What's it like running all-terrain tires on a Subaru?

[@craigfirman1809]

"I'm far from an expert" yet you have given more information then all of the experts I have spoken to over my past 3 weeks of tyre searching combined.

[@charlesrichard6605]

I bought a 2013 Outback last year. You have no idea how helpful the info on the tires and rims have been. I've been hoping to see a vid like this for hours. Thanks sir and keep up the awesome videos!

[@softroadingthewest]

Glad it was helpful, thanks for watching!

[@TCPUDPATM]

Props to you for making this balanced, and talking about unsprung weight and use case!

[@jayjackson4389]

I did alot of research and then settled on the Falken wildpeak Trail tire 225/60r/17. P rating they have been a Great tire so far and my gas milage has stayed about the same. Thank you for your info on +15 off set that helped me on rims.

[@gejo407]

what wheels did you use?

[@patricktompkins5704]

I just got the same tires for my 3rd gen today. 215/65/16 on basic steelies. Can't wait to get them on some dirt and actually try them out.

[@Slayer66037]

I'm running 255/55/R18 wild peak AT trails on my tribeca and love em

[@Subie_OffXroad]

245/65/17 is where it’s at if you have a 2” lift.

[@Subie_OffXroad]

I’m running 235/75/17 on my 2022 wilderness. 🤷🏽‍♂️ (3” lift)

[@patinaz6758]

While negotiating a new Rubicon, the sales manger was trying to upsell a $200 nitrogen charge. I said " but if going off-road, I'll air down, then air back up when done." He looked at me like I had I had 2 heads. 😂

[@4schitzangiggles]

I also like to ask them why so much to only add another 22 or so percentage of nitrogen from what's already in my tires, our "air" we breathe is @ 78%nitrogen already

[@anotherknifelover]

This nitrogen BS will not die because with this trick the tire shops try to bind the stupid customers who don’t know that the difference to normal air is not even a weight of a table tennis ball.

[@nope1918]

@@4schitzangiggles there are some slight benefits to it but it's definitely not worth $200.

[@4schitzangiggles]

@@nope1918 those benefits are not going to be seen outside of racing/high performance or aircraft applications.

[@nope1918]

@@4schitzangiggles I know. That's why it's not worth it.

[@rael6_4wd]

I’m on my second set of K02’s. Before those I enjoyed the K0’s as well. I’ve had many different All Terrain tires over the years, on different vehicles, but I’ve found these to be the best in all conditions except maybe mud. (In mud they’re still pretty good) And they are definitely the quietest all terrains I’ve ever owned. Listening to my music (instead of my tires) is important to me, on the way out to the trails.

[@om617yota8]

My Kumho Crugen HT51's have been a good choice for my Forester's use as an all-weather highway commuter that frequently sees logging roads and occasionally offroad. They're the most all-terrain like all-season I could find. Most of my Subi's miles are commuting miles, so having a tire that handles that well was top priority. I was thankful that a tire exists that could handle that well while still giving better offroad service at the same time.

[@softroadingthewest]

Thanks, that’s a nice tip for a tire that balances both needs!

[@sharkman8810]

I Realize this is old, but thanks, I like to drive state forest logging/stone roads, but I commute 2-3 days a week and I'm thinking of tire type.

[@om617yota8]

@@sharkman8810 Glad to help! In the two years since this was posted, I've put ~50k miles on the tires. I can suggest running a few more PSI air pressure on the street than the door tags say, and rotate them without fail. Been through some gnarly ice and snow, no issues. Highly recommended.

[@AtomicVic]

What an amazingly useful and informative video! You are basically having the rig I'm planning to have relatively soon and it`s totally awesome to get so much information upfront. The tire size comparison and explanation was the best I`ve seen so far. Tire wise I think the Cooper AT3 4s will be my weapon of choice, though it seems to be impossible to find street legal 15" rims here in Europe... or I'm looking in the wrong places... Also: Fantastic, almost Mythbuster worthy slow-mo ^^ Keep up the nice videos- much appreciated! Greetings from Austria love

[@softroadingthewest]

I've heard nothing but praises for the Cooper, I expect you'll be pleased. Thanks for the kind words!

[@mertonmarine878]

Brilliant! I'm researching tyres and lift options for my 2003 Legacy Outback H6 3.0. This vid has been really helpful.

[@thecappedgamer8125]

Hey mate how did you go I'm looking at doing the same

[@badcredentials4230]

We've got the Cooper Discoverer AT3's on our SH Forester, stock 16" wheels. 225/70/16 and they've made such a huge difference. We haven't fitted a lift yet and they scrubbed a few spots so I had to trim the inner poly guards a bit but since doing so I haven't had any noise at anything other than full compression or extension. Massive difference to the desert trail driving in Central Australia where we live. Nice vid man!

[@dirtlifemagazine]

Keep in mind a taller tire might be a little heavier, but what you also have to consider is a taller tire also raises the final drive gear, so it will seem less peppy.

[@jmsuitter5]

side by side comparison was nice to see puts everything in perspective

[@stephaniestewart1466]

I am on my second set of the KO2's on my '04 Land Rover Discovery. They are worth every penny. You are so right about road noise, though.

[@rickjames5998]

Can you post vids plz?

[@michaelsanders9377]

Yeah, I bet those tires will last you three more land Rovers. 😉

[@ignitionoffroad5028]

Awesome video and some fantastic points made. One I would like to point out however is larger tyres throw out the speedometer and reduce the crawling ability. 215/75r15 is one of the best tyre sizes for the off-road subies in my opinion as it gives a good balance of low speed ability and extra ground clearance

[@softroadingthewest]

Oh, interesting point! It seems like everyone always wants to fits larger tires and the 235/75/15 seems to be the accepted gold standard here, but I’m sure you’re right, there must be a point of diminishing returns as the tires get bigger. Ultimately I haven’t felt limited in any way by running my smaller 215/75R15 (though another comment on here mocks them as “baby tires.” 😏). Thank you for watching and weighing in!

[@jamesrioux5479]

U

[@damianv8200]

What do you think of 235/60/16 or 235/65/15 on a +38 rim?

[@ignitionoffroad5028]

@@damianv8200 seems like an odd size with a low selection of tires. Generally for off-roading a taller sidewall is better as it allows for the tire to bag out more when deflated.

[@damianv8200]

@@ignitionoffroad5028 Kool thanks, I will follow your advice, those tyre sizes were recommended by Bob Jones in Preston

[@dirtycommtroop]

Toyo Open Country AT3 are my favorite. Its lightweight, not too pricey, 3 peak snow rated, great sidewall tread, and performs well on wet pavement.

