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Last updated 9/25/2024 - Originally published 9/25/2024
Written by SimpleTire
For most drivers of sedans, minivans, coupes, and crossovers, all-season tires are the way to go. They make the most sense for a whole slew of reasons: they offer long, even wear (usually with a lengthy limited manufacturer’s tread life warranty), year-round performance, a ride that’s muted and comfortable on the highway, solid road manners, and handling that’s predictable and consistent. That’s why they take up a huge chunk of the tire market; they’re a do-all, Swiss Army Knife solution to most drivers’ needs.
As versatile as all-season tires are, though, they tend to fall a little short for drivers of sporty vehicles who like to crowd the envelope of their cars’ performance potential. Suppose you like to go hot into a corner or carve up a twisty, turny mountain road. In that case, chances are that even a great set of all-season tires isn’t going to give you the deft, nimble cornering and steering response that you’re looking for – the kind of handling properties that will empower you to get the most out of your vehicle. That’s when ultra-high-performance (UHP) or summer tires come in; they’re designed for just that kind of sharp, crisp handling and braking performance, with specialized construction and tread designs. There’s one big drawback to summer and UHP tires, though, and that is the tread compound they use.
The rubber formulation of summer and UHP tires is softer and more “sticky”, sometimes almost as soft as a pencil eraser (soft enough that a thumbnail pressed into the rubber will leave an indentation for a moment before springing back). That rubber is designed for glue-like grip and adhesion to the road for sharp cornering and braking performance, but its one big disadvantage is its softness. UHP and summer tires will stiffen up and lose traction in colder weather, making them downright treacherous to use, and tire manufacturers advise against using them if temperatures are below 40-45 degrees F. That’s when summer and UHP tires have to be dismounted and swapped for all-season tires, leaving you with the hassle of getting that job done and then figuring out how and where to store a set of tires until the weather warms up again.
The best of both worlds would be a tire with the razor-sharp performance of a UHP tire but with year-round traction and all-season versatility. That’s what Toyo is shooting for with the Proxes Sport AS+, an all-season tire that’s designed to meet the expectations that come with a UHP tire. With the Proxes Sport AS+, Toyo has built on the success of the proven Proxes Sport AS and added a couple of upgrades to its design. Does the Proxes Sport AS+ live up to the hype? Let’s get in there and get a closer look at the Toyo Proxes Sport AS+.
Benefits of the new and improved Toyo Proxes Sport A/S+
Here are some of the design features and innovations that make the Toyo Proxes Sport AS+ a standout performer and a real value in a performance-oriented all-season tire:
- Improved silica-infused tread formulation is designed to deliver better wear properties, reduced rolling resistance for improved fuel efficiency, and flawless grip on wet or dry pavement
- Dynamic taper design grips the road surface for improved handling and braking on wet or dry roads
- Stiffened sidewall, high-tensile steel belt package, and high-hardness bead filler are all designed to boost the tire’s rigidity for improved steering response, braking, cornering, high-speed stability
- High-stiffness outer rib at the shoulder reduces “tread squirm” and deformation during hard cornering and fast maneuvers
- Inner ribs feature a dense pattern of sipes, hair-thin slits that multiply the tread’s surface area and traction for improved grip on wet or snowy roads as well as boosting the tire’s rigidity
- Multi-wave sipe design minimizes irregular wear, boosts grip, and helps keep road noise to a minimum
- Select high-load capacity sizes are optimized for the added weight and altered center of gravity of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids
- The contact patch is redesigned to put more rubber in contact with the road for enhanced handling, braking, wear properties
- Covered by 50,000 mile limited manufacturer’s tread life warranty
- Tread pitch is randomized and computer-tuned to help keep road noise low by negating certain frequencies and overtones
- The asymmetric all-season tread pattern features wide circumferential grooves and angled grooves that resist hydroplaning by routing water away from the tire’s contact patch on wet roads
But, what improvements does the Proxes Sport A/S+ boast over its predecessor, the Proxes Sport A/S?
