Best Subaru Solterra Tires

Subaru’s first fully electric car is here.

The sibling to Toyota’s bZ4X, it shares a powertrain and distinctive styling, yet comes with its own Subaru-specific features. Included in that list is the fact that the Solterra is available only as a dual-motor option with all-wheel drive standard.

Capably powered wit 215-hp and 249 lb-ft of torque it offers solid range of 228 miles on the Premium trim or 222 on the Limited or Touring. As for charging times, the car takes approximately nine hours for a full recharge using a Level 2 home charger.

We don’t normally do this, but it’s worth pointing out here that the below list of best Subaru Solterra tires includes a long list of Michelin products. We didn’t set out to promote so many Michelins (even though we often do). If anything, Michelins over-index on this list as a result of the scarcity of other tires available when this vehicle hit dealers.

Subaru Solterra Tire Sizes

Depending on which trim you select, the Solterra comes with either 18- or 20-inch wheels and the corresponding tires list below:

  • Limited: 235/50/20
  • Premium: 235/60/18
  • Touring: 235/50/20

Best Tire for Subaru Solterra

Michelin Primacy AS

The Michelin Primacy AS isn’t perfect, but it has a lot of positives that make it a stand-out tire for the Solterra.

When it comes to practicality, it’s hard to beat the low noise levels and impressive comfort of this option.

Handling is quite engaging as well, thanks both to a grippy tread compound as well as extra big exterior tread blocks that are joined together to give an impressively large contact patch that maintains its grip in the corners. As a result, the tire is quite agile. It also maintains a high level of traction in the wet, which is a true highlight of this offering.

If there’s anywhere this tire is lacking, it’s in winter grip – which could be deal breaker for some Subaru buyers. We, however, would recommend proper winter tires for when the season changes and so this drawback really is a moot point.

Pricing is a bit steeper, but that’s to be expect for a quality tire, and a Michelin no less.

The only other notable drawback is the 55,000 mile tread life warranty. That’s quite low for a conventional all-season. It’s a tradeoff for the impressive grip these tires bring, but it’s a solid 15,000 miles lower than what we’d typically expect to see.

So is this a perfect tire? No, but there’s a lot going for it and it’s gets our recommendation for the Solterra.

Best Tire for Subaru Solterra (alternative)

Michelin CrossClimate2

Michelin CrossClimate 2 Review

Depending on a few factors the CrossClimate 2 might be the best choice for your Solterra. This tire is incredibly unique, both in its styling and capability.

It’s what’s known as a four-season or all-weather tire and it differs from an all-season tire in that it’s actually fully capable in winter. In fact, it wears the same three peak mountain snowflake logo on its sidewall that winter tires get – signifying that it has achieved a certain standard for winter traction according to the Rubber Manufacturer’s Association.

Sipes that run between the tread blocks let the tire grip snow easily. Then, in the summer, those same extra-long tread blocks work to dissipate lateral forces, making it an impressively good handling tire. Part of the magic comes from those sipes that actually close-up under aggressive use, to deliver a contact patch that’s more stable than it looks.

And of course, wet traction is quite high due both to the high silica in the rubber, as well as the v-shaped pattern that easily evacuates water from the contact patch.

The tread life is expected to be around 60,000 miles which is lower than we’d prefer to see, but it’s actually better than on our top choice above. (It would seem the limited selection of fitments for the Solterra means you’ll generally have to opt for a lower tread life tire).

Best Performance Tire for Subaru Solterra

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV

If you’re thinking your Solterra might be a WRX STI then these are the tires for you. The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV is an ultra-aggressive summer high performance tire that will add loads of grip to any SUV.

The center tread rib is almost entirely solid, offering immediate turn-in response and a planted feeling at high speeds. The exterior shoulder tread section includes two rows that almost act as one. The further outside section uses extremely wide tread blocks that, when combines with the inner section, offer a huge contact patch that delivers predictable grip under cornering – even at the limit.

Wet traction is also impressive, with inboard tread sections designed to clear the contact patch of water, while large circumferential grooves easily dissipate standing water.

As a high performance summer tire, the Pilot Sport 4 SUV is built to offer all these performance features while meeting the needs of heavier SUVs. The Solterra might not be particularly large, but as an EV it carries a lot of extra weight and so these added features, including the robust twin steel belt inner-tire, are ideal.

It does come with a tread life warranty, but it’s only 20,000 miles. That’s not much, but you’ll be smiling the whole time!

Cheapest Tire for Subaru Solterra

Bridgestone Turanza EL450

Subaru’s factory fitment tire for the Solterra also just so happens to be the most affordable option currently available. We suspect some budget options will arrive on the market shortly, but at the vehicle’s launch this is the most budget-focused tire available.

That said, it’s far from being a slouch. It offers a comfortable and quiet ride with a focus on being a low-rolling resistance option to maximize range. A busy-looking tread pattern is designed to maximize grip in he wet with some mild winter traction as well.

Sometimes tires that look like this are louder options, bat that’s not the case here as Bridgestone worked to deliver an option for this OEM fitment that keeps noise levels low.

As for tread life, no warranty is offered, though we expect it to deliver around 60,000 miles on a set.

For clarity’s sake, we’ll add that there are run-flat versions of this tire available, but not in factory sizes for the Solterra.

Best Winter Tire for Subaru Solterra

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV

Tackle winter like any Subaru should with these impressive winter tires.

The X-Ice Snow combines two unique qualities of a winter tire: snow traction and ice traction. Michelin’s original version of this tire was always a top performer on icy surfaces – and we don’t just mean pure ice. Certainly you want all the grip you can get then, but those same features provide high levels of grip on frozen clear roads that develop a think layer of ice. The unique tread compound and microscopic texture of the rubber allow for superior traction on such surfaces.

Amplifying this tire’s capability are the sipes running across the tread blocks. It’s important to note that these are full depth sipes and will retain their grip even as the tire wears down.

Two different types of sipes are used, both of which grip the snow easily and use it as a friction surface against snow on the road. Some of the sipes (the ones with zipper style bumps in them) do this task while also supporting the overall structure of the tire. By preventing too much flex in the tread surface, the X-Ice Snow tire delivers better driving dynamics on clear roads than most in the segment.

Beyond all this it handles slush well too.

Overall, and impressively well-rounded tire (pun intended).

What Tires Come on the Subaru Solterra

18-inch tires

  • Bridgestone Turanza EL450

20-inch tires

  • Bridgestone Turanza EL450

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