Toyo Proxes T1 Sport - Tire Review - Modified Magazine

Test Mule

Project RX-8 and '07 BMW 335ix sedan

Test Drivers

Andrew and Renata Wojteczko

Test Track

Full mix of twisty country roads, highways, and city driving

Conditions

Typical summer conditions, including wet and dry surfaces

Regular contributor and Project S2000 builder Andrew Wojteczko needed a fresh set of rubber for his wife's daily driver, an '07 BMW 335ix sedan. At the same time, we spotted an FC RX-7 on an online car blog that was rolling on BMW M3 wheels. There were a lot of comments on the blog asking how they did it, so we figured we'd kill two birds with one sweet set of Toyo ultrahigh-performance tires and some hub adapters we bought on eBay.

Converting from the RX-8's 5x114.3 wheel bolt pattern to the BMW's 5x120 bolt pattern turned out to be pretty straightforward: a set of 1-inch-thick aluminum hub adapters was all we needed, though this thickness (required to completely cover the OE wheel studs) was going to give us some pretty extreme wheel offset. We weren't sure if they'd clear the rolled (but not pulled) fenders on the 8, but there was only one way to find out.

As it turned out, these E92 style-225 M Sport 19x8 +37 offset front and 19x9 +39 offset rear wheels, equipped with 235/35ZR19 front and 265/30ZR19 rear Toyo T1 Sport tires, did just clear the fenders with the 1-inch hub adapters (which reduced offset to +12 up front and +14 out back), though we had to add a touch more negative camber to the rear.

Even though we're not big fans of the "stanced and dumped" style trend sweeping the interweb, it's hard not to find the hellaflushness of this wheel and tire combo visually appealing. And from a performance standpoint, Toyo's new T1 Sport UHP summer tire delivered an equally compelling combination of high grip and street comfort, both on the RX-8 and on the 335ix they'd spend the rest of their life on.

According to Andrew, "Having tested these tires for six months now, I'm pleased to report that the Proxes T1 Sport has provided consistently high grip over a wide range of conditions including both wet and dry road use. What is more impressive is their quiet and comfortable ride characteristics, despite the short sidewalls. This really impressed upon me how suitable this tire is for luxury sport vehicles, since they provide excellent response and the type of stick required for a sports car application, all while delivering a totally civilized ride."

Although Andrew and his wife have experienced faster-than-expected wear on the front inside shoulder of these tires during the 6,000 or so miles they've put on them (hey, they're both race car drivers!), Toyo does provide some very real peace of mind thanks to its 20,000-mile treadwear warranty, a rare thing in the UHP summer tire segment, along with a "No Regrets 45-day/500-mile" trial period.

Specs & Details

Toyo Proxes T1 Sport

Type UHP Summer
Sizes 235/35ZR19 front and 265/30ZR19 rear
UTQG 240 AA A

Key Features

• An asymmetric, nondirectional tread and new high-stiffness compound help to deliver optimum cornering performance and straight-line stability
• Wide outer tread blocks deliver responsive steering and high grip
• A wide center rib contributes to high-speed stability and handling response
• Wide tread grooves help channel water for improved resistance to aquaplaning