“Building on the success of its predecessor, this new tire offers drivers the performance they expect from an ultra-high performance with the added benefit of all-season reliability,” says Kevin Arima, senior manager for consumer products at Toyo Tire U.S.A.
“Drivers seeking an exciting tire without compromising on tread life will appreciate the improvements in this model. Additionally, the wide range of sizes, including High-Load capacity options, accommodates the growing popularity of heavier vehicles, providing a significant advantage for both dealers and consumers.”
So, what are some of the key differences between the Proxes Sport AS+ over the previous Proxes Sport A/S? Let’s do a little compare-and-contrast between the two:
- The tread compound of the Proxes Sport A/S+ has been re-engineered to deliver reduced rolling resistance, longer wear, improved grip
- The High Load version (select sizes) of the Proxes Sport A/S+ is optimized for EVs and hybrids, while the Proxes Sport A/S isn’t available with a High Load option
- The Proxes Sport A/S+ is available in an expanded range of sizes
- The internal design of the Proxes Sport A/S+ has been beefed up for enhanced stability and improved cornering, braking, and steering response, including stiffened sidewall, high-hardness bead filler, reinforced shoulder tread blocks, and steel belt package
Tests show improvements in rolling resistance, tread wear/longevity, and wet-weather handling with the Proxes Sport A/S+ over its predecessor, the Proxes Sport A/S.
Are you acquainted with SimpleScore? SimpleScore is a proprietary rating method that was developed by the SimpleTire team to give you a quick at-a-glance idea of a tire’s strengths and weaknesses. We take into account the tire’s technical details, specs, manufacturer info, customer reviews, and other bits of data, and then that’s all processed to a 1-10 numerical value for the categories of traction, handling, longevity, and an overall average SimpleScore. For the Proxes Sport A/S+ the SimpleScores break down like this:
Toyo Proxes Sport A/S+
- Traction: 8.7
- Handling: 8.7
- Longevity: 7.9
- Overall average SimpleScore: 8.4
Who is the Proxes Sport A/S+ best suited for?
Toyo designed the Proxes Sport A/S+ for sedans, coupes, minivans, sporty crossovers, and SUVs. It’d be a great fit for vehicles such as:
- Dodge Charger
- Ford Mustang
- Honda Civic
- Toyota Corolla
- Acura TL
- Subaru BRZ
- Mercedes-Benz E550
- Lexus GS350
- Hyundai Veloster
- Kia K5
- Jaguar XKR
In other words, the Proxes Sport A/S+ is an excellent choice for drivers who love an enthusiastic, spirited experience and who are driving sporty vehicles. The team at Toyo has put a lot of work into developing a tire that’s designed around the power, weight, torque, center of gravity, and overall handling and roadability properties of these cars and crossovers. At the same time, it’s a great tire for day-to-day driving duties and long interstate trips, thanks to its low noise, accommodating ride quality, great road manners, and solid straight-line stability. Think of it as the Clark Kent of all-season tires, mild-mannered and sedate but ready to jump into action at a moment’s notice.
Drawbacks of the Proxes Sport A/S+
Even the best tires do come with a couple of points in the minus column, and the Toyo Proxes Sport A/s+ is no exception. It’s not a great tire for heavier snow, although its sipe pattern, tread compound, and groove system do a great job in lighter winter conditions. Reviews and customer feedback indicate a bit of understeer at higher speeds, although that might be a vehicle-specific problem. While the Proxes Sport A/S+ is tuned for low noise on most pavements, it can begin to drone a bit on some road surfaces, and its ride quality can be a little firm while staying controlled and composed.
Those are all some pretty minor quibbles, though, when you think about the big picture of what the Toyo Proxes Sport A/S+ brings to the game. It’s a great, versatile tire that sacrifices nothing in terms of either all-out performance or year-round grip, and without the hassle and headache of having to change them out when the weather cools off (like you would with UHP tires).