2002 Subaru Forester Tire Size & Bolt Pattern

Q: Can I fit winter tires in a different size on my 2002 Subaru Forester?

Yes — the standard winter-tire fitment pattern is one width step narrower than OEM (e.g. 225 → 215) with the aspect ratio bumped up to preserve overall diameter. Narrower tires increase contact pressure on snow for better traction. The Compatible alternative sizes table includes any winter-friendly options that fall within ±3% OD for this vehicle.

Approved fitments

Tire size	Rim size	PCD (bolt pattern)	Offset	Load index	Speed rating
215/60R16 OEM	R16	5x100	N/A	N/A	N/A

2002 Subaru forester wheel bolt pattern & specs

Bolt pattern (PCD)	5x100
Wheel thread / lug size	M12x1.25
Center bore	56.1 mm
Source	bolt-pattern.com

The 2002 Subaru Forester uses a 5x100 bolt pattern, M12x1.25 lug thread, and a 56.1 mm center bore. Bolt pattern and hub specs are stable across a model generation; always confirm against your vehicle's existing wheel before buying aftermarket wheels, spacers, or adapters. Source: community wheel-fitment reference data. Full wheel specs →

Best by use case

Four tires, four jobs

Best all-season

Continental

Pure contact ls

all-season touring, UTQG 700

Best budget

Goodyear

Assurance MaxLife

Lowest cost per mile in this size; UTQG 820

Best quiet

Bridgestone

Turanza QuietTrack

68 dB cabin noise (EU label); quietest in this size

Best winter

Bridgestone

Blizzak WS90

Dedicated winter (premium compound); ice/snow grip

Compatible alternative sizes for 215/60R16

Sizes within the ETRTO ±3% overall-diameter safe-fit tolerance. Each row links to the size's own page.

Alternative size	%Δ OD	Category	Verdict
`235/55R16`	0.08%	wider	Safe
`185/70R16`	0.15%	winter narrower	Safe
`205/75R14`	-0.20%	alternative	Safe
`195/60R17`	0.21%	plus 1	Safe
`235/60R15`	-0.21%	alternative	Safe

For the full list of alternatives with comfort/handling impact, see 215/60R16 upsize options. To check an arbitrary size pair, use the tire compatibility calculator.

Check a different size against this vehicle

Type any tire size below; we'll compute its overall-diameter delta against the OEM 215/60R16 and verdict using the ETRTO ±3% rule.

Common upgrade paths

Plus-1: 195/60R17; one rim size up, 0.21% OD change. Sharper steering, mild ride penalty, modest cost premium.
Plus-2: 205/50R18; two rim sizes up, -0.33% OD change. Noticeable ride penalty, higher pothole risk, meaningful tire-cost premium.

Use the plus-size calculator to evaluate any rim step against the OEM size.

How to choose tires for the 2002 subaru forester S

The 2002 Subaru Forester S ships from the factory on 215/60R16 tires mounted on R16 wheels. Only one approved fitment is documented for this model year, so replacement options should match the original size exactly unless a plus-size upgrade is being considered. The Compatible alternative sizes table above lists every safe substitution within the ETRTO ±3% overall-diameter tolerance.

Tire choice on the Subaru Forester comes down to three trade-offs that matter more than brand loyalty: load index (must equal or exceed the OEM number), speed rating (must match or exceed the placard), and UTQG treadwear (higher means longer life, lower usually means stickier rubber). Owners replacing factory tires with the same compound class, for example all-season for all-season, generally see no change in ride characteristics or fuel economy. Switching categories (performance summer to all-season touring, for example) is where the trade-offs show up at the contact patch.

For 2002 Subaru Forester S owners considering a plus-size upgrade, the safer option is a Plus-1 step (one rim size up with a 10-point aspect drop and ~10 mm of additional section width). Plus-2 is technically viable on this chassis if the alternative-sizes table lists a Plus-2 candidate within tolerance, but expect a meaningful ride-harshness penalty and a tire-cost premium of 30–60% per tire relative to the OEM fitment. For winter use the recommended pattern is one width step down (e.g. from a 235 to a 225) with the aspect ratio bumped up to preserve overall diameter; narrower tires apply higher contact pressure per square inch on snow, which translates directly into shorter braking distances. The plus-size calculator evaluates any specific rim step against this OEM size.

Before purchasing, verify the tire size on the driver-door placard of your specific 2002 Subaru Forester S, since trim levels and option packages can shift the original fitment from what is documented here. The placard reading is the authoritative source per FMVSS 110, and dealers will reference the placard rather than aftermarket catalogs when validating warranty claims.

NHTSA-reported issues for 2002 subaru forester

1

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

Top issue category: Tires (General)

Reported across: 2002 – 2002 (1 year)

What owners described

Sidewall failure appears in 27% of these reports; about 1.8× as often as across all tire complaints. Percentages are shares of the 56 reports covering every model year of the Subaru Forester that include a written account; a single report can describe more than one problem, so they do not total 100%.

Reported problem	This subject	All tire complaints	Relative
Sidewall failure	27%	15%	1.8×
Blowout or sudden deflation	14%	20%	0.7×
Bubble or bulge in the tire	11%	6%	1.8×
Loss of control, rollover or collision	9%	8%	1.1×
Tread or belt separation	4%	13%	0.3×
Pressure-monitoring (TPMS) fault	4%	2%	1.5×

Mileage at failure

35 of these reports state an odometer reading. The middle report is at 20,400 miles, with 8 in 10 falling between 5,000 and 39,800 miles.