[@asplenic16180]

Great video @softroadingthewest and useful Roo info for the AT rooers out there! I ran BFGs AT/KOs (old gen BFG AT) on my legacy for 55K miles (uber bald at that point). NA Ej22 in BD 95 legacy sedan 5mt 3.90 axle ratio on OB strut lift. They were heavy and of course taller and severely under-geared that drivetrain. I've since swapped to an OB then AUDM DR 5mt (aka, both 4.11 FD), which effectively re-geared the drive-train for the tire size (27.5" vs stock 24"). I've run 2 sets of General Grabber AT2s. I LOVED them for their mountain snowflake rating (they're studdable) and slightly more open tread pattern (better snow and mud shedding) when compared to the BFG AT/KO. The grabbers are also a softer compound (quieter) and so are more compliant on rock and sandstone (but questionably wear faster) and far superior in wet and particularly snow (when compared to older BFG AT/KO). BUT (and this is an important metric to discuss) the grabbers are 2-ply sidewall vs BFG's 3-ply. One can nerd out endlessly on tires and I've had lengthy conversations about tire carcass construction with friends. "Ply" rating is an antiquated metric, but a useful comparison and "descriptor" for comparing (with modern LT or all terrain) tires. It gives info on sidewall and tread patch strength. It is also important to know carcass construction of p-metric tires vs true LT (not just LT treaded) tires, and load range makes a difference in tire durability and strength when airing down. NOT ALL TIRES SHOULD BE AIRED DOWN EQUALLY, and dont expect similar performance from dissimilar tires when aired down. With subarus (as light-duty off road use), heavier load range tires (LR D and certainly LR E) may be TOO much for a roo, BUT a subaru's weight is also too low for such a burly tire (particularly LRE...which is probably not available in roo sizes anyway). At any rate an argument can be made that LR C tires are comparable to same-sized p-metrics BUT, the carcass construction of a true LT is arguably different from a p-metric. LTs retain strength when aired down and p-metrics (maybe less so on roos) can be hazardous and fragile when aired down for trail use (speaking of SUV use and experience here). Subys being relatively light vehicles, from 32 PSI to 25 could be considered adequate airing down on an oversized tire subaru (let's assume a LR C BFG AT/KO2... a light truck tire) whereas going from 35 to 18 is considered airing down in other heavier SUV and other 4 wheel drive vehicles. So, to recap, you make good points, @softroadingthewest, and I'll compliment by noting tire carcass construction is important as this can support confidence in airing down and how far you can confidently air down. REAL light truck tires, not just LT tread pattern (3-ply sidewall and 6-10-ply tread is common, vs 2-ply sidewall and 4-ply tread for passenger car tires). I had a cooper discoverer tire which had the LT tread and looked great, BUT it was a passenger car tire @ 2-ply sidewall and 4-ply tread. The grabbers were LT LR C tires, but only 2-ply sidewall (it's actually pretty hard to find 3-ply sides... even in the SUV real LT market, there are fewer than one would hope) but 6-ply tread, so good for airing down but fragile on the sides.... I sidewall punctured one, de-beaded another and pinch-flatted yet a third grabber AT2. Airing down dramatically increases contact patch (length, not width) and SIGNIFICANTLY improves traction while also softening the ride quality. Taller sidewalls will give you more 'room' to air down as well as provide greater ground clearance gains. Be careful of tire width and not just height. Depending on your rim's offset (factory @ 55), you may not have the lateral room for a significantly wider tire (the tire can contact the strut shaft on stock suby rim offsets if you go too wide with a tire... Aftermarket rims are great here (blessed methods!), also wheel spacers can give you that breathing room...but you may run into wheel well contact at full lock.... there are fixes for this issues however.

[@softroadingthewest]

Awesome, tons of great info here, thank you!

[@nadinecaudle4084]

I have been running the Cooper Discoverer AT3s on my '13 Outback 3.6 for two years. I have taken them to the beach, the desert and the mountains. Love the added capability and aggressive look of all terrains on my Soob. Downside is reduced economy and road noise. The road noise was negligible when the tires were new but has increase with wear and age. The tire wear of the Coopers has been great though. 45k miles and they don't even look worn

[@jesseturk1353]

Great video, thanks for sharing this information and opinion. I got a '15 Forester Touring Edition - this comes with 18s, the only AT option for this wheel size is the Geolander AT that comes in two mileage ratings. Though I rushed into purchasing the higher mileage version a bit and didn't take/have the time/money to consider getting smaller diameter wheels and thicker sidewall tires (needed something ASAP for a job in a remote location), after about a year of use I've been really pleased with these. They're a bit louder on the road, MPGs have been good and they've gotten me through what I've thrown at them (mud, wet clingy clay, some rocks). Once these wear more, I'll go to a smaller wheel size and thicker sidewall tire but as most my miles are paved/gravel roads, I'll air down as needed and work with these until then.

[@softroadingthewest]

It seems to be a good choice for a lot of people, I’ve seen it frequently recommended. Thanks for watching and weighing in!

[@drulessman2892]

What size goelanders did ya get

[@jesseturk1353]

@@drulessman2892 225/55R18

[@joshua.harazin]

Thank you for running this channel and creating fantastic content. I'm just getting into overlanding, and it's difficult to find good information regarding the use of crossovers. Even though I'm not in a Subaru, most of your videos are equally informative for crossovers in general. (Though I remain jealous of the aftermarket support for Subies)

[@Thatguy8134]

I feel your pain! Trying to find parts for my 13 rav4 is awful

[@codymoncrief8478]

I bought a 4x4 truck a while back that had a set of Hankook iPike studless snow tires, not expecting much. They absolutely blew me away with the off-road traction on literally every surface imaginable. They relentlessly claw through snow, slush, sand, dirt, mud, gravel, even wet clay doesn’t phase them. When I got my Subaru (basic outback, nothing fancy) It needed new tires, so I went with the Hankook iPike, as they are priced almost parallel with generic street tires, but have significantly better traction and toughness than street tires. They have been very impressive on the Subaru as well, I have not had any slippage, other than intentional drifting on gravel roads. Honestly, the toughness and traction features of their design makes them akin to “poor man’s rally tires,” and they function as such very nicely. All terrain tires are not readily available in the stock size for some Subaru’s, but usually the Hankooks are, as was my case.

[@ckbhack]

I run Yokohama Geolander ATs on my forester stock wheels and love it!

[@modernhereticnw]

Thanks for this comment. I have an ‘11 that I want to put AT’s on without having to buy new wheels.

[@naggersdie]

Gealoandar A/T's are the best off-road oriented tires for cars/crossovers IMO. They are aggressive enough for just about everything aside from deep mud/clay, all while being substantially lighter and less noisy on-road than K02's. I had one set of the Geolandar A/T-S's which they no longer make and I loved them. They got my FWD open diff TDI jetta down some pretty gnarly trails and were terrific in the snow. I got about 37k miles out of them which I considered to be good with how much I abused them on a regular basis. Now i've got the Geolandar G015's and they are every bit as good as their predecessor. They are extremely quiet, only marginally louder than a worn out A/S tire and they stick like glue in the rain it's really amazing. I love Yokohama tires, i run S.Drives on my other car too. haha

[@xxxYYZxxx]

@@naggersdie The 215/75/15 Geolander AT GO15 is LT rated and 31 lbs, making it an ideal swap for off-pavement use with some small SUVs, but really not so ideal on pavement. I have these on my 1st gen RAV4 and they're great off pavement. The tread is 1/2" on the G015 LT vs 12/32" on the P rated sizes, but virtually melts on pavement unless high pressure ( =/> 40psi) is used, and 40+ PSI makes for a very bumpy ride. P rated are better for daily drivers, but then the stock 16(+)" wheels are fine too. If you can swap them out at home, a 2nd set of smaller wheels with LT rated tires could work for extended off-road trips, but not so much otherwise.

