If you are a Subaru WRX owner, you may already be aware of the importance of a good set of tires in order for you to be able to handle the power and performance of your car.
That’s why we have we found out that the best tires for Subarus WRX’s are the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S.
In this article, we will discuss the top 10 best tires for Subaru WRX drivers and provide you with a few recommendations. So whether you are looking for all-season tires or something more specialized, we have you covered!
Best Tires for Subaru WRX
When choosing the best tires for your Subaru WRX, always make sure to check the size of your specific wheels and tires required. You can find this information on your tires sidewall.
The current 2020-22 Subaru WRX has tire sizes of 235/45R17, 245/40R18, 245/35R19 and 245/35R19
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (Best Performance Tire)
Pros
- Best overall performance tire
- Great wet performance
- Fantastic grip at all speeds
- Sporty sidewall design
Cons
- Better options for pure wet performance tires
- High performance means high price
- Louder than other tires
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is a tire that was designed with one purpose in mind, and that is to be the best performing summer tire on the market.
Michelin have achieved this by creating a tire with some of the highest levels of grip, handling and braking that we have seen in dry conditions.
In our testing, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S took first place in the dry handling and braking tests by a significant margin. It was also the second quickest tire in the dry around the handling course.
The secret to the success of the Michelin Pilot Sport is in its compound. Michelin use a mixture of polymers which gives the tire fantastic grip in both dry and wet conditions, all without compromising on tread life.
The Michelin Pilot Sport is also very good in the wet, taking second place in our wet braking test and third place in our wet handling test.
The only area where the Michelin Pilot Sport falls down is in its poor aquaplaning resistance. This is because the tire has a very wide tread width which causes it to float on top of the water rather than cut through it.
Overall, the Michelin Pilot Sport is a huge step forward for road going performance tires which makes them perfect for your Subaru WRX.
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050 (Best Dry Performance)
Pros
- Picked as the standard tires on all new Subarus WRX’s
- Summer high performance tire
- Exceptional performance in dry and wet
Cons
- Poor aquaplaning resistance
- Expensive
- Small choice of sizes
The Dunlop SP Sport Maxx is an Ultra high performance summer tire that come as standard on all new Subaru WRX’s. They have been designed to offer the ultimate in dry performance.
Dunlop have achieved this by using a very soft compound which gives the tire fantastic levels of grip in both dry and wet conditions.
In testing, the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx we found the cheaper Dunlop able to keep up with some of the premium brands for performance and stopping distance in the dry. It also provided excellent feel and feedback to the driver.
The secret to the success of the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx is in its compound. Dunlop use a very soft compound which gives the tire fantastic grip in both dry and wet conditions, all without compromising on tread life.
The Dunlop SP Sport Maxx is also very good in the wet, taking second place in our wet braking test and third place in our wet handling test.
The only area where the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx falls down is in its poor aquaplaning resistance. This is because the tire has a very wide tread width which causes it to float on top of the water rather than cut through it.
Knowing that Subaru developed the WRX for the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx and that it is affiliated with Goodyear makes it one of the best tires currently available for your WRX.
Continental PureContact (Best Tire for Economy)
Pros
- Very high performance for all season tire
- Most economical tire available
- Reliable tread life
- Large range of sizes available
Cons
- Not the quietest tire
- Expensive
The Continental PureContact is a tire that excels at returning amongst the very highest levels of economy for any tire on the market.
This is a result of Continental’s unique ‘EcoPlus’ technology which helps to reduce rolling resistance without sacrificing grip or tread life.
In our testing, the Continental PureContact returned an impressive 11.0L/100km on the highway and 13.0L/100km in the city. This is amongst the very best that we have seen from any tire.
They also provide a huge amount of grip and handling for an economy tire, making them the perfect choice for those of you who want a tire that is both economical and performance orientated.
The Continental PureContact is also very good in the wet, proving that is one of the most versatile tires on the market with very few weak points.
Overall, the Continental PureContact is a fantastic tire that offers class leading economy without sacrificing grip or tread life, making it one of the best tires for Subaru WRX’s.
Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 (Best Wet Tire)
Pros
- Award winning Ultra High Performance All-Season Tire
- Best overall All season tire
- Excellent wet performance
- Large range of sizes
Cons
- Expensive
- Not the hardest wearing tire
- Average fuel economy
The Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 is a tire that has been designed to be a high performance All-season tire. It offers some of the best wet performance while also remaining a strong performance tire, which is why it makes our list as one of the best tires for Subaru WRX.
It has also won multiple awards as the best overall UHP All-Season tire.
Michelin have achieved this by designing the Pilot Sport All Season 4 with an asymmetric tread pattern and a race inspired blend of compounds. This give the tire class leading grip in both dry and wet conditions.
The Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 is also one of the top performers in snowy conditions, easily outperforming its rivals in the All-season segment.
They do come with a hefty price tag, but they are worth every penny if you live in an area with variable weather conditions and are looking for one of the highest performance tires available with excellent wet performance.
Overall, the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 is one of the best tires currently available. It offers class leading performance in both dry and wet conditions, as well as performing exceptionally as an All-season tire in snowy conditions.
For your high performance Subaru WRX, we would be very happy to have a set of these on our car.
Hankook Winter i*cept Evo 3 (Best Winter Tire)
Pros of Soft Sidewalls
- 80,000 KM treadwear warranty
- Best tire for wide variety of terrains
- Even and long lasting tread
- Short stopping distances in testing
- Very predictable tire when changing surfaces
Cons of Soft Sidewalls
- Some tires are better specifically for only dry or wet conditions
- Priced higher than competitors
- Louder than other tires
If you live in an area with severe winter conditions, then the Hankook Winter i*cept Evo 3 is the best tire for Subaru WRX’s.
This recently released new ultra high performance winter tire offers excellent grip and handling on both snow and ice, while also providing a comfortable and quiet ride.
The Hankook Winter i*cept Evo 3 uses a special compound that remains flexible in low temperatures and prevents freezing in low temperatures, giving it excellent grip on both snow and ice. They also use a special tread pattern that is designed to give the tire extra biting edges for traction.
In our testing, the Hankook Winter i*cept evo 3 outperformed all of its rivals in both the snow and ice handling tests, as well as being one of the quietest tires on the market.
It also leans towards offering the experience of a high performance tire with improved handling and steering response over the competition.
Overall, the Hankook Winter i*cept Evo 3 is a fantastic winter tire that offers class leading performance in both dry and wet conditions, as well as being one of the highest performance winter tires on the market, making them ideal for Subaru WRX’s.
Michelin CrossClimate 2 (Best All-Season Tire)
Pros
- Best all round All-season tire
- Premium brand
- Great performance in wet conditions
- Long lasting and efficient
Cons
- Expensive
- Better dedicated summer or winter tires
The Michelin CrossClimate 2 is a tire that excels in performing well in challenging conditions. It is an all season tire with a long lasting tread life, and is designed with a primary focus to have the best performance in wet and snowy conditions.
This tire showed excellent grip and handling dry conditions, but in snowy and icy conditions is where this tire stands out from the rest.
The V-formation tread pattern of the Michelin CrossClimate 2 means this tire excels at helping the tire perform in wet conditions, as it can evacuate water at a faster rate than other tires. This also helps it perform as efficiently as possible on roads with snow and slush.
It boasts some of the shortest stopping distances in all our tests and showed the least change in behaviour between the dry and wet testing.
As we expected with Michelin, the design means that tread life and tire wear is excellent. The tire distributes force evenly across the tire for a more even tread wear and a smoother ride compared to its rivals.
The tires are also quiet enough to not be noticeable, and make our list as one of the best tires for Subaru WRX.
These tires provide some of the best performance available in an all season tire in wet and challenging conditions. Their premium price reflects their high quality. During our test, these sure-footed tires offer confidence and the feeling of a very safe ride.
Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack (Best Tire for comfort)
Pros
- High performance tire, suitable for performance cars and WRX
- Strong feedback through steering wheel
- Quietest performance tires
- High comfort and levels
Cons
- High price tag
- Faster wearing tires
- Can have shorter than advertised tread life
The Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack is the replacement for the very popular Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus. These all season tires are designed to offer the best possible traction and handling. In dry conditions we found that they were one of the best performing tires in its class.
This performance didn’t quite carry over into the wet conditions, but they still offered plenty of feedback and the braking distance was shorter than its rivals.
