I live in snow country (skiing) and am shopping for new tires to replace the Continentals that were factory installed on my Outback. Looking for suggestions based on experience for all season tires that performed particularly well on the Outback (mine is a 2012 3.0L).

Edited September 12, 201510 yr by wilvia

I have been running a set of Big O tires that are comparable to their Euro Tour tire and they have been very good in the snow and slick roads.  I commuted from Gypsum to Vail every day for 7 years running these tires without a problem, and a few trips to Denver over I-70 when I should of stayed home and they always got me to where I needed to go. 

All seasons work "fine" in snow, but there is no substitute for a dedicated snow tire. Especially when braking. If you're driving in snow every day, get a set of actual snow tires.

wilvia,

 

I've owned 4 OBW LTD's from 1997, one of each generation, and here in Southern, Ontario, Canada, we get winter.

 

Over the years I've always run dedicated snow tires, Blizzaks, Toyo snows(don't recall the tire name), and Michelin's. All have proven their worth and I wouldn't be without them come freezing weather.

 

But my best advice would be to buy winter tires two sizes smaller (read narrower) than what is recommended as the factory tire for your Subie.

 

One year in a pinch I let myself be talked into winter tires the same width as the Subie's factory tire. What a mistake! That year's factory tire was a 225 in width, and the OBW just would not let the car get any speed up in the snow. The tires were just so wide that they rode up on top of the snow at speed. In two or three inches of snow the car was all over the road at 50 mph/80 kph.

 

That lasted exactly two months, when I'd had enough and traded them in for 205's. What a difference! The narrower tires cut through the snow, just like the narrow tires winter ralleye cars run (obviously without the studs) and there was no more white knuckled driving.

 

That was back in 2004. Since then I've always run winter tires at least two sizes narrower than the stock size, and its like being crazy glued to the road.

Look at Falken ZIEX Ze950 A/S tires. All season performance tires with very good snow performance. Good price too.