In owners' own words

Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA about Subaru Forester. Reports are published by NHTSA as filed and are lightly cleaned here only to remove intake codes.

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE TIRE FR380, SIZE P215-60-R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES BECAME PREMATURELY WORN, OUT-OF-ROUND AND EXHIBITED TREAD AND BELT SEPARATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRES WAS 53,000 AND THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA complaint 1036721 · 2003 vehicle

TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR INDICATED LOW PRESSURE. RIGHT REAR TIRE NEEDED AIR. TIRE CONTINUED TO SLOWLY LEAK AND THE PRESSURE MONITOR TRIPPED AGAIN DAYS LATER. MENTIONED PROBLEM TO DEALERSHIP DURING SERVICE. DEALERSHIP FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THE TIRE AND PROPERLY INFLATED ALL WHEELS. A FEW DAYS LATER THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS LOW (TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR TRIPPED AGAIN). BRINGING VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT OF TIRE. PROBABLY A PROBLEM ISOLATED TO MY SPECIFIC CAR, BUT LOGGING THE INCIDENT IN CASE THERE ARE MORE TIRES OUT THERE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint 1156624 · 2015 vehicle

YOKOHAMA G-91 TIRES- ON A SUBRAU FORRESTER 225-60-17 WITH LESS THAN 30K MILES THE TIRES WERE BALDING. ROTATIONS WERE DOWN BETWEEN 6000 AND 7000 MILES- LIKE CLOCKWORK. I WROTE YOKOHAMA. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER OWNERS, (SUBRAU USING G91) AND THEY HAVE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM,TOO. I HAVE PURCHASED ANOTHER BRAND OF TIRE AS THESE ARE DANGEROUS-

NHTSA complaint 1185646 · 2014 vehicle

TWO FLAT TIRES ON BRAND NEW COOPER EVOLUTION TOUR 215-60R16 (@100 MILES), BOTH ON THE FRONT. ONE FLAT NOTICED AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN BUT SAT FOR A FEW HOURS (NO VISIBLE DEFLATION UPON EXITING); THIS TIRE HAD NO VISIBLE PUNCTURES, THOUGH THERE APPEARED TO BE A BIT OF TEAR BETWEEN THE TREADS (SEE PHOTO). AFTER DRIVING HOME ON A SPARE, ALL REMAINING TIRES SEEMED OK. THE NEXT MORNING THE OTHER FRONT TIRE WAS VISIBLY DEFLATED AND HAD A SIZABLE BULGE.

NHTSA complaint 1599323 · 2006 vehicle

Complaints are voluntarily submitted to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation and are not verified by NHTSA; they represent owner-reported problems, not proven defects. Counts can be useful as a relative quality signal across comparable tires or vehicles.

Frequently asked questions

What size tires fit a 2002 Subaru Forester?

The OEM tire size for the 2002 Subaru Forester is 215/60R16 mounted on R16 wheels.. Trim levels and option packages can shift the original fitment; confirm against your specific vehicle's driver-door placard before purchase.

What is the bolt pattern of a 2002 Subaru Forester?

The 2002 Subaru Forester has a 5x100 bolt pattern with a 56.1 mm center bore and M12x1.25 wheel studs. Bolt pattern is consistent across the model generation; confirm against your existing wheel before fitting aftermarket wheels or adapters.

Can I run a different tire size on my 2002 Subaru Forester?

Plus-sizing (larger rim, lower aspect) is possible within ±3% of the OEM overall diameter per the ETRTO safe-fit standard. The Compatible alternative sizes table on this page lists every safe option for the OEM size. Always confirm with the manufacturer or a qualified tire shop before deviating from the placard.

Where can I buy tires for my 2002 Subaru Forester?

Online tire retailers in our affiliate network carry every size documented for this vehicle. Use the Shop online buttons above to compare prices across them; variance of $20–$40 per tire is common between merchants. The <a href="/tools/tire-install-cost-calculator/">install cost calculator</a> estimates the out-the-door including mount, balance, TPMS, and disposal by state.

What is the recommended tire pressure for the 2002 Subaru Forester?

The cold-inflation pressure is printed on the driver-door placard of your specific vehicle and varies by trim, tire size, and loaded vs unloaded condition. Typical OEM front and rear pressures fall between 30 and 36 psi for passenger trims and 32–40 psi for SUV/truck variants, but the placard is the authoritative source.

Can I fit winter tires in a different size on my 2002 Subaru Forester?

Yes; the standard winter-tire fitment pattern is one width step narrower than OEM (e.g. 225 → 215) with the aspect ratio bumped up to preserve overall diameter. Narrower tires increase contact pressure on snow for better traction. The Compatible alternative sizes table includes any winter-friendly options that fall within ±3% OD for this vehicle.

How often should I rotate the tires on my 2002 Subaru Forester?

Every 5,000–7,500 miles is the typical OEM recommendation for passenger vehicles. AWD vehicles and high-torque trucks benefit from the shorter interval. Documented rotation history is also a tire-warranty prerequisite; most manufacturer treadwear claims require rotation receipts at the warranty inspection.

For broader tire questions; replacement timing, UTQG, EV-specific tires, winter swaps; see the tire FAQ.

Sources for this page

Vehicle owner's manual tire & wheel placard; door-jamb placard on the Subaru Forester is the authoritative source for OEM tire size, load index, and cold-inflation pressure for your specific trim.
NHTSA SaferCar; recall lookup for the 2002 Subaru Forester.
ETRTO 2024 Standards Manual §2.3; overall-diameter math used for the alternative-size verdicts above.
Tire & Rim Association 2025 Yearbook; load-index to maximum-load reference.