[@TristanRayner]

I went with the Cooper Discoverers. Went up to 70's on the stock 16's. Much lighter than the meaty KO2's, car still feels like it did prior to fitting them. No noticeable road noise or impact on fuel economy, and they perform fantastically off road. I picked up a used wheel from ebay and mounted the spare to that. Low and behold, it fits in the spare wheel well, without deflating it! 5 tire rotation is easy to coordinate at home with a few jackstands. All going well so far.

[@softroadingthewest]

I would very definitely consider these next time around. Have heard nothing but positive reviews. Glad to hear they're working out for you. Thanks for watching!

[@clericduran]

I’m a land cruiser guy but drove my Mom’s Subaru Baja this past weekend and have been watching your videos. You have great content keep up the good work!

[@allanblack8635]

The humble brag is palpable.

[@clericduran]

Allan Black I shared what I drive in my post to help bridge the off-roading vs softroading. I have seen other videos with posters and commenters downplaying other set ups because it didn’t fit in there preferred mold of what an off-roader “should be”. Just trying to give credit where credit is due. Since my last post, I took the Baja on as a project because of the lasting impression this channel has made on me and I will continue to follow the adventures because God knows when I will be able to romp around the north west. If you get out there, I wish you a safe return.

[@Minerbot02]

I run continental Terrain contacts on my stock height 2016 Forester and I have been extremely pleased with them In the time that ive had them. I just got back from an overlanding trip in Colorado and they far exceeded my expectations.

[@softroadingthewest]

Great to hear. I've heard nothing but praises for that tire. Thanks for watching and for reporting your experience, much appreciated!

[@outbackandy4112]

Yeah, I went with the Cooper A/T 235/65/R17 on my 2019 Rav 4 Adventure at 29.2" they have the same O.D as the stock tires were, the tires were 6 pounds heavier but going with the 17" American Racing wheels 893 were 6# lighter, I'm having no lose in MPG's....Great tires.

[@adamadams6740]

That balloon demonstration is probably the best explanation for someone that is new to the off road stuff I’ve ever seen,good job man.just found your channel 👍🏿👍🏿 also not sure about the size exactly but Milestar makes a bunch of good priced AT tires a lot of Jeep guys Rock them I’ve had the Milestar Patagonia’s on couple of my rides and had really good luck.

[@softroadingthewest]

I don't think they make those small enough to fit on my Forester, though I had a buddy who briefly ran them on a Forester with a bigger lift. Ultimately they were so oversize as to be problematic in a number of ways and he got rid of them pretty quickly. I do have a video of a short excursion I did with him while he had those tires: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6SleWqMn9SZhaM

[@christophervang3347]

I currently run Yokohama Geolandar G015's and they're amazing. Definitely saw a dip in my mileage but outstanding performance! I do bolt on a different set of winter tires too, but the G015's are so good. Great review btw!

[@citizenc.g.9385]

What is your tire size?

[@christophervang3347]

@@citizenc.g.9385 I run with 225/65/17 size as they don't sell 225/60/17 in that size anymore. Although I had to make a bit of modification on my front splash guards by trimming them as they were rubbing when I turned at a specific angle. Hope this helps!

[@naggersdie]

Amazing tires! I feel as if they are THE tire for lifted off-road oriented cars/crossovers. You must live where it gets really cold because I have taken my G015's into some deep snow on my FWD jetta and had no issues whatsoever with traction.

[@alannguyen2415]

hi Christopher, what do you mean when you say you saw a dip in mileage? The larger tyres do not give you accurate speed/distance readings?

[@christophervang3347]

@@alannguyen2415 Bigger tires require more effort from the engine so it's a bit more of a strain to it. I've gone from 24mpg to 21.5~22mpg.

[@meeno_the_man]

Thanks for the info. And as an aside, you’re beguilingly zen in your delivery. Many thanks for the relaxation that I can now equate with the complex koan of trying to figure out the ideal tires and wheels for my new machine.

[@goodbonezz1289]

Great video, thanks! While not a Subaru guy, I very much admire streak for adventure, and love seeing any vehicles capabilities fully exploited..plus, I’ve been a huge Ko2 fan myself for three years now. I’ve had the chance to personally see how they wear compared to a few other off road tires, and there’s no comparison. After running them myself, I came to the exact same conclusion. Noticeable weight, although not much noise for me..and expensive...but well worth it.

[@lindongamble8921]

I have never in my life aired down. Never had any issues.

[@Payton_oh]

I just installed some Falken Wildpeak AT3Ws on my crosstrek and I freaking love them! I thought my car could go cool places before... now all my Jeep friends are trying to keep up haha Thanks for the tips man, I love your stuff!

[@softroadingthewest]

Awesome to hear, I would have loved to run them myself! Thanks for commenting!

[@michaelhenecke]

Ive got about 10k miles on mine or 11 months on my 18 Crosstrek and love them also. They preform great in the snow.

[@strofimios]

Lighter tires you can get in that size,are the toyos at2. 26lbs vs 32lbs for the ko2.They are also available in 215/80/15 which gives you 1/2'' more height-ground clearance.

[@timothyjamieson1282]

I think that part of the loss of acceleration/ zippiness with your larger all terrains is not just the weight but the larger diameter of the tyres. This gives you the ground clearance- and the guard clearance issues. But it also raises the overall gearing ratios slightly. Larger diameter rolls further per revolution which has the same effect as a taller diff ratio. Also can put your speedo accuracy out and this will change the measurements for your fuel economy..

[@Moneypit_Adventures]

I love my Grabber A/T 2's on my Trek. Lighter, cheaper, and quieter than the KO2's. My only issue with my Grabbers is they slide more than I'd like on greasy road surface(after a rain as the oils in the road seep up to coat the top of the road). They do quite well in active and even heavy rain storms. I drove roughly 5 hours home with a very heavy rain storm pacing us the entire way and I never felt any concern with the tires.

[@softroadingthewest]

I’ve heard similar complaints about KO2 and other aggressive-tread AT tires. I’ve had one wet season on the KO2s (and here in western Oregon the wet season is significant) and didn’t have any trouble, though I think I probably was subconsciously taking it easy with that concern in the back of my mind. Thanks for watching and for the detailed comment!

[@MakeQuickEasyMoney]

I’ve also got AT2’s on my SG Forester. Little bit loud for me but good tires. Never had issues in the wet or slick so far. I used to have Falken AT3W’s on my old 4Runner and LOVED them. A little bit quieter than the AT2’s and similar if not better performance in snow/wet. Wish they made the AT3W in my size tho... :/

[@chrisjwil]

How do you guys think they would be on snow? Just learning about AT tires.

[@leadnsteel1428]

@@chrisjwil they are amazing.. I air them down in snow and I can go through anything

[@procrastinator1842]

I just went from Grabber ATs to G015s and I cant believe how shit the grabbers were on wet mountain roads.

