ToyoŽ Proxes T1-S is the best so far , rate 1 consumer reports , have had them on for 5 months now Quiet , great traction , very smooth, just my 2c

 

umm, I like Kumhos for the money but sweet!

 

The T1-S has beed replaced by the T1-R, FYI.

I've bought two set of tires "rated no. 1" by CR; the Dunlop A2 D60s and the Falken 512s. Both sucked one way or another. Never again will I follow CR for tires (though I agree w/ the Proxes).

 

The T1-S remains in the Toyo line, and is Toyo's highest performance tire. The T1R (no hyphen) has not replaced the T1-S. So why two separate lines of tires? EU regulations coming into effect in 2007 mandate maximum noise emissions from new tires sold in Europe after that time. The T1R is a re-working of the T1-S to make the tire quieter. The T1R is not a higher performance tire than the T1-S; it is a quieter tire than the T1-S.

I have run both Toyo Proxes T1-S and Dunlop SP Sport 01 tires (same size: 225/55-16) on my Maxima. The T1-S has a directional tread design; the SP Sport 01 is an asymmetrical tire (internally, as well as in the tread pattern). The T1-S has a soft and flexible single-ply sidewall (polyester in the 225/55-16 size), which yields a nice ride, good vibration absorbtion over small road irregularities, and a "soft" feel through the steering wheel. The SP Sport 01 has a relatively stiff two-ply sidewall (rayon in all sizes), which yields hairline precision handling (the feeling that you can thread a needle with the nose of the car), a bit of harshness over small road irregularities, and a "tight" feel through the steering wheel. The Dunlop seems to track better (less wander in a "hands-off" test on imperfect streets) than the Toyo, but the Toyo is no slouch in that regard. either.

Lacking precision testing facilities to document the ultimate g-forces the two tires could sustain, I can say only that both are very "sticky" through tight corners and both brake well; there does not seem to be a lot of difference in ultimate grip. However, they present very different feel through the steering wheel from one another.

 

The T1R is replacing the T1-S. I have a pair on my rears right now. It's been confirmed by several major tire companies...

 

Going to be in the market for some winter tires soon , really dont want drive my ride in salt , but thats life , Guess its s trade off with perfomace tires now,two have 2 sets s/w , looking for recomndations ?? will spend the extra cash for some quiet ones ,maybe go with the all season Toyo's ?

 

The only major tire company that has reliable information is Toyo, and Toyo continues to list both the T1-S and the T1R on its website, http://toyo.com/tires/tire_lines/sports_car/
However, one imagines that Toyo will want to have cleaned the T1-S out of its inventory before the time the EU noise regulations come into effect in 2007, as any noncomplying tires will not be able to be sold in Europe after that date.

If you look at Toyo's data sheets for the T1-S vs. the T1R, some things jump out.
In identical sizes:
Generally, all else being equal, it is desirable to minimize unsprung weight, and a lighter tire is a better tire for performance.

The slight differences in diameter and revolutions per mile will not affect speedometer/odometer readings or effective gearing significantly (but they do illustrate why tire size calculators such as the one in this Maxima.org forum can give no better than an approximation of actual tire size).

 

Of course their site still lists it...the tire hasn't been phased out yet, but it's in process. When I was tire shopping, I wanted the T1-S originally, and didn't even know the T1R existed. I was told by several companies that they only had whatever sizes were remaining in stock, and wouldn't be getting any more. They also said it was being replaced by the T1R.

 

While both excellent tires, the T1-R is replacing the T1-S which will be fazed out and discontinued when the T1-R is finally available in all sizes. They have to discontinue the T1-S as the Proxe 4 actually outperforms it. I just got my wheel and tire setup yesterday with Proxe 4 and so far I'm in love with these tires..

 

A classic example of cognitative dissonance there. The Proxes T1-S and the Proxes 4 are designed and built to different specs for different purposes. The Proxes 4 will outperform the T1-S in the snow every time; the T1-S will outperform the 4 under all other conditions. The difference is inherent in the way the two tires are made.

A "summer" tire (probably not the best designation for it, but we don't get to make the rules of language) is really an every-day-of-the-year-it-does-not-snow tire. Think of it as a three-and-a-half season tire. If you want traction on _wet_ roads, a "summer" tire will beat the beejeezus out of an "all season" tire just about every time, right across brands and price levels.

What makes a tire an "all season" or "M & S" tire is the rubber in the tread compound, nothing more. In fact, some manufacturers make some of their tires in two versions, "summer" and "all season." Look at the Pirelli P Zero Nero (a "summer" tire): the tread pattern is identical to the tread pattern of the P Zero Nero M & S (an "all season" tire), and in some sizes both versions are available. The "M & S" designated tire is called M & S ("mud and snow": another name for "all season) because it has a tread compound that in technical jargon is called _hydrophilic_ -- "hydrophilic" is Greek for "likes water." This means that, in snow, when the weight of the car compacts the snow and causes it to melt ever so slightly, the snow gets wet and sticks to the tread; the snow sticking to the tread then compacts with the snow on the pavement, as in packing a snowball, and the tire gains traction.

"Summer" tires, in contrast, are made with _hydrophobic_ ("dislikes water") tread compounds, better to evaculate the water away from the tread, because a thin layer of water sticking to the tread between you and the pavement (which is what happens when the tread compound "likes water") acts as a fair lubricant between the tire and the pavement, which is Not a Good Thing for traction.

Roll two cars, one with "all season" tires, and one with "summer" tires, through a puddle, then look at their respective treads. The tread of the "all season" tire will look shiny and wet, while the tread of the "summer" tire will look dry enough to light a match on. It is the summer tire you want under you on a wet road.

The Toyo Proxes 4 is an "all season" tire.

You don't need to take my word for it. The Tire Rack regularly runs comparison tests of the tires they stock. usually in groups of four, almost always with their pet BMW 330Ci (sorry, they don't test on Maximas). Tire Rack never tests Toyo tires because Tire Rack does not sell Toyo tires. The tests of the brands of tires that Tire Rack does sell are done by different people under different ambient weather conditions, which yields great variability, and would never pass peer review in a scientific journal, but they are useful enough within individual test groupings to get a feel for the respective tires' strengths and weaknesses. One of the most revealing tests, always conducted, is braking on a wet surface from 50 to 0.

Here are some Tire Rack test wet braking 50-0 results:
What does this say to you?

 

The latest Toyo add compaign shows only the Proxes 4, the RA-1 and the T1R only (funny you mention European tire noise laws and the lack of the '-' in the name, the European Toyo websites have the T1R listed as T1-R). The T1-S will soon be history.

 

I aint gonna lie in that I dont plan to read all that, but all I can really do is forward info from my TOYO Dealer's mouth to you. That is all.