Owner consensus is that tires decide it. One owner reports that with snow tires the car is unstoppable, and warns in the same post that it almost gives you a false sense of security.

Subaru ForesterBuild Guide

What fits each year, and what owners change first.

Updated July 2026Sourced from owner reports on subaruforester.org and Overland Bound, and Subaru’s spec sheets. Every quote checked in its own thread before printing.

What year is your Forester?

The year decides your wheels, your bolt pattern, and which kits fit.

Set at the factory
Years	Gen	Factory tires	Clearance	Approach
2014-2018	SJ	225/60R17 most trims225/55R18 XT, Touring	8.7 in	23°
2019-2024	SK	225/60R17 Base, Premium225/55R18 Sport, Limited, Touring	8.7 in	20°
2022-2025 Wilderness	SK	225/60R17 Geolandar A/T, full-size spare	9.2 in	23.5°
2025 and later	SL	225/60R17 Base, Premium225/55R18 Limited235/50R19 Sport, Touring	8.7 in	19°

Wheels changed in 2019.2014-2018 use a 5x100 bolt pattern, 2019 and later use 5x114.3. Wheels do not carry over.
The 2025 Wilderness is the previous generation.Subaru sold it alongside the redesigned 2025 Forester. The first Wilderness on the new platform is the 2026.
Towing is 1,500 lb, except the Wilderness.The 2022-2025 Wilderness is rated 3,000 lb, the 2026 is rated 3,500.
Payload comes from your door placard.Subaru does not publish it. Check the sticker in the driver’s door jamb before loading roof and cargo.

What Owners Change First

Ranked by how often each appears in build threads.

1.All-terrain tires

The most common first change. On 17 inch wheels, 225/65R17 fits stock suspension with no rubbing, reported consistently across build threads on every generation since 2014. Owner reports put the cost at 1 to 3 mpg.

Falken Wildpeak A/T TrailMost named
The tire named most often in Forester threads, built for crossovers.
Yokohama Geolandar A/TFactory Wilderness
Owners fit it to other trims in 225/65R17.
BFGoodrich KO3Heavier duty
The heavier truck tire of the three.

2.A 2 inch lift

The standard height in Forester builds. Going past 2 inches draws consistent warnings in axle-angle threads.

LP Aventure lift kit2019 and later
The most-installed kit for this generation. Stability-control tested, dealer-installable.
AWD Adventure 2 inch kit2014-2018
The long-standing kit for older Foresters, formerly Anderson Design Fab.

3.Skid plates

Primitive Racing is the maker named in nearly every Forester armor thread, with front, transmission, and rear differential plates per generation.

"On my 2022 Forester Wilderness the under engine protection is lightweight aluminum and plastic. I ordered the OEM steel under guard to replace it."HazTaz, subaruforester.org

4.Crossbars and a basket

The common roof setup in build threads is aftermarket crossbars with a basket. The factory rails are rated 700 lb parked, 800 on the Wilderness. The factory aero crossbars are the weak link: Subaru’s own installation sheet for them states “These crossbars do not support the use of roof top tent,” which is why owners replace them.

5.A sleeping setup

Most owners build plywood platforms. The merged sleeping thread on subaruforester.org spans 15 years and several hundred posts.

Luno AIR Pro MattressMattress
Luno's fitment tool lists every Forester year, 1998 to 2026.
Deepsleep Solo MatFoam mat
Forester-specific self-inflating foam. One person, no pump.
Colfax Campers Platform KitPlatform
Built-to-order drawer platform, by generation back to 2014.

"My wife and I (5’10” & 5’11.5”) spent 26 nights in the back on a 2 month long trip across the northwest US and Canada in the summer of 2017."Donutman, subaruforester.org

6.Recovery basics

The factory screw-in tow eyes are not rated recovery points, and owner threads consistently warn against pulling on them. The common setup is a hitch-mounted shackle, traction boards, and a compressor.

Common Questions

The questions new owners ask most, answered from owner reports.

Can I sleep in the back?

The load floor is 69.9 to 71.9 inches depending on year, and it is not flat. Owners build platforms to bridge the seat gap, and taller owners slide the front seats forward. One 6’6” owner reports fitting this way.

What is the biggest tire on stock suspension?

225/65R17 on 17 inch trims. Wilderness owners who tried 235/65R17 on stock wheels report rubbing at full lock.

Can I put a roof tent on the factory rails?

The rails are rated 700 lb parked, 800 on the Wilderness. The factory crossbars are excluded by Subaru’s own instructions, so owners fit aftermarket bars first. Payload still counts the tent.

Wilderness, or lift a regular trim?

The Wilderness has a shorter final drive, a transmission oil cooler, a higher tow rating, better angles, and the 800 lb parked roof rating. A lift changes ride height only.

Can it tow a camper?

1,500 lb standard, 3,000 on the Wilderness. In towing threads, owners watch CVT temperature on grades and treat the rating as firm.

How is it in snow?

Owner consensus is that tires decide it.

"With the snow tires I’m unstoppable."spencer2.5x, who in the same post warns the car “almost gives you a false sense of security”, subaruforester.org

Forester or Outback?

We cover both. The differences that decide it.

The Forester has better approach and departure angles and a shorter wheelbase. The Outback has a longer load floor and a higher tow rating. In cross-shopping threads, owners over six feet who sleep inside, and anyone who tows, get pointed to the Outback.

Read our Subaru Outback guide for that side of the decision.

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