Subaru Outback tire size
Original tire sizes for the Subaru Outback, model years 2000 through 2024. Trim levels and wheel packages change the size within the same year, so confirm on the door-jamb sticker before ordering.
Check before you order. The surest answer is the tires on the car right now: the size is molded into the sidewall. The placard inside the driver's door tells you what the factory fitted, which can differ from what a previous owner put on. Our guide on reading a tire size shows exactly where to look.
Size by year and trim
| Model years | Trim or package | Tire size | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-2019 | 2.5i | 225/65R17 | $75 |
| 2015-2024 | Premium/Limited | 225/60R18 | $95 |
| 2010-2014 | Standard | 225/60R17 | $75 |
| 2000-2004 | Standard | 225/60R16 | $62 |
Tire size by model year
| Model year | Tire size | Trim or package | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Subaru Outback | 225/60R18 | Premium/Limited | $95 |
| 2023 Subaru Outback | 225/60R18 | Premium/Limited | $95 |
| 2022 Subaru Outback | 225/60R18 | Premium/Limited | $95 |
| 2021 Subaru Outback | 225/60R18 | Premium/Limited | $95 |
| 2020 Subaru Outback | 225/60R18 | Premium/Limited | $95 |
| 2019 Subaru Outback | 225/65R17, 225/60R18 | 2.5i or Premium/Limited | $75 |
| 2018 Subaru Outback | 225/65R17, 225/60R18 | 2.5i or Premium/Limited | $75 |
| 2017 Subaru Outback | 225/65R17, 225/60R18 | 2.5i or Premium/Limited | $75 |
| 2016 Subaru Outback | 225/65R17, 225/60R18 | 2.5i or Premium/Limited | $75 |
| 2015 Subaru Outback | 225/65R17, 225/60R18 | 2.5i or Premium/Limited | $75 |
| 2014 Subaru Outback | 225/60R17 | Standard | $75 |
| 2013 Subaru Outback | 225/60R17 | Standard | $75 |
Show the remaining 8 model years
| Model year | Tire size | Trim or package | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Subaru Outback | 225/60R17 | Standard | $75 |
| 2011 Subaru Outback | 225/60R17 | Standard | $75 |
| 2010 Subaru Outback | 225/60R17 | Standard | $75 |
| 2004 Subaru Outback | 225/60R16 | Standard | $62 |
| 2003 Subaru Outback | 225/60R16 | Standard | $62 |
| 2002 Subaru Outback | 225/60R16 | Standard | $62 |
| 2001 Subaru Outback | 225/60R16 | Standard | $62 |
| 2000 Subaru Outback | 225/60R16 | Standard | $62 |
Which brand should you pick?
Subaru does not stamp its own approval code on tires the way Porsche or BMW do. Any tire in the right size that meets or exceeds the load index and speed rating on your door placard is a legitimate replacement, so pick on wet braking, tread life and price. Our picks for each size are on the size pages below.
The drawing carries the sizes we list for this car, so you know what you are looking for. The placard on the car is still the final word, and it is the only place that gives the cold pressures: the number molded into the sidewall is the maximum the tire can hold, not what your car wants.
What those tires cost
About the Subaru Outback
The Outback is Subaru's raised wagon, and for a long stretch it was the only car of its kind sold in the US. Standard all-wheel drive means the four tires have to match closely in diameter, so replacing one is rarely a single-tire job. Sizes have been remarkably stable for two decades, sitting on 225-width tires from 16 to 18 inches, which keeps replacement costs reasonable.
Launched in 1994. Launched in 1994 at the New York Auto Show as a trim level of the Legacy wagon, the Outback added ground clearance, two-tone cladding and roof rails, and the idea worked so well that within a few years it had become a model in its own right.
How to tell the model years apart
Wheel and tire sizes follow the generation, not the badge, so identifying yours matters before you order.
2000-2004
Second generation (BE/BH)
Still clearly a Legacy wagon with cladding, but with its own grille, taller ride height and a hood scoop on the H6-powered VDC version. It rides on 16-inch wheels with 225/60R16 tires. The 2003 facelift added clear headlight lenses and a revised grille.
Tire sizes: 225/60R16
2005-2009
Third generation (BP)
Cleaner, more modern shape with a flatter hood, larger headlights and a body-colored grille surround; the turbocharged 2.5XT of this era has a functional hood scoop. Base 2.5i cars stay on 16-inch wheels while the turbo and H6 trims use 17s. The 2008 facelift widened the grille.
2010-2014
Fourth generation (BR)
A big jump in size and height, with a taller roofline, raised roof rails and a much more SUV-like stance than the wagon-shaped cars before it. Nearly everything runs 17-inch wheels on 225/60R17. The CVT replaced the four-speed automatic, and a flat-six was offered through 2012.