The main issue we have seen with these tires is that they regularly don’t meet their advertised tread life of 80,000 miles. We have seen some tires last as little as 25,000 before needing to be replaced.
Being called the QuietTrack, Bridgestone has made an effort to make these one of the quiestes tire on the market, and we found that they also provided good comfort over changing road surfaces and over rough terrain.
The Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack are not the most expensive which makes them worth considering for your Subaru WRX. We would recommend keeping an eye on the tire pressures and to drive smoothly to ensure that they wear at an even rate, so that you don’t find yourself needing to change them prematurely.
General Altimax RT43 (Best Tire for Longevity)
Pros
- Long lasting tread life
- Good grip on varying surfaces
- Cheaper than the other tires on this list
- Suitable for use in changing climates
Cons
- Louder than competitors
- Less performance than more expensive tires
The General Altimax RT43 is an all season tire that is designed to offer a long lasting tread life. In our tests, we found that the RT43’s lasted around 80,000 miles before needing to be replaced which is significantly longer than most of its rivals.
Even though they don’t quite have the same level of grip and handling as some of the other tires on this list, they still offer a confidence inspiring ride.
In the wet conditions, we found that the General Altimax RT43’s provided good levels of feedback and traction. They also have shorter braking distances than most of their rivals.
One thing to keep in mind with these tires is that they are not the quietest on the market. If you are looking for a tire that will be comfortable and quiet then you might want to look elsewhere.
The General Altimax RT43 is a good value tire for your Subaru WRX and if you are looking for an all season tire that will last a long time then they are worth considering.
Cooper Evolution Tour (Best Touring tire)
Pros
- Large reputable brand in the USA
- Rated as “Best all-round tire”
- Very affordable
- Helps you achieve a good gas mileage
Cons
- Not designed for high performance
- Low performer in wet conditions
The Cooper Evolution Tour is Coopers All-season tire which has gained a lot of attention as their best all round tire for average drivers. It excels with comfort and has a low rolling resistance which helps to lower your gas consumption.
The Cooper Evolution Tour performs well in dry conditions and has very good reviews with more than 84% of customers saying that they would buy again. With proper maintenance, it should comfortably reach its advertised 65,000 miles mileage warranty.
This tire also performs admirably in the wet with good reviews from customers, however it is not as strong as some of the other tires tested in this area.
The Evolution Tour is a very good all-rounder and is one of the most affordable tires that we tested for Honda CRV’s. It should give you good service for many miles if it is properly maintained.
Fullrun F6000 (Best Budget tire)
Pros
- Best performing budget tire
- Cheapest tire on this list
- Good performance in the dry
Cons
- Budget tire makes it the worst performer on this list
- Very poor wet performance
- Do not offer a lot of feedback
The Fullrun F6000 is a budget all season tire that is designed for use on coupes and sedans. It offers good levels of grip and handling in dry conditions, however its performance in the wet leaves a lot to be desired.
We found that the F6000’s had shorter braking distances than most of their rivals in the dry, but their performance in the wet was not as good.
The main issue we have with these tires is that they don’t offer a lot of feedback and traction in the wet, which can make them dangerous to use in these conditions.
For such a low price, we still believe that if you live in a dry and sunny climate, the Fullrun F6000 is a good budget tire for your Subaru WRX.
Despite being a budget tire, the Fullrun F6000 is still a decent all season tire for your Subaru WRX. If you are looking for an affordable option then they are worth considering. As always, we encourage you to spend as much as you can on your tires for additional safety and performance that better tires will offer you.
Conclusion
There is no one perfect tire for every driver and every condition, however the tires on this list are some of the best that you can buy for your Subaru WRX.
If you are looking for a tire that will offer great levels of grip and handling then we would recommend the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 or the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050.
If you are looking for an all season tire that will last a long time then we would recommend the General Altimax RT43.
If you are looking for a budget tire then we would recommend the Fullrun F6000. Whatever your needs, we are sure that you will be able to find a tire on this list that is perfect for you and your Subaru WRX.
We hope this article was helpful in your search for your next tire purchase. If you have any questions then please leave a comment below or get in touch via email or through social media and we will read and respond to every comment, email or question. Thanks for reading!