/T

What Is an All-Terrain Tire?

All-terrain tires are a great compromise between off-road and street tires. Simply put, they combine the best features of both types of tyres in terms of rubber mix and tread design. So, they offer less off-road performance than muds, but more off-roading ability than your average A/S tire. A/T tires perform well on snow and ice but don’t offer the same traction as dedicated winter tires do.

Also, all-terrain tires have large tread patterns and sipping and they feature larger tread blocks, and the deep grooves between the treads are help channel water and debris away from the tire. The tough sidewalls also offer additional protection against punctures during off-road use. The best Subaru Forester all terrain tires have minimal road noise and a good tread-life warranty.

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Are all terrain tires worth it?

You’ll want all-terrain tires if you frequently drive on different road types and conditions. They are the best choice for Subaru Forester owners who don’t want to buy separate tires for each condition and want to go off-road without sacrificing comfort on the road.

But there are drawbacks: they have greater rolling resistance than highway tires, so installing all terrain tires on Subaru Forester may slightly decrease its fuel economy. Plus, the all-terrains could be road-noisier than, say, all seasons, and more expensive than standard highway tires.

Even so, many drivers say that getting all terrains for their Subaru Forester is worth it because of the freedom to drive both on-road and off-road any time you want. And when it comes to durability, grip and off-road performance, all terrains beat out street tires. But remember: no tire is perfect for every situation.  How you plan to use your car and how much of a compromise you’re willing to make will determine if Subaru Forester all-terrains are right for you.

The Best All-Terrain Tires for Subaru Forester

Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S

If you’re looking for an all-terrain tire that can handle off-roading while still maintaining good on-road performance, the Discoverer AT3 is a great pick. The off-road tire for Subaru Forester features a rugged tread design with deep sipes, which add that extra biting edges to the tread blocks to create better traction on dirt roads or gravel. These tires track straight, grip predictably, and clear muck off themselves well.

And with a three-peak mountain snowflake rating (3PMSF), the Subaru Forester all terrain tire offers confident snow traction. The tire has solid handling and cornering even in wet conditions, and the silica-based tread compound and dual-layer construction of polyester and nylon add stability, durability, and responsiveness to this Subaru Forester all terrain tires.

However, like most all terrains, they do come with some road noise, though buyers report that it’s minimal compared to other brands. But, if you’re looking for more traction than a standard all-terrain tire can provide (especially for serious off-roading), this might not be the tire for you.

Specs

• Speed Rating: H
• Treadwear warranty: 65000
• Load capacity: 1874 Pounds
• Sizes:15-22
• Mountain snowflake rating (3PMSF)

Pirelli Scorpion AT Plus Subaru all terrain tires

Motorists like this tire’s aggressive, innovative tread design with sharp edges and high sipes that power through mud, rocks, grass, and sand. The tire essentially self-cleans – it moves stones, mud, and debris from its grooves. Its shoulder tread blocks are large, stable for better steering response, and improved directional stability. Plus, the traction is great even in heavy rains.

These Subaru Forester’s all terrain tires are also great for drivers who regularly encounter snowy or icy roads during the colder months of the year- it is severe snow service rated (3 Peak Mountain Snowflake). Large shoulder blocks and high void ratio help this all terrain tires for the Subaru Forester perform well in wintry conditions. We also like its aggressive-looking sidewall that will make your Subie will look ruggedly attractive.

Specs

• Speed Rating: H
• Treadwear warranty: 50000
• Severe snow service rated

You may also like: Michelin LTX A/T 2, a similarly premium all terrain tire with a solid on and off road performance and a extended 60,000-mile warranty

Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail

If you want a tire that can keep up with your Subaru Forester—whether it’s on or off the road—then these all terrains are worth considering. They combine rugged capabilities for off-road driving, good on-road manners, and an aggressive beefy look to deliver one of the best all-terrain tires for Subaru Forester.

To start with, Wildpeak A/T Trail offers impressive traction in wet, dry, and even snowy conditions (rated three-peak mountain snowflake 3PMSF). That means it’ll have no problem keeping you safe when you hit patches of ice or slippery roads during the winter months. And, its 2-ply polyester construction and rugged upper sidewall are designed to protect against sticks, rocks, and gravel on dirt roads, forest roads, and other terrains you may encounter off-road.

That’s not all. The Subaru Forester A/Ts’ optimized tread compound means it handles great year-round. And because it comes with a 65,000-mile tread life warranty, you can be sure this AT will last a long time.

Specs:

• ‍Max Load – 1709 Pounds
• Speed Rating – H
• 65,000-mile tread life warranty
• Mountain snowflake rating 3PMSF

BF Goodrich K02 Subaru Forester Off Road Tires

If you plan on exploring more trails than highways, these are the perfect all terrain tires for your Subaru Forester. The tire tread is rugged enough to handle tough off-road conditions while still delivering impressive on-road performance. The sidewall is steel-reinforced to make it less susceptible to tears and bruises, and it features an aggressive design that looks great on your Forester.

While they excel off-road, these Subaru Forester off road tires also works well for the daily pavement commute, offering a good combination of comfort, stability, traction, and cornering ability.

Plus, the 3PMSF symbol means your new Subaru all terrain tires are optimized for light snow driving. So rather than buy summer and winter tires, get the all-year-round KO2s. However, the tires are a tad heavy and as they age, they do get somewhat noisy while driving on the street.

These are the stock all-terrain tires for the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and the Ford F-150 Raptor.

Specs

• 50,000-mile treadwear warranty
• Mountain snowflake rating (3PMSF)

You might also like: Gen Grabber AT2, a year-round utility tire that has all-terrain capabilities. It’s especially good on snowy and icy roads too, because its tread design can accommodate optional metal studs for added traction.

Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015

The Geolander offers unmatched off-road performance, excellent traction in light snow as well as a comfortable and smooth ride on the highway. Offroad, these Subaru Forester all-terrain tires are a beast; you can take your car to explore trails and dirt roads without worrying about getting stuck in mud or sliding on loose gravel. They’re rated excellent for treadwear and comfort performance, and they’re quiet and smooth enough for daily driving.

Beyond that, they have fantastic dry and wet performance, excellent braking and cornering —and almost no hydroplaning! Plus, the silica tread compound provides better traction in wet conditions. They are rated 3PMSF, meaning you can drive on 6″ of snow on the ground.

Overall, if you regularly drive off-road but still need an on-road tire, then these Geolandar G015 on-/off-road all-terrain tires are a great option. While its sidewall isn’t as reinforced as other off-road tires, it still provides good protection against punctures from sharp rocks or debris. With correct psi tire pressures for the different terrains, this Subaru Forester off road tires will excel wherever you may go.

These are the stock all terrain tires for the Subaru Outback Wilderness. 

Specs

• Speed Rating: V
• Treadwear warranty: 60000
• Mountain snowflake rating (3PMSF)

Toyo Open Country A/T3 All terrain Tyre for Subaru Forester

This tire is an upgrade of the Toyo A/T 2, and it features a new tread compound and design which allows for impressive on and off-road performance.

To start with, the staggered shoulder lugs not only give the A/T its distinctive rugged look, but also enhance off-road traction with added biting edges. Inside the tire are twin steel belts for additional durability,  improved puncture resistance and load carrying capabilities. (65,000 tread life warranty).

And, while they are not rated for snow or mud, they do offer good handling in light snow or mud, thanks to the 3D multi-wave sipes on the treads that offer tight traction. On the road, the Subaru all terrain tire also displays significant improvement in wet and dry braking and handling and offers a smooth, comfortable ride.

Specs

• Speed Rating: T
• Treadwear warranty: 65000
• Load capacity: 1874 Pounds
• Mountain snowflake rating (3PMSF)

Continental Terrain Contact all terrain tires for Subaru Forester

This tire leans more towards street driving and is a good choice for Subaru Forester owners who go off-roading occasionally in moderate off-road terrains. While it delivers better traction, better braking, and better stability on hard-packed surfaces than touring tires, it is not for regular use on extreme off-road terrains.

The +Silane technology featured in the tread compound coupled with the sipes and traction grooves gives this Subaru Forester all terrain tire an impressive wet and dry road performance as well as good handling and braking.  And, the all-terrain tire delivers usable traction in light snowy conditions but is not great in heavy snow.

These tires have minimal on-road trade-offs – they are pretty quiet on the road. With this tire, you will enjoy a comfortable on-road ride, combined with reliable performance on gravel, dirt, grass, and other off-road terrains. Continental Terrain Contact A/T comes with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty.

Specs

• 60,000-mile treadwear warranty
• Load Capacity- 1708.6 Pounds
• Speed Rating – H

You may also like: Michelin LTX A/T 2 which is quite similar to the Continental Terrain Contact A/T. Its solid on and off-road performance makes it one of the best all terrain tires for the Subaru Outback. It has an extended 60,000-mile warranty.

Hankook Dynapro AT2 all terrain tires for Subaru Forester

The Dynapro offers safe and comfortable on-road driving, a decent off-road performance, and a solid wet or wintry conditions performance. A multi-directional tread design delivers good traction in various conditions like loose sediment, mud, gravel, and snow while also bettering tire comfort characteristics like road noise.

The large tread blocks also come with ejection features similar to what you’d find with a mud-terrain tire. It also features the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol (3PMSF), but not for heavy wintry conditions. Plus, the tread compound makes this tire durable, thanks to the increased cut and chip resistance. The all terrain tire for Subaru Forester also offers good on-road capabilities in terms of comfort, road noise, and fuel economy, as well as dry and wet traction.

The Dynapro all terrains are known best for their durable design and long lifespan – a whooping 85,000-mile projected tread life- which is much more than the average 50-60k miles for all terrains.

Specs

• Speed Rating-‎S
• Rated the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol (3PMSF)
• 60,000 Mileage Warranty

Things to consider When Choosing the Best All-Terrain Tires for Subaru Forester

Before you settle on the best all terrain tire for your Subaru Forester, here are a couple of things you should look out for.

First, consider the tire size and weight and how these might affect your car’s performance. Tires that are too large can increase strain on the vehicle chassis and decrease fuel efficiency, so it it’s a good idea to stay as close to the stock size as possible. Next, consider the weight of your Subaru Outback all terrain tires. Heavy tires may not be the best for a daily on-road commute – such tires will probably take a toll on your on road performance and fuel economy. You’re better off with light to medium weight Subaru Forest all terrain like the Cooper Discoverer AT3.

Your best bet is to look for tires with optimized tread compounds. You want something that will provide better braking and handling on wet or dry pavement, but is also cut-and-chip resistance with a good off-road grip. Look for tires with deeper grooves, and maybe even bigger void areas—that’ll give you the kind of surface coverage you need to be able to handle rocky terrain without slipping.

When it comes to sidewall construction, you’re looking for thicker rubber and a harder polyester ply—that’ll give you more puncture resistance from rocks and sticks.

Before you settle on your new all terrain Subaru Forester tires, pay attention to the snowflake symbol on the side wall. If it’s present, you’ll know that your tires rated for excellent traction in winter conditions. Finally, a lower treadwear rating means you’ll likely need new tires sooner. An average of 50000 to 60000 miles is preferable.

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