Tire sizes: 225/60R17
2015-2019
Fifth generation (BS)
Smoother and quieter, with a hexagonal grille, integrated roof rails that swing out into crossbars and a much better interior. The 2.5i runs 17s on 225/65R17 while Premium and Limited trims move to 18s on 225/60R18. A 3.6R flat-six remained available.
2020-2024
Sixth generation (BT)
Built on the Subaru Global Platform with a taller, blockier nose, black wheel arch cladding and an 11.6-inch portrait touchscreen. Every trim uses 18-inch wheels with 225/60R18 tires, and a 260-horsepower turbocharged 2.4 returned on XT models after a decade away. The Wilderness trim of 2022 adds all-terrain tires, more ground clearance and a 17-inch wheel.
What the press said
The Outback has enjoyed unusually consistent goodwill from reviewers, who credit it with genuine all-weather capability, a huge cargo area, good visibility and a ride that shrugs off rough roads. Criticism has focused on the naturally aspirated flat-four's lack of acceleration, CVT behavior and, on the 2020 car, an infotainment system that buries climate functions in a touchscreen. Testers also complain that each generation looks less like a wagon and more like an SUV, which is precisely why sales keep rising. The turbocharged XT and the Wilderness trim are the versions reviewers most often single out as worth the money.
The Subaru Outback made its name as an affordable, go-anywhere station wagon dressed up like an SUV.
Car and Driver, 2026
| Model year | Units sold in the US |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 138,790 |
| 2015 | 152,294 |
| 2016 | 182,898 |
| 2017 | 188,886 |
| 2018 | 178,854 |
| 2019 | 181,178 |
| 2020 | 153,290 |
| 2021 | 154,623 |
| 2022 | 147,262 |
| 2023 | 161,812 |
| 2024 | 168,771 |
| 2025 | 157,716 |
US sales have run between roughly 138,000 and 189,000 a year over the last decade, making the Outback Subaru's best seller in most years.
Was it a success?
A commercial success and arguably the most important vehicle Subaru sells in the US, with a devoted repeat-buyer base in the snow belt and the mountain west. Resale is strong, particularly in those regions. The reliability record is good on recent cars; older 2.5-liter engines had head gasket and oil consumption issues, and CVT behavior on early 2010-2014 examples is the main thing to check on a used one.
Did you know?
- The Outback began as a trim level on the Legacy wagon, not a model, and was introduced at the 1994 New York Auto Show.
- Paul Hogan fronted the US advertising campaign in the mid-1990s, playing off the Australian connotations of the name.
- A turbocharged Outback XT was sold through 2009, dropped for a decade, then returned for 2020 with a 2.4-liter engine and 260 horsepower.
Tire options on the Subaru Outback
Almost every Outback since 2000 has used a 225-width tire, and the common fitments are 225/60R16, 225/60R17, 225/65R17 and 225/60R18, which keeps shopping simple and prices moderate. Subaru's all-wheel drive wants the four tires within about a quarter inch of rolling circumference, so a single replacement on a car with worn tires often means buying two or having the new one shaved to match. Factory tires have usually been all-seasons from Bridgestone, Falken or Yokohama; the Wilderness trim ships with Yokohama Geolandar all-terrains on 17-inch wheels, which is worth knowing because those can be fitted to a standard Outback too. Nothing in the range uses run-flats or a staggered setup, and the spare is usually a temporary unit rather than a matching fifth tire. Winter tire availability in all the Outback sizes is excellent, and since a lot of these cars are bought precisely for snow, a dedicated winter set on 17-inch wheels is a common and sensible purchase.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, caranddriver.com, goodcarbadcar.net.
Subaru Outback tires: common questions
What size tires does a Subaru Outback take?
The most common original size is 225/65R17. Other model years and trims use different sizes, so check the list on this page and confirm against the sticker inside your driver's door.
Can I fit a different size on my Subaru Outback?
You can, within limits: the overall diameter should stay within about 3 percent of the original, and the load index and speed rating must meet or exceed the door placard. Anything further changes your speedometer reading and can rub at full lock.
Where is the tire size on a Subaru Outback?
Open the driver's door and look at the white and yellow placard on the door jamb or the B-pillar. The same size is also molded into the sidewall of the tires currently on the car, unless someone changed them.
What size tires does a 2024 Subaru Outback take?
The 2024 Subaru Outback came from the factory on 225/60R18. Wheel packages can change that within the same model year, so check the placard inside the door jamb before you order.
What size tires does a 2023 Subaru Outback take?
The 2023 Subaru Outback came from the factory on 225/60R18. Wheel packages can change that within the same model year, so check the placard inside the door jamb before you order.
What size tires does a 2022 Subaru Outback take?
The 2022 Subaru Outback came from the factory on 225/60R18. Wheel packages can change that within the same model year, so check the placard inside the door jamb before you order.