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The T1-R is in the house -
One of the most anticipated tires in recent memory. The Toyo Proxes T1-R has finally
arrived in North America. We have only seen a few sizes in the warehouse, but so far we
like what we see and have driven. The T1-R replaces an extremely popular T1-S, which was
often lauded for it's dry capability and good wet traction. One of the major complaints
was the turn in as a result of softer than desirable sidewall. In early results the T1-R
appears to have somewhat addressed this issue and is even more of an enthusiasts tire
than its ancestor.
Within days of its arrival we had mounted a set of 235/35R19s on some Keskin KT4s. First
thing noticed was the nice and aggressive look to the new tire. The new tread design
includes a more solid shoulder, which looks hot and will contribute to much better lateral
high-speed stability and turn in. One of the nice surprises was how quiet the tires were
on our Audi A4. It has often been the complaint that tires were loud on this car, but not
the T1-R. Of course this may change over time as the tires wear, but for now it is rather
peaceful cruising.
With the new construction one of the often heard concerns were how much the new tire would
weigh. The T1-S is a relative lightweigth and in the few cases where we did a comparison, the
T1-R was actually lighter. Another concern with the new tire design was how it will perform in
the rain compared with its predecessor. Unfortunately this is TBD as we havent had a chance to
test with all of the dry BC weather. This is one time that we are looking for some dark clouds
and a downpoor.
Too early to tell how this tire really compares. What we really need is some good track time.
As this tire gets more market penetration I am sure we will hear a number of opinions on how it
compares to the T1-S. What I do know is this tire is long overdue. Why did it take so long for
this tire to get to NA? Oh well, its finally here and we can rip it apart. |
