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Best Tires for the Subaru Forester 2.0 XT

Subaru Forester 2.0 XT drivers have left 34 tire reviews on Tire Reviews, covering 412,067 miles of real world driving. Every tire they rated is ranked below, so you can see what actually works on this car.

This page covers the Subaru Forester 2.0 XT specifically. For the full picture, the Subaru Forester page combines 163 reviews from every variant. All Subaru Forester reviews →

  • 34owner reviews
  • 412,067 milescovered on them
  • 30different tires rated
  • 86%average tire score
Most fitted size - 7 reviews 215/60 R16 To scale, mm
Ø 664 215 129 16" 129 All 215/60 R16 data →

The quick answer

The quick answer - Subaru Forester 2.0 XT
Season Owners' pick Owner rating Our category test
Summer Bridgestone Dueler HL 400 6.6 84% from 4 reviews Best Summer Tires

Highest weighted owner score from Subaru Forester 2.0 XT drivers. Full rankings and the evidence behind them below.

The best rated tires for the Subaru Forester 2.0 XT

Rated only by drivers of this car. Each tire needs at least 3 reviews from the Subaru Forester 2.0 XT to be ranked; the order weights a tire's score by how many reviews back it, so one glowing review cannot top a table.

Summer tires

The highest rated tire in the Summer category for the Subaru Forester 2.0 XT is the Bridgestone Dueler HL 400 - 84% from 4 owner reviews across 89,033 miles.

Summer tires ranked by Subaru Forester 2.0 XT owner rating
# Tire Owner rating Reviews Distance reviewed TR Score
1 Bridgestone Dueler HL 400 84% 4 89,033 miles 6.6

Want test data as well as owner opinion? Best Summer Tires →

TR Score is the tire's overall Tire Reviews rating out of 10, built from independent test results and every owner review of that tire - not just the reviews from this car. The owner rating column is this car only.

The best rated tires that fit the Subaru Forester 2.0 XT

The rankings above can only speak for tires a Subaru Forester 2.0 XT driver has already reviewed. These are the highest rated tires we hold that are actually manufactured in the sizes these drivers run - 215/60 R16, 225/55 R18, 225/55 R16 and 235/55 R18 - whether or not anyone here has fitted them yet. They are ranked on the TR Score, which is built from independent test results and every owner review of that tire.

Summer tires

Our highest rated tire in the Summer category, in this car's sizes, is the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6, at 9.7 out of 10.

Highest rated Summer tires made in Subaru Forester 2.0 XT sizes
# Tire TR Score Made in Subaru Forester 2.0 XT reviews
1 Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 9.7 225/55 R18, 235/55 R18 Be the first →
2 Continental PremiumContact 7 9.5 All your sizes Be the first →
3 Falken ZIEX ZE320 9.4 All your sizes Be the first →
4 Pirelli Cinturato C3 9.4 225/55 R18, 235/55 R18 Be the first →
5 Hankook Ventus Evo 9.4 225/55 R18 Be the first →
6 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 9.3 215/60 R16 Be the first →

Want test data as well as owner opinion? Best Summer Tires →

All Season tires

No Subaru Forester 2.0 XT driver has reviewed a tire in the All Season category yet. Of the ones made in this car's sizes, the Hankook iON FlexClimate is our highest rated, at 9.8 out of 10.

Highest rated All Season tires made in Subaru Forester 2.0 XT sizes
# Tire TR Score Made in Subaru Forester 2.0 XT reviews
1 Hankook iON FlexClimate 9.8 225/55 R18 Be the first →
2 Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 9.6 All your sizes Be the first →
3 Continental AllSeasonContact 2 9.5 All your sizes Be the first →
4 BFGoodrich Advantage All Season 9.5 215/60 R16, 225/55 R18, 225/55 R16 Be the first →
5 Michelin CrossClimate 3 9.5 225/55 R18, 235/55 R18 Be the first →
6 Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3 9.4 All your sizes Be the first →

Want test data as well as owner opinion? Best All Season Tires → Test winner: Goodyear Vector All Season 4

Winter tires

No Subaru Forester 2.0 XT driver has reviewed a tire in the Winter category yet. Of the ones made in this car's sizes, the Hankook Winter I*cept Evo 4 is our highest rated, at 9.6 out of 10.