[@dolfowolfo1]

I've been looking for a video that explains certain things like this! I have a 2008 Forester running 215/65/r16 Falken Wildpeaks and always wondered if I needed to get offset wheels to make them stick out some like yours. Your comment about the +15 offset helped me plan for the future!! :)

[@jimmyistoocool]

I have 2007xt I’m about to get the same tires and same size 215/65/r16. Any good or bad reviews? So they fit okay, do they rub? Road noise ? Thank you

[@miranda_bly]

@@jimmyistoocool Did you get them? Do they fit okay? Do they rub? Road noise? I'm thinking of the same for my 2006X.

[@pf465]

Love your videos dude, thank you for taking the time to make this. Car looks great.

[@Sanzerizeli]

as a subaru forester 2009 ovner . it a perfect video. thank you for the explanations

[@Sanzerizeli]

@J130 G810 thank you very much.

[@BrianWalsingham]

Running the Yokohama G015 on my ‘15 Forester right now and they are performing very well. I like the Touring package 18” wheels and the Yokos were the only ones that would fit. They look great, too.

[@williambiglin9649]

i put toyo open countrys on my 18 crosstrek, 215, 65, 17R and they fit great. Not much road noise and they don't look to bad with the stock wheels

[@daveedkim]

Hey William, do you have a lift on your Crosstrek, or just fit with stock wheels and stock height?

[@jakeball1991]

Im running the Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S 215/70/16 on my SH Forester. I've had them for over a year and have managed to tackle all the tracks and terrain that all the big trucks have driven. I love the look of your Tires Donald, they look super tough too!

[@jasonsulewski8215]

AT3's are great tires. I ran 3 sets on my Jeeps. Have not found a better tire for wet driving.

[@ws6transam]

You on a lift and if so how much of a lift?

[@soundsolutions]

Are you on OEM wheels or running offset rims with those AT3's?

[@russellmiller9203]

Great Video.... I’m running 225/60R 17 Continental Terrain Contact A/T’s on my stock 2014 Forester Limited and I couldn’t be happier. On-road in heavy rain and snow they have been great and off-road they been phenomenal. They have run really well on the forest roads of Northern California but where they really shined was off-road in Death Valley. After they did really well on Titus Canyon I decided to run the notorious tire destroying rocky road out to the racetrack and back. This road is 25 miles of talus and relentless washboards that almost made me turn around. After almost an hour and a half, I made it to the playa. Heading back out, I went much faster and actually passed a couple of Tacomas. The tires and the Subaru preformed flawlessly. They’ve been on the car for 18 months now and 20k miles and they still look new...I’ve had BFG All-Terrains on a Land Cruiser and Isuzu Trooper I’ve owned and honestly, I like the Continentals better.

[@russellmiller9203]

Numbers wise, yes. But in actual measurements they are slightly taller. The original tires were Yokohama Geolander G91s. They were worn out at 35k miles and got noisier as the wore down. The Continentals are much quieter.

[@softroadingthewest]

Nice, thank you for the detailed report. My previous all-seasons were Continental - they were fabulous tires and even held their own reasonably well offroad. I’ve heard many people praise the TerrainContacts. Thanks for watching!

[@Redhood-417]

2011 Forester XT I don't run all terrain tires yet. My all season choice is Michellin LTX M/S. These tires go thru water and snow like a champ. Definitely recommend for light off road use as well.

[@deepncsu]

Informative as always! Thanks for the feature :)

[@softroadingthewest]

Thank YOU for use of the photos, much appreciated and they're great shots too! 8^)

[@jerryrogers5233]

This is as all reviews should be. It was honest, human, not overproduced, and very useful. I've put a cattle gate front bumper as well as 3/8" armor under on my 17 Outback and am putting on a wench (behind the front fascia) as well as a 2" lift with stiffer springs, a roof top tent and am trying to decide on a wheel/tire combo. It is unfortunate that a 17 Limited comes with 18 x 7 wheels as there are few choices for A/T tires on this wheel, plus as stated in the video the 15/16/17 inch tires have more sidewall which is desirable for many reasons. Thanks!

[@archive.garage]

Nice review and info, you are really using the car off road! I have the KO2s on our 2005 Sequoia and they are great, I think 1 of the best AT tires available, significantly better than Falken AT3W. I think your increased diameter is probably much of the reason for your decreased acceleration, plus increased rolling resistance.

[@oc-wk236]

I love how your channel is called softroadingthewest. I have never heard the term soft-roading before, but I love it. I live in Southern California and we have some great off-roading here. Joshua Tree, Death Valley and Anza Borrego are all near by and I love Jeeping out there. Unfortunately I have had to rescue a couple Subarus out off the hard trails. It seams like you not only know the limitations of a AWD with a CVT but embrace it. By embracing "soft-roading", you are doing a huge service to people. By set expectations reasonably, you could actually save someone's life. Out in the deserts of SoCal, someone getting stuck on the trail could be fatal, especially in the summer. I love when I see Sub's out on the fire roads but when I know they are heading out to a 4x4, high-clearance-required trail, I try to convince them to turn around. Unfortunately, they say stuff like, "nah, with there tires I can go anywhere". Its not the tires I'm worried about its the trans and drive train. Keep up the good work!

[@softroadingthewest]

Thanks! The first time I heard the term "softroader" it was used in a sort of derogatory way, like, "oh that rig is just a softroader" but I really liked the term, I thought it made perfect sense for someone like me who wants to explore nature on forest roads. Some of the trails I've seen videos of in southern California and Utah are what may eventually get me into a true 4x4...there's some amazing places I'd love to check out where this Forester simply cannot go. Thanks for watching!

[@raynman6466]

"Softroader" is usually used for awd suvs that people think can go offroad

[@Sirgromulus]

Very useful information. Thank you!

[@charlesmeade4451]

Just bought a 22 Forester Wilderness on Saturday. It came with the Geolanders already on it. Quiet and comfortable on pavement, and did well in loose dirt. I'm going to have so much fun with this car.

[@softroadingthewest]

Congrats! Enjoy!

[@scottfranza7383]

I have AT2’s on my cross trek and I absolutely love the versatility they give me!! Any terrain any weather my car goes!! I am so confident and happy with it that I am actually giving the car to my 16 year old daughter!! I know it’s safe and capable!!!

[@ejamesnapelenok7224]

Does it rub?

[@scottfranza7383]

Doesn’t rub at all

[@ejamesnapelenok7224]

@@scottfranza7383 I just put 215/75/15 general tires on my 2013 crosstrek and it rubs :( do you think it’s because it’s the first gen?

[@RKmndo]

@@ejamesnapelenok7224 Possibly. 1st gen Crosstreks have smaller wheelwells. It could also be your wheel offset. You may also want a lift, but it might not be necessary with the right offset and/or maybe some trimming of the wheelwell plastic.

[@Qtpiecolorist]

Your video is so informative...thank you. I'm looking to purchase a 2017 crosstrek for my outdoor adventures. It has about 29k miles only so I'm looking to modify this vehicle and I'd like to start with the right tires. Stock is 225/55hr17. Not familiar with what the hr stands for. I'm looking for all terrain tires, will spend a good amount of time in snow as well as dry land. I know you mentioned a smaller diameter to fit a bigger thicker tire... what would you suggest if I'd prefer the tires to SLIGHTLY stick out the sides? This is all new to me so any information is helpful. Thanks in advance and for the great video!

