Tigers in dreams tend to represent raw power and an aggression that's usually been hidden rather than expressed. A tiger stalking you can reflect anger or ambition you haven't let yourself acknowledge, while a tiger you're able to approach or calm often points to that same intensity becoming something workable instead of frightening. The setting and your reaction usually matter more than the tiger itself.
Knowledge is a process of piling up facts; wisdom lies in their simplification. (Martin Fischer)