What is the ideal tire pressure for a 1998 Subaru Outback?

Answer 1

"Ideal" can be subjective. Are you looking for a smoother ride, or longer tire life/better fuel mileage? If a smoother ride is important, go by Subaru's recommended pressure for whatever weight you're carrying in the vehicle. This can normally be found on a decal along the edge of the driver's door.

If, like me, you're more concerned about tire life and fuel mileage, run the pressure up to the max that's called out on the tire's sidewall. At this pressure, the tire can safely carry its maximum load, run cooler, last longer, and get better fuel mileage. The main contributor to this is the reduced sidewall flex at the higher pressures. With modern tire construction, you no longer need to worry about poor tread wear like we had back in the bias-ply tire era.

The inverse is what got Ford and Firestone in trouble by dropping the tire pressure down to dangerous levels, looking to smooth out the inherently rougher ride on an SUV.