Subaru Forester: Winter driving / Snow tires

WARNING

• When replacing or installing winter tire(s), all four tires must be the same for following items.
  1. Size
  2. Speed symbol
  3. Load index
  4. Circumference
  5. Construction
  6. Manufacturer
  7. Brand (tread pattern)
  8. Degrees of wear

  For the items (a) to (c), you must obey the specification that is printed on the tire placard. The tire placard is located on the driver’s door pillar.

  If all the four tires are not the same for items (a) to (h), serious mechanical damage could be caused to the drivetrain of the car, and affect the followings.

  • Ride
  • Handling
  • Braking
  • Speedometer/Odometer calibration
  • Clearance between the body and tires

  It also may be dangerous and lead to loss of vehicle control, and it can lead to an accident.

• Do not use a combination of radial, belted bias or bias tires since it may cause dangerous handling characteristics and lead to an accident.

Your vehicle is equipped with “all season tires” as original equipment, which are designed to provide an adequate measure of traction, handling and braking performance in year-round driving. In winter, it may be possible to enhance performance through use of tires designed specifically for winter driving conditions.

When you choose to install winter tires on your vehicle, be sure to use the correct tire size and type. You must install four winter tires that are of the same size, construction, brand and load range and you should never mix radial, belted bias or bias tires since this may result in dangerous handling characteristics. When you choose a tire, make sure that there is enough clearance between the tire and vehicle body.

Remember to drive with care at all times regardless of the type of tires on your vehicle.