The Subaru WRX is a very well handling car, in a variety of terrain and weather,with the help of its excellent all-wheel-drive system. The car comes with summer tires from the factory, which are good for warmer weather, giving you the best handling and grip. Upgrading the tires of your car can be one of the best mods for the WRX, or any car, for improved handling.
The WRX comes with 17" wheels on the base trim, or 18" wheels on the premium and limited trims. Starting with the 2018 model, the Subaru WRX STI comes with 19" wheels. We recommend staying with the factory tire size specs, that is, 235/45R17, 245/40R18, or 245/35R19, whether you've upgraded to aftermarket wheels or are on the stock wheels.
If it's time to replace your summer tires, or you need something to get you through the colder weather, read on. We've gathered the best tires for the Subaru WRX or WRX STI for summer, all-season, or winter.
Best Summer Tires for the WRX
Summer tires are good when the temperature is above 45° Fahrenheit (7.2° Celsius). They'll give you the best handling of any kind of tire, and the most grip. If you like spirited driving or occasional track use, these tires will handle perfectly.
Best Summer Tire: Michelin Pilot Sport 4s
The most popular summer performance tire on the market, and perfect for the WRX as well. If you want the number one summer tire that's still meant to drive on the streets, then these are your summer tires. These are the updated version of the Michelin Pilot Super Sport, and they're even better.
Check Prices:
2015+ Subaru WRX with 17" inch wheels (235/45R17)
2015+ Subaru WRX with 18" inch wheels (245/40R18)
2018+ Subaru WRX STI with 19" wheels (245/35R19)
Best Value Tire: Continental ExtremeContact Sport
Another excellent summer tire choice, but significantly more affordable than the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. This is our personal favorite, since its ride quality and performance nearly match the PS4S, giving it a much better value without sacrificing quality.
Check Prices:
2015+ Subaru WRX with 17" inch wheels (235/45R17)
2015+ Subaru WRX with 18" inch wheels (245/40R18)
2018+ Subaru WRX STI with 19" wheels (245/35R19)
Best Budget Tire: Hancook Ventus V12 evo2
The Hancook Ventus V12 evo2 is a very affordable summer tire when compared to other options, but still provides excellent summer handling performance and traction. The tread is designed to not only maximize traction on dry pavement, but also in wet conditions.
If you want some great summer tires, these ones will deliver while saving you some money. These tires keep your car firmly planted during corning, and get all the power down during acceleration.
Check Prices:
2015+ Subaru WRX with 17" inch wheels (235/45R17)
2015+ Subaru WRX with 18" inch wheels (245/40R18)
2018+ Subaru WRX STI with 19" wheels (245/35R19)
Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position
The Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position are a very popular summer tire choice with Subaru WRX / STI owners. They are affordable when compared to the top tier options, but still will satisfy experienced drivers who like to drive spiritedly or on the track. They provide good performance in warm dry conditions, and keep your car planted when it's wet. These tires are a good value with great performance, and one of the best summer tire choices.
Check Prices:
2015+ Subaru WRX with 17" inch wheels (235/45R17)
2015+ Subaru WRX with 18" inch wheels (245/40R18)
2018+ Subaru WRX STI with 19" wheels (245/35R19)
Pirelli P Zero Nero
Another great affordable summer tire, the Pirelli P Zero Nero does not disappoint. While it's outclassed by higher end options, it gives you a lot more for your money. These tires perform well in warm conditions, dry or wet. For their great value, these tires make our list of the best summer tires.
Check Prices:
2015+ Subaru WRX with 17" inch wheels (235/45R17)
2015+ Subaru WRX with 18" inch wheels (245/40R18)
2018+ Subaru WRX STI with 19" wheels (245/35R19)
Best All Season Tires for the WRX
If you just want a single set of tires that will handle most conditions and not worry about swapping out your tires when the seasons change, there are some good all season tire choices. While these won't perform as well as either dedicated summer tires or winter tires, they'll still offer reasonable handling and performance in a variety of weather conditions.
Continental Extreme Contact DWS06
The Continental Extreme Contact DWS06 provides good performance in dry or wet conditions, and when the temperature starts to drop, they'll still keep you planted to the road where summer performance tires start to lose grip. These tires will do well in light snow, but in heavier snow and ice, you may want to consider a dedicated set of winter tires. If you just need to drive in some colder and rainy conditions, and want to use the same tires during the summer, these all season tires will do great.
Check Prices:
2015+ Subaru WRX with 17" inch wheels (235/45R17)
2015+ Subaru WRX with 18" inch wheels (245/40R18)
2018+ Subaru WRX STI with 19" wheels (245/35R19)
Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4
The Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 tires are a very popular choice for performance cars. While they won't offer the same level of performance as the Pilot Sport 4s in warm weather, they'll do far better in cold and wet conditions.
Check Prices:
2015+ Subaru WRX with 17" inch wheels (235/45R17)
2015+ Subaru WRX with 18" inch wheels (245/40R18)
2018+ Subaru WRX STI with 19" wheels (245/35R19)
Best Snow / Winter Tires for the WRX
When the temperature drops below 45° Fahrenheit (7.2° Celsius), the compound summer tires are made from starts to harden and lose its grip. For your own safety, and to prevent damaging your summer tires, winter tires are best in these conditions. They'll keep putting power to the road (or the snow) when temperatures fall below freezing, making the most of your car's all wheel drive system. All wheel drive only helps if your tires have grip, so winter tires are a must for driving in the cold, even when you're driving a Subaru.
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
The most popular winter tires, not just for the Subaru WRX, but all around. The Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is a performance winter / snow tire that will give you plenty of grip on ice and snow, with good handling in wet or dry conditions. The tread design helps to channel the snow, water, or slush away keeping the contact area planted to the ground.
Check Prices:
2015+ Subaru WRX with 17" inch wheels (235/45R17)
2015+ Subaru WRX with 18" inch wheels (245/40R18)
Yokohama iceGuard IG53
The Yokohama iceGuard is another excellent winter tire choice. Their triple 3D sipes and tread design work to move water, snow, and slush away from the contact surface to keep the compound firmly in contact with the ground. The tires have absorptive silica that help to wick more water away from the road. The compound is higher density, giving both extended life by reducing wear and better performance and handling.
Check Prices:
2015+ Subaru WRX with 17" inch wheels (235/45R17)
2015+ Subaru WRX with 18" inch wheels (245/40R18)