Highest rated Winter tires made in Subaru Forester 2.0 XT sizes
# Tire TR Score Made in Subaru Forester 2.0 XT reviews
1 Hankook Winter I*cept Evo 4 9.6 225/55 R18 Be the first →
2 Michelin Alpin 7 9.5 All your sizes Be the first →
3 Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 9.5 215/60 R16, 225/55 R18, 235/55 R18 Be the first →
4 Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 9.5 225/55 R18, 235/55 R18 Be the first →
5 Bridgestone Blizzak 6 9.4 All your sizes Be the first →
6 Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 9.4 215/60 R16, 225/55 R18, 235/55 R18 Be the first →

Want test data as well as owner opinion? Best Winter Tires → Test winner: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3

All Weather tires

No Subaru Forester 2.0 XT driver has reviewed a tire in the All Weather category yet. Of the ones made in this car's sizes, the Vredestein Quatrac is our highest rated, at 9.5 out of 10.

Highest rated All Weather tires made in Subaru Forester 2.0 XT sizes
# Tire TR Score Made in Subaru Forester 2.0 XT reviews
1 Vredestein Quatrac 9.5 215/60 R16, 225/55 R16 Be the first →
2 BFGoodrich Advantage SUV All Season 8.5 225/55 R18, 235/55 R18 Be the first →
3 Vredestein Quatrac Pro EV 8.3 225/55 R18 Be the first →
4 Vredestein Quatrac Pro+ 8.1 225/55 R18, 235/55 R18 Be the first →

Want test data as well as owner opinion? Best All Weather Tires →

Fitment comes from each tire's manufactured size list, and the sizes are the ones drivers reported when they reviewed. Check the size, load index and speed rating on your own doorplate before buying - a size a previous owner ran is not always the size your car left the factory on.

Every tire reviewed on the Subaru Forester 2.0 XT

The complete record, including discontinued tires and tires with too few reviews to rank, ordered by the amount of evidence. A further 28 tires have a single review each; they count toward the totals but are not listed.

All tires reviewed by Subaru Forester 2.0 XT drivers
Tire Season Owner rating Reviews Distance reviewed
Bridgestone Dueler HL 400 Summer 84% 4 89,033 miles
Michelin Latitude Sport 3 Replaced by Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV Summer 84% 2 47,000 miles

Tire sizes Subaru Forester 2.0 XT drivers run

The sizes fitted in the reviews on this page. Each one links to the top rated tires in that size, across every car.

What Subaru Forester 2.0 XT drivers say

The most recent owner reviews from this car, in their own words.

73%
Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 225-55-18 Subaru Forester 2.0 XT 14,000 miles March 27, 2026
Quiet tire, good dry and very good wet handling even in deep water.
Road impacts are transmitted harshly, maybe because it's XL rated, it was the only option available in 235/55R18 size.
My mistake, I won't buy XL again for my Subaru Forester.
83%
Pirelli Scorpion Verde 225-60-15- Subaru Forester 2.0 XT 4,000 miles October 27, 2024
I change from Bridgestone Dueler (V speedrate) and these tires feel more gummy, less handling control feeling.
Because of the higher price than Dueler, I will not buy again
80%
Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE004 235-50-18- Subaru Forester 2.0 XT 8,000 miles April 10, 2023
Any car is a sports car if you're daring enough. Replaced my Potenza S007As with these as they were worn and I couldn't wait for stock to arrive since the distributer couldn't give me an estimated time. So I got this as its the next closest thing. Price to performance ratio is good considering how cheap I got the set for though its made in Indonesia not Japan like the S007A. Handles well at the limit of cornering and I still feel there's more to give as they haven't started to really audibly protest yet. Rapid changes in direction feel responsive and planted despite the 50 aspect ratio, it doesn't feel like it's "tripping over itself" thanks to the reinforced shoulder blocks and sidewall. 10/10 will buy again if my first choice isn't available when the time comes.
100%
Bridgestone Dueler HL 400 225-55-18- Subaru Forester 2.0 XT 54,000 miles May 3, 2022
Simply unbelievable. No wonder Subaru fitted them as OE. Now on 54,000 miles from new and the longest lasting tire I have ever owned. Thinking about slowly ordering the same again. In the beast from the east in March 2018 they were magnificent on the 4X4. Look no further. I don’t work for any motor company just tell you my experience.
72%
Nokian WR G4 SUV -45-17- Subaru Forester 2.0 XT 33 miles August 26, 2021
I love these tires in the snow, which was my top priority. However, I am being told that they need to be replaced ---and it's only been 33K mi! Tread is worn nearly to the bar on two of them. I have had the tires rotated on every other oil change as directed by Subaru (2014 Forester XT) ...so, not sure what's up with that. Would definitely buy again IF they lasted longer, but at such low mileage, it doesn't seem worth it. UGH
98%
Minerva Eco Stud 225-60-17- Subaru Forester 2.0 XT November 2, 2020
Bought my first set in 2014. As well as local driving they have been through 2 drives across Canada to the mountains of British Columbia from South Ontario. I have loved these S+M studdable snow tires start to finish, though as I live in Southern Ontario I have never had them studded. They were originally put on my 2014 Forester, then my 2017. My husband thought I might make it through another winter, but I have chosen to replace them now. Purchased the exact same tires!
93%
Bridgestone Adrenalin RE003 225-55-16- Subaru Forester 2.0 XT 20,000 miles January 8, 2020
These really transformed my car! Have had 4 different brands/models on my Forester JDM XT Manual (owned car for 100K Miles, 160K Kilometers) including Goodyear, Falken, Bridgestone (TZ001) and Nitto. No comparison, these grip way beyond any kind of road driving - at the limit they let you know and still have plenty of grip! They are noisier than the other tires though not annoying even on long trips.