[@ryanlefevre97]

Loving my Toyo Open Country A/T III on my '18 XT. Highly recommend for all purposes.

[@eugenegutierrez5106]

It’s so tempting to get those all terrain tires sothat I can accommodate the look of a car. Although most of my driving are city.

[@ResilienceOnPurpose]

I've been running the General Grabber AT2's on 2 vehicles for 7 or 8 years now, and love them. I used to use BFG T/A's and like them too, but the Grabbers are a better price, wear well, and are always reviewed positively. I'll be sticking with them. I'm especially happy with their snow driving performance. It's worth noting that airing down a tire increases it's internal friction, and thus heat. In warmer weather this will cause premature wearing of your tire at least, and possibly cause a tire failure over time. This is something overlander's in larger rigs need to consider regularly.

[@avellinklater3566]

If you want your tire to be lighter, get "p" rated instead of "LT".

[@mikec3454]

P-Rated tires are pretty much synonymous for "highway tires". This what you get stock on a majority of vehicles, including most trucks, which people very quick to change out. Do they even make AT tires in P-rated? Sounds like that would defeat the purpose. Also pay attention to the load rating ... I have K02s that are D rated so they are 8-ply compared to the 10-ply E rated K02s. That in itself can contribute to a more comfortable ride.

[@AWDfreak]

@@mikec3454 Yes, there absolutely are P-metric all-terrains. I had some and they were the only set of all-terrains that had the same speed rating as my stock tires. Hilariously, they were quieter than my stock highway terrain tires, were better in the wet, better off-road, longer treadwear, and even lower price. However, they did sacrifice dry pavement braking and lateral grip on dry pavement.

[@ElectricDanielBoone]

KO2 definitely get load range C. They have a 3 ply sidewall, but not too stiff I read. My stock Destination A/T have a 2 ply side wall and less aggressive tread than KO2.

[@MyCrippledWings]

@@mikec3454 I have falken wildpeak at3w in P rating on my 07 4runner. I absolutely love em. LT is more so for hardcore off-roading, or if you tow in excess of 5000lbs often. And allows for futher airdown as the sidewall is stiffer. Main difference is weight, cheaper then the LT version, and sidewall thickness. Also softer ride. On a Subaru, LT rating is overkill. Unnecessary as they can't haul more than 2500lbs anyway, don't do super hardcore offroading (like rock crawling and such) I've had mine since last Sept I think. Shame poster couldn't get them to work on his forester. They are quieter on road than the Ko2s, CHEAPER, better overall tread life (use a compound exclusive to Falken that allows longer tread wear), and been proven to be better in snow and mud. Ko2 isn't bad, just one of those things where you buy the name. When other brands make better for less. On my 4runner. Discount tire price matched tirebuyer.com. I got stock size.(265/70/17) all 5 were $820 installed, balanced. Lifetime (to 3/32 of an inch) Hazard/defect warranty, and most don't know, even if not purchased there, they rotate/re-balance tires free of charge. Like I said, I am very happy with mine. Maybe a 1mpg difference than the Firestone Destination Le2 (all seasons I bought it with), ride is just as quiet, and as smooth and responsive and the all seasons were. But..... Far better overall control. I HAD BFG Mud Terrain KM (275/55/17. Exact same tires Jeep Rubicon come factory with) LTs. Loud as fuck, my otherwise ballsy v6 was sluggish (they are heavy), ride was stiffer (because duh LT mud tire), and fuel economy just plummeted. I hated them. That, and they were worthless in wet weather. Very sketchy. No wonder why most just get rid of them with 90% tread still left on them. They SUCK!!!! (these are the original KM. The new ones have sipes and such) So, all that said. He could of saved a little. As I think the ko2 also come in p rating. Softer ride, and should still be able to do what he already does. Unless you are towing often, or otherwise hardcore off reading. The LTs are overkill. 4runner sub on reddit are 50/50 now (used to be more so ko2 was tire of choice, till Falken started proving itself with the wildpeaks) many like the ko2. But say too pricey, tread life is much less than the falkens, they don't have very good mud or snow and wet weather performance (the falkens are better), and the road noise. Falkens are quieter. For the price, the Falkens do everything the ko2s do, while beating them at certain other things. Forgot to add. We recently had rain. Since its AZ, tends to flood when it does. I drove through very deep puddles (like half my wheel deep) didn't drift, or hydroplane at all. They remain well planted in most situations.

[@MyCrippledWings]

@@mikec3454 the Falken Wildpeak AT3W I now have on my 07 4runner are P rated. I have no issues with them. Main difference is lighter, and sidewall isn't as thick. Took the advice of a fellow 4runner owner on reddit. They handle just as well. Thing is, unless hardcore off roading, or towing a lot. P rated is fine. I do some fire roads and unpaved roads with them. They handle real well. Think LT are able to be aired down further, obviously side wall is thicker so better overall puncture resistance. But on a Subaru, it's overkill. As they aren't capable anyway to do more serious stuff. Nor can even tow up to 5k lbs, let alone past that anyway. So P rated is absolutely fine on them. The wildpeak AT trail, Falken made specifically for crossovers. Pretty much a toned down version of the AT3W that REAL/Truck based Suvs have. Imo they are better overall for a fraction of the price than the Ko2 are. Also use an exclusive to falken, compound. That promotes longer tread life and even wear over the competition too. BFG isn't a bad brand, but tend to have balance issues throughout the life of the tire. At this point, most pay for the name, over actual overall abilities. Falkens ride smoother and quieter on road as well.

[@m.k.7199]

I have been running BFG All Terrain KO's on my Jeeps and Trucks for over 20 years. They are known as the contractor tire because construction contractors run them on their trucks. The grip everything well and handle well in all environmental conditions (you have to know the limitations of your vehicles). Best of all, they last between 60K and 80K, depending on your use. I have the third set on my 2009 Ford F-150 with 210K miles( put them on with 40K on the stock tires). I do everything in this truck (since I sold my Jeep). I hunt and camp back country, drive deserts (NV is mostly rocks and sand), and go overlanding. I just love these tires.

[@tritchie6272]

One extra lesson I got out of this is, if your gonna lift your Subaru go with the 2 inch lift.

[@softroadingthewest]

Yes, that would certainly be my recommendation. I hope to upgrade to the 2” lift one day. Thanks for watching!

[@robbarker450]

I'd do the 3 inch lift instead

[@turbodan78]

Doesn't sound like much? A Chinese forester owner said he only had four inches! I think he meant his lift kit 😅

[@Andrew-wq1ue]

@@robbarker450 3" lifts don't agree with the AWD geometry AFAIK. 2" with a saggy butt spacer is the most people recommend without really noticing accelerated wear.

[@0xsergy]

@@Andrew-wq1ue 3" lift to me says diff drop required but that's just coming from general 4x4s, not subaru specific. CV shafts can only deal with so much angle before they start breakin. And once you drop your diffs you have your new lowest contact point so the whole effort of lifting the vehicle to increase ground clearance has gone to waste.

