2018 Subaru Crosstrek Tire Size, Pressure & Wheel Specs

Here is your comprehensive guide to the tire and wheel specifications for the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. As an ASE-certified master technician, I’ve replaced and serviced countless tires on Subaru’s popular compact crossover. Whether you're mounting snow tires or just performing routine maintenance, this guide has everything you need.

Quick answer

• OEM tire size: 225/60R17 or 225/55R18 (depending on trim)
• Recommended cold tire pressure: 33 psi front / 32 psi rear
• Bolt pattern: 5x100
• Wheel size: 17x7.0J or 18x7.0J (Offset: +55mm)
• Load index/speed rating: 99H or 98H
• Spare tire size: T145/80D17 (Compact temporary spare)
• TPMS frequency: 433 MHz

Tire sizes by trim

The 2018 Subaru Crosstrek comes in three main trim levels. The Base and Premium trims share the same 17-inch wheel setup, while the Limited gets an upgraded 18-inch wheel.

Always check the tire information placard located on the driver’s side door jamb to confirm the exact specifications for your specific vehicle.

Recommended replacement tires

If you are looking to replace the OEM tires (which are usually Yokohama Geolandars from the factory), here are a few top technician-recommended options based on different budgets and driving needs:

• Premium Tier: Michelin CrossClimate2 — An incredible all-weather tire with the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) rating. Perfect if you deal with light-to-moderate snow but don't want a dedicated winter tire.
• Mid-Range Tier: Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail — Designed specifically for unibody crossovers like the Crosstrek. It gives your Subaru an aggressive look, handles mild off-roading with ease, and remains quiet on the highway.
• Budget Tier: Kumho Crugen HP71 — A reliable, comfortable, and affordable all-season touring tire that performs well in wet and dry conditions.
• Winter/Snow: Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 — If you live in an area with heavy winter conditions, mounting these on a spare set of 17-inch steel wheels will make your Crosstrek nearly unstoppable in the snow.

When to inflate to max load psi

Because the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek is a compact crossover SUV and not a Heavy Duty (HD) truck, you do not need to inflate your tires to the "max psi" listed on the tire sidewall for heavy payloads. You should stick to the door placard pressures (33 psi front / 32 psi rear) for normal driving. If you are towing a small trailer (up to the 1,500 lb limit) or have the vehicle fully loaded with gear and passengers, you can increase the rear tire pressure by 1-2 psi to accommodate the extra weight, but never exceed the maximum pressure listed on the tire's sidewall.

Lug nut torque & pattern

Properly torquing your wheels is vital for safety and to prevent brake rotor warping.

• Bolt Pattern: 5x100
• Lug Nut Size: M12 x 1.25
• Torque Specification: 89 lb-ft (120 Nm)

Always tighten your lug nuts in a star (crisscross) pattern to ensure even clamping force. Re-torque the lug nuts after 50 to 100 miles of driving following a wheel installation.

Common tire issues for this vehicle

1. Uneven Wear from Alignment: Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is fantastic, but it requires the tires to have matching circumferences. If your alignment is out of spec, especially camber or toe in the rear, the tires will wear unevenly. This can eventually damage the AWD center differential.
2. Replacing Only One Tire: If you get an unrepairable flat on your Crosstrek, you generally cannot replace just one tire unless the remaining three are practically brand new (within 2/32nds of an inch of tread depth of the new tire). Subaru requires all four tires to be within a very tight tolerance. If they aren't, you must replace all four or have the single new tire "shaved" to match the tread depth of the others.
3. TPMS Sensor Battery Life: As these vehicles age past the 5-7 year mark, the internal batteries in the 433 MHz TPMS sensors begin to die, triggering the tire pressure light on your dash even when the pressures are correct.

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