Really inspire confidence even in the wet, I've never had any thought they could let go. Almost impossible to get them squealing, unlike other tires on this car when it was hard to avoid. Can keep with with any traffic easily even on twisty and bumpy NZ roads.

Also - they look awesome and make the relatively high 55 profile (16") somehow looker lower... really makes the car look purposeful. Have found they wear a little faster being a 4WD turbo, but still acceptable for the price.

Overall I will never use a different tire!
91%
Bridgestone Dueler HL 400 225-55-18-V Subaru Forester 2.0 XT 33 miles December 9, 2019
Used on a Subaru Forester XT. I have completed 33,000 trouble free miles on these tires. I have found them to be extremely good in both wet and dry conditions, on all types of roads from country lanes to long distance motorway trips. Low road noise and exceptional wear. I am replacing them at 35,000 miles just to give extra tread during the winter months as we live on the rural Somerset/Dorset border and plenty of mud and ice in the winter. I have just ordered a set of exactly the same tires, so obviously I am really impressed.
81%
Continental UltraContact UC6 225-55-18-H Subaru Forester 2.0 XT August 3, 2019
his was a year decision in waiting and making. Today I am changing the Bridgestone Dueller HL400 stock tires (6 years, only 23k km, 40% tread left. Pitting on the tire shoulder, time to go) to Continental UC6 SUV (manufacture week 24 and 25 of 2019).
.
The tread pattern differences is significant and obviously the Continental has an advantage of being more recently launched and researched, which include all the bells and whistles of tire technology by Continental.
.
This UC6 SUV is not the same as the UC6 as the SUV was built with harder sidewalk for better stability. My experience with the stock tires was “too soft” and you can feel the car floating while taking corners and even on the straight at cruising speed. .
I was looking for the 225/55/R18 size which is not a size you find easily. So choices like Pirelli Scorpion Verde, none from Goodyear, and the Bridgestone (Japan) is hard to find (which, why would I want to get back the stick tire, right?). The other option was Yokohama RV02, not too great of wear and review.
.
Decided this over Michelin Primacy4 as reading feedback from tirereview.co.uk doesn't sound too convincing (not even close to as the Primacy4 is not meant for SUV (Car and Van). Was hoping for Michelin Pilot Sports 4 SUV, or PS4 SUV to be available in market, despite it being launched earlier this year, no luck even after calling Michelin Malaysia.
.
With this Forester XT capable to churn 245hp and 350Nm torque, it be fun to see how this tire hold up on the rod, wet and dry. Wait for both short and long term review.
80%
Bridgestone Dueler HL 400 225-55-18- Subaru Forester 2.0 XT 15,000 miles June 7, 2019
Tire came standard in the Subaru Forester XT (245hp version) and worn evenly with a tire rotation and balancing every 6-months. Used this tire over 5 years and clocked in almost 25k km with about 20-30% useable tread left. A few spirited driving on hard acceleration and quick stopping. Tire losses grip over tight corners (mountain road), but I see it more of the compact SUV higher center of gravity. Satisfied overall, but looking to see if another alternative (like Michelin PS4SUV will be better).

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Where this data comes from

Every rating on this page was submitted by a driver through the review form on this site, naming the car, the tire, the size and the distance covered. Reviews are checked by hand before publication, and the page rebuilds automatically as new ones arrive.

About the TR Score

The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 using independent test results and the full body of owner reviews, so you can check a car-specific ranking against the wider evidence.

Who does the testing

Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.

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