[@peglegjim57]

I finally settled on KO2’s for my 2017 Outback, and super happy with them. I’m old, and my former Extreme off roading is well behind me. Airing them down a little bit to 25 PSI gets me damned near anywhere I want to go, and here in the woods of New England, that’s a major plus. Granted, they’re a heavy tire, and they aren’t “great” for every scenario, but they are super predictable in all 4 seasons, and on those roads that I travel regularly. Your tires have to reflect the types of predicaments you’re going to put yourself through, but these have been a fantastic “all purpose” tire for me.

[@eugenegutierrez5106]

I think I’ll stick up Michelin all season tires. Very informative.

[@jimbuckley4986]

Most excellent video. I have been running KO2 tires on both my Tacoma and GMC 3/4 ton for several years and while not perfect, as tires are about compromise, they have done me well. Now that we also just purchased a 2021 Outback, looking to upgrade the oem tires supplied as we live in the mountains and this will be my wife’s daily driver. Narrowed down to Falken Trail, Bridgestone Blizzak, and Michelin Crossclimate2 as she is not going offroad

[@bryanenglish7841]

I'm not sure, I'm skeptical about airing down my tires ~~watches balloon demonstration~~ well I'm convinced

[@ThreePapaZeroXrayTwo]

Airing down your tires allow a wider foot print to gain traction. The weakest point of your tires are the sidewalls. You should always aim to roll your tire directly over the rock rather than around it. That is of course depends on the size of the rock, your vehicle clearence and suspension.

[@bradhaines3142]

@@ThreePapaZeroXrayTwo downside of forgetting is it hurts your gas mileage on the highway, so dont forget to air back up

[@jerrymyahzcat]

@@ThreePapaZeroXrayTwo incorrect. It makes a longer footprint not wider.

[@RKmndo]

@@jerrymyahzcat That too. It also allows the tires and tread to conform to the ground better, providing better traction.

[@machete8726]

How much do I need to air down ?

[@theamarolife6967]

Thank you for the advice and products you showed on your video. Went to Great Basin National Park and deflated my PSI to 25 abs went over miles of gravel flawlessly

[@softroadingthewest]

That's awesome to hear! Sounds like a great trip!

[@theamarolife6967]

It was. Keep up the good workn

[@DeDREWS1F]

just got a 2016 forester, looking forward to this

[@ginogina4589]

Youre right about the K02s being heavy. But they are an excellent choice for offroad or horrendous conditions. I had solid service from them through blizzards, desert sand dunes, rocky roads, floods and at speed on the interstates.

[@powerrangerlegacyfactsande6751]

I run general grabbers at3 all-terrain no road noise what so ever great off road

[@alexsoubbotin]

thanks for such a greet summary! I've chosen cooper discoverer AT3 tyres which are amazing for my forester sk! next step will be replacing suspension, probably with Pedders.

[@travishogue5754]

I've got General Grabber AT2'S on my 2012 Forester and I love them!

[@ericloiacono741]

I got these as well for my Crosstrek - how are they playing in the snow?

[@travishogue5754]

They are great! I live in Michigan, so we gets tons of snow!!

[@nathankoroush7918]

I have them on my 2003 Tacoma, great tire

[@henrik3056]

How was it installing them? Any grinding needed? Did you need new struts?

[@WillFPaul]

What tire size and rim size?

[@georgedanilov8898]

Just started getting into off-road travel Fitted Grabber AT2 in Colorado a month ago, absolutely love it, it’s like having 2 diff cars - super quiet, regular road car on the highway,,, And a beast on deflated tires on unpaved Forest service/canyon roads 215/65/R16, no lift, everything is stock It’s Outback 2005 (Stock size was 225/60/R16)

[@rileyschultz88]

I run the Yokohama Geolander AT/S which are a better road tyre than most dedicated road tyres and fantastic on the sand. The K02 look much better suited to tacking trails than the AT/S but probably wouldnt be the greatest option if you spend alot of time on the road.

[@archiebunker3654]

Yep, when I got my Crosstrek, I knew I wanted to run K02's on it. I wanted a good AT tire that I could run year around. My wife's Crosstrek, I have it setup with Nokian R3's for winter commuting. So I have to swap those out in the spring. But for mine I wanted the K02's. I couldn't be happier with them. They're great in the snow, quiet enough for me, and I really like the looks of them.

[@ElectricDanielBoone]

R3's are a super winter tire!

[@sam.p1982]

I'm running Coopers ATT on my outback. Best decision I've made. 215/65r16

[@fouglasdir]

Great video! Lots of good info, well shot and edited. The air down part is very helpful. I recently purchased a 2020 Outback base model and paid to have it lifted (2"). Got Method wheels and BF Goodrich KO2s 245/65 17R D rating. Love, love, love it!!!

[@gerrygadget]

How are the method wheels different from stock? Tougher? Lighter or heavier? I just learned about sprung/unsprung weight

[@fouglasdir]

@@gerrygadget You know more than me. We purchased the car from the dealership with this set up. I haven't researched the ins and outs of the different options. The main thing for us was the ground clearance and tires so we can access our cabin in the winter (mile and a half up a dirt road, not plowed).

[@rodneydecormier1504]

Put this tire on my '04 forester st. Best damn combination ever. That forester did things you would say impossible.

[@timmanley371]

I have an 2011 2.5 Limited in the same color. Just went out and bought 15's and A/T tires. Going to be using your video's for guidance as I improve my set up for car camping, backpacking, and more outdoor exploration. Keep up the great content!

[@softroadingthewest]

Tim Manley Nice, good luck with the build and have fun!

[@timmanley371]

@@softroadingthewest I will, thank you! I used to have an 09 Mustang and heavily modified that, but am more excited about the this because of the capability and budget friendliness of it.

[@timmanley371]

@@softroadingthewest meant to ask; do you have a skid plate on yours? Thanks!

[@softroadingthewest]

@@timmanley371 I have an interim DIY skid plate I made, which I cannot recommend because it's not thick enough to provide as much protection as the commercially available options. I haven't purchased one because I'm hoping to integrate a custom solution as part of a custom front bumper build. Primitive Racing offers an SH Forester skid plate, and ADF also just came out with their own version. I don't think they have production models for sale on their website yet, but they did show a prototype on their Instagram account about a month ago and IMO it looks like a better design than Primitive's.

[@timmanley371]

@@softroadingthewest Thank you for the information. I just wanted to know the options out there 👌

[@17.06.Copper]

Running a 16 SJ 2.5 stock hight with 225/65/17 Geolander G015 on stock rims. I do alot of highway and havent lossed much milage when running a 35psi for harder tires of street. Then air down for trail.

[@jamaljabi5295]

That was a nice presentation, it all start from the driver's needs, airing down is very important and more rubber than metal makes any offroader more efficient, now to maintain the same acceleration as the OEM tires setup either maintain the same tire diameter or lower the final ratio, my 2015 Forester came with 225/60R 17, I replaced them with 235/55R 17, a little wider but the same diameter, OK2 tires are exactly rated as you mentioned, I had them on my Land Rover Camel trophy, tough go anywhere tires. I will wait for your next video, Good job.

[@aaronl4036]

the recommendation for the tire calculator really helped me. I just bought an 08 Grand vitara that I am lifting and fitting AT's too. Thanks

[@softroadingthewest]

Glad to hear it was helpful! I've referred to that thing SO many times...even now that I've had my tires for over a year, I still end up referring to that calculator when people ask me questions. Super handy. Good luck with the build. I'm a Suzuki fan and wish that new Jimny was sold here. Is your Vitara 4x4 with low range?

[@softroadingthewest]

@D R I did not know that! That makes the Vitara a very interesting option for sure!

[@jpshipwash6240]

I just came across your channel and am I sure am glad I did. So much useful info in a straightforward way, interspersed with beautiful scenery. Now I understand what “softroading” means. Many ideas for my current 2018 Crosstrek and a future Forester. Thanks for what you do.

[@danstennis1817]

I've run ko2's on all my trucks. It's great for off road and rides great on pavement.

[@Dekar930]

Likewise

[@MusicStudent1]

Do the ko2’s work well on the highway in the rain? I want to upgrade my tires but I want to avoid highway hydroplaning...had a bad experience with that once (I am just grateful I am alive right now).

[@Dekar930]

@@MusicStudent1 Glad you're alive too bud, hydroplaning can be some scary stuff. I haven't ran ko2's on my subaru forester yet, but I did have them on an 07 Nissan Titan. That vehicle is considerably heavier than my forester. On my Titan, the road noise, especially on the highway was increased significantly, and I do feel like sometimes I had a little less traction on roads and highways in the rain. I compared the ko2's to my driving my friend's titan who had stock street tires and I felt a little difference, it wasn't huge but noticeable. I never felt like I was going to hydroplane with the ko2's and I drive in the rain often, (good ole Louisiana weather lol). I will say from personal experience that the ko2's were awesome for offroad.

[@aurtisanminer2827]

Dude, i am the only person i know who airs down my tires. It makes such a huge difference! I bought a set of deflators kind of like yours, but they dont screw together like that. I set a timer on my phone to tell when i should stop and check the pressure. I’ll run down to 18-20 psi on my half ton suburban and still be able to drive about 45 mph without my tires getting too hot. Sometimes i have to drive about 25 miles on pavement to the nearest air compressor.

[@softroadingthewest]

It's funny, I get all kinds of grief for airing down and I don't understand it (or why other people even care what I do or don't do with my tires, LOL). But yeah...it makes such a difference! I carry a Viair 88p so I can air back up as soon as I hit pavement. The 88p might be a little underpowered for the larger tires on your Suburban, though there are other options. Thanks for watching!

[@aurtisanminer2827]

It’s no wonder that people are skeptical. Look how many people lift their trucks, deck them out for off roading, and put low profile tires on them. Some want fashion over function and some just dont realize the benefit of a high profile low psi tire. The one time i didnt air down i ended up with a bad puncture. I should get a decent portable air compressor. I always rely on local gas stations to supply my air, but the closest one closes down at the end of summer. I’ll have to check out that compressor you mentioned.

[@aurtisanminer2827]

That looks like a pretty sweet pump! Better than the little one that i currently have.

[@born2win259]

Nice! I’ve been wanting to add some of these on my Subaru ascent with a 2” lift kit.!

[@allanfrancis7572]

Bear in mind that the k02 is also a very soft tire which means they wear quicker and you will not get the same lifespan as other tires. The softer compound is better for offroad tho.

[@RVingwithG]

@@allanfrancis7572 I went with the GEOLANDERS less noise and does just fine in an A/T ride. I did not ever Air Down and now that I know better I will be getting a pump.

[@dadcooksstuff]

Awesome vid. answered a lot of my questions without having to spend a lot of money. mahalos brother. Keep the vids coming. Love the Frontier too

[@joshuakocher3911]

Although i dont have a subaru i have KO2s on my tacoma. Theyre great tires the one down side to them is the lack of traction on wet pavement. Theyre amazing in snow and off road.

[@softroadingthewest]

That's probably the most frequent complaint I've heard. I've been through one wet western Oregon winter on the KO2s and didn't have any trouble, but then my Forester is a bit of an underpowered slug, so even on wet pavement it's not prone to breaking tires loose. Thanks for watching!

[@StephenStHill-si7en]

Thanks for the nice presentation. My Nissan X-trail takes the same tyres. Aggressive tyres at this end of the market are more limited. Your clip is very informative.

[@BounceBackWesterner]

Like your channel. Great vids. Thanks. I learned a lot from this particular video. Brand new on the market as of this post are Falken AT Trail tires. Might be worth a look for the Subaru crowd.

[@spawn11]

Great demonstration about importance of airing down tires before off-roading.

[@VKSgtSLaughter]

8:30 I like this skid plate! Can you do a video that shows you how you made it and how it's attached?

[@softroadingthewest]

To be honest I really hesitate to show this in any detail. It's improvised from a scrap of not terribly thick aluminum and I think most people would say it barely qualifies as a skid plate. It's just an interim solution I've got on there for now to provide an extra layer of metal for now until I can firm up plans on the custom long-term design I'm visualizing. If I talk about this temporary protection in a video, I'm just going to get hammered with commenters mocking me and pointing out all the reasons it's insufficient. And really, it wouldn't be helpful to anyone because it's true that it IS insufficient. I wouldn't want anyone emulating it then coming back to me angry because they still managed to crack their oilpan on a rock or something. 8^) To sort of answer your questions though, in front it is attached by the same two bolts which mount my Rally Innovations light bar. In the rear, I found a pair of perfectly positioned unused holes I was able to bolt to. The shape wasn't a deliberate attempt to copy any other design, I simply started bending and cutting in a way that made sense to me as I was under the car looking at everything. Overall it has less coverage and FAR less sturdiness than the Primitive plate, but it is at least a *little* extra protection compared to what I had under there for the first two years, which was zero. 8^)

[@michaelhenecke]

Iv got the Falken Wildpeak AT3W on my 18 Crosstrek and love them, I don't have any lift and get very minor rub I had considered the KO2 but the Falkens were 1/2 the price for me and so far almost a year on them they are performing great I haven't been able to get out and do any trail driving yet but the snow handling is great. love your review of your KO2s.

[@softroadingthewest]

Thank you! I've yet to hear a single complaint about the Wildpeak AT3W, seems to be an excellent choice. Thanks for watching, and for sharing your experience!

[@drewwolod4977]

Hey Michael, very interesting that you run the Falkens without any lift. Haven't seen it done before. Minor rub you say? How do you feel about the weight of the 235/75r15? It's a good deal heaver than its KO2/ GG AT2 counterparts. MPG loss? Thanks in advance.

[@michaelhenecke]

Drew Wolod yeah I get about a 4mpg loss, I was expecting that as I knew they would be heavier than stock. They are quieter than KO2s although the noise levels are starting to get louder as they wear, when they started out they were just slightly louder than stock barely noticeable right now they are quieter than when they are on snow covered roads. Getting back to the weight issue I do mostly highway driving to get to work so the mileage isn’t as bad as it could be because of the flywheel effect (once the weight gets moving it wants to keep moving) however breaking is great there have been a few times I had to stop quickly and not a sound from the tires I can’t say that about the stock 18s the stopping with them was just ok dry. I do plan on doing a spacer lift and putting heavier springs in the back they didn’t design the rear suspension to carry any weight in the back if I have one adult in the back it sags horribly.

[@michaelhenecke]

Drew Wolod actually the KO2s are about a pound heavier at 36.1 vs 35.1 for the wildpeak this could be due to the KO2s being load range C and having more plys than the wildpeaks being XL load rated. I also save some weight with the Motegi wheels over the common Method wheels

[@johnmtb4941]

I had trouble finding something to fit on stock 18 inch wheels on my 2016 outback. I chose Yokohama geolander g015 in 235 width. Fits great.

[@two-wheels7397]

we did the same

[@swidahooverlanding2867]

Doing research from my Jeep it came down to two tires. KO2's and Grabbers. Both are well respected in the Overlanding world. It finally came down to the KO2's since they did not weigh as much. I also switched to aluminum wheels and went from 31" to 33" tires. Even though I went with a larger diameter tire the aluminum wheels helped to keep my weight gain to only 2lbs per corner. Larger diameter tires will not only weigh more, but also add more diameter to overcome with breaking and acceleration. With that said most tires you will be looking at will be overbuilt for a car since they are intended for light truck use. I would imagine even the not so well liked AT tires in the overlanding world would work great on a Subaru or any other smaller vehicle since don't weigh as much as light trucks. Great video, thanks for the research, George

[@softroadingthewest]

Excellent point about the fact that these are light truck tires originally designed for heavier rigs. It does seem like regardless of which AT tire they’re running, most Subaru owners are happy with whatever AT tire they have, and that would help explain it. I can’t even imagine what it would be like running these tires on my previous steel wheels. My alloys are ultralight to help offset the weight gain of the tires, but the setup has still noticeably slowed me down. Thanks for watching and weighing in George!

[@tribalsean]

Excellent info covering all the questions one has on lifting and tire options... Airing down is important, and comfy... really love my Yoko Geo go15's @ 215/75r15...have a 4 1/2" adf lift with ~3" subframe drop... have beaten the heck out of these tires down in Baja, only aired down for the beach, didn't get stuck once, thankfully... thank you for a great video... I will surely relay... 👊🏼🙏🏼🤙🏼

[@atlasa9020]

Great video! Really helpful especially with clearance concerns! Been looking at getting the K02s for my 18 Crosstrek and I’m more excited to get them now

[@VKSgtSLaughter]

Fantastic video! Very informative and perfect timing! I've been looking for AT tires and the choices are mind-numbing. I'd like to get new, smaller diameter wheels so I can have more sidewall, but I wonder if I should match my General Altimax Artic 215/60R17 snow tires, so I can use them as a spare? They are unstoppable in the snow and only a little bit taller than stock at 27.2" but they ride and corner great. Thanks so much for sharing your wealth of information. Excellent video! Keep up the great work!

[@softroadingthewest]

It's really a question of diameter, I don't think the car cares if the spare you put on is a different size wheel (it always would be with the donut spare anyway) so you could try to find a 15" AT tire that matches the diameter of your snow tires..? Thanks as always for watching & commenting, appreciate the support!

[@VKSgtSLaughter]

@@softroadingthewest Thank! Love your videos. They inspire me to explore!

[@rickywhitman9224]

@@softroadingthewest what size tire do you usually go with when oversizing? I have the same Forester and am interested in doing something similar. I do not have a lift on mine. Thanks!

[@softroadingthewest]

@@rickywhitman9224 I don't have a "usually"...I only did this once. :-) I put 215/75R15 on this Forester, which is a mild upsize from OEM (not even enough to register a noticeable difference on the speedometer). The other common size Subaru people go to is 235/75R15, but that is usually associated with a 2" lift. The significantly added circumference and weight of an already-heavy all-terrain tire that big make it a lot harder for that little engine to get them turning, especially when trying to climb up obstacles on the trail.

[@vincentwindels3752]

I've had a few different tires on my '97 Forester. Pirelli Scorpio AT's back in '02, BF AT KO's in '07, General Grabber AT's (not AT2's) in '12 and Nokian Rotiiva AT's since '17. The tire that suits my needs best is the Nokian, because its a tire for central european climate (rain, snow and not too hot summers). The BF AT KO was very tough but heavy and not very good on slippery roads. The Pirelli Scorpio AT was very road biased and weared out fast. The Grabber AT despite its look was quite good offroad but had fragile sidewalls. Now the Nokian Rotiiva AT doesn't have a tough look but is very solid thanks to the aramid sidewalls, no chunks off or cuts yet, very silent vs the BF AT's and very efficient in snow, rain and light mud, and they have been as good as the BF AT KO's offroad. To make a good comparison, it would be good to test the BF KO2's but havent done it yet...

[@softroadingthewest]

This is an excellent chunk of firsthand information! Thanks for sharing your experience, this is helpful!

[@orpilot]

Hi Vincent, I'm curious as to what size Nokian tire you're using. I'm thinking about using those for a 2010 (SH) forester I have and using 16" alloy wheels I have for my snow tires. Thanks for the info! Jim

[@vincentwindels3752]

@@orpilot, I have 215/70 16 Nokian Rotiiva AT's and have had all my AT tires in this size. If you're not in a hot region, you'll love these tires.

[@jase4010]

Thanks for sharing that you can run AT’s on stock foresters

[@fatehunter1972]

Very nice to watch. looking to get back into an outlook after being away for a while. THanks

[@serendipitydoctorxqy6122]

The car being slower is very likely partly the increased weight of the tire, and partly the increased tire diameter. You've basically given your car a taller gearing by increasing the tire diameter.

[@kenhoward3512]

Yes. On a car that is already relatively slow to accelerate, stock, I'd want shorter gearing to compensate for the taller diameter of the all-terrain tires. I wouldn't change gearing just for the additional weight, though.

[@kenhoward3512]

Definitely. Larger outside-diameter tires - especially on a car already pretty slow to accelerate - should call for shorter gearing to compensate. I wouldn't change gearing for the added weight, though.

[@billharvey5591]

Just got Nitto Nomad Grapplers on my ‘21 Outback Onyx XT. Great in snow and nice road manners too.

[@fatmanonamission7348]

i am still so new to all things subaru. this video was just what i needed. Thanks so much for the education and lowering my IQ (my ignorance quotient!!)

[@AdaptorDieChannel]

I love your channel brother! So much great info, budget friendly as much as possible, and all about networking! Outstanding work! 🇺🇸💯

[@thousandsuns]

This important info, thanks for sharing. I dig the set up, For me I wouldn't mind the noise so long as it performs well while on the trail. 🤙

[@matthewhall4073]

multimak 0 op 0

[@slopolopez7741]

Good to watch a video with pros and cons about a product.

[@garrymendoza3754]

I love my ko2s that I am currently running on my 19 outback!

[@pmafdahl]

Did you buy new wheels or keep stock for the ko2s? Do you use them year round? I'm needing new tires for my 18 outback limited.

[@garrymendoza3754]

@pmafdahl I kept me stock wheels. But I have a premium so it was easier to find them for the 17in wheel. I’ve had them since late july and they do great. I did lose about 5 mpgs though

[@ArbitraryLifestyle]

@@garrymendoza3754 5??? Holy fuck.

[@emmanuelalva6597]

I tried atturo blade all terrains because they were inexpensive and have good reviews . They are good so far all balanced with no issues