Skip advert
Advertisement

Toyo Proxes T1 Sport tyre review

A step behind the top performers in most of our assessments. A new design can’t come soon enough.

Toyo Proxes T1 Sport

A step behind the top performers in most of our assessments. A new design can’t come soon enough.

Toyo returns to our tyre tests after an absence of several years, and the Proxes T1 Sport found it hard going, particularly when faced with products made specifically to meet the demands of tyre labelling.

Advertisement - Article continues below

While there have undoubtedly been refinements, this tyre has been around for a number of years now, and it shows with disappointing fuel efficiency ratings of E and F for the entire range. So it was no surprise to see the T1 Sport finish at the bottom of the pack in the rolling resistance test – it would get through about seven per cent more fuel than the best, and Toyo will be well aware how similar this is to Chinese rival GT Radial.

Just like the Champiro UHP1, this tyre was at home on the dry handling track: it felt lively and encouraged you to push. Keen turn-in was backed by good grip on the throttle – often past the point where you’d have to lift off with some rivals.

Yet this only translated into an eighth-place finish in the dry braking test, as the Toyo took nearly two metres further to stop than the winner. It was close to the pace in wet handling and cornering. On the former it had good balance and required less lock than some rivals. The rear was also stable, giving a secure feel when approaching the limit. It fared less well in our wet braking test, taking a metre longer to stop than the best.

It dropped away from the leaders in the deeper water of the aquaplaning tests, but the margins were unusually tight. So while the T1 Sport finished ninth, it was by no means disgraced.

Price£54.94 
Dry handling99.40%2nd
Dry braking94.40%8th
Wet handling99.10%5th
Wet braking95.60%6th
Wet cornering99.20%4th
Straight aqua96.60%7th
Curved aqua93.80%7th
Rolling resistance62.30%10th
Cabin noise98.80%9th
Overall96.40%9th
Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,406 off RRP*Used from £10,195
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £3,189 off RRP*Used from £11,990
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £3,343 off RRP*Used from £9,200
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £2,607 off RRP*Used from £15,997
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Skoda Elroq and Enyaq get Electric Car Grant approval
Skoda Elroq - front cornering

Skoda Elroq and Enyaq get Electric Car Grant approval

Despite some models costing over the £37,000 threshold, Skoda has secured the government grant on its mid-size electric SUVs
News
2 Sep 2025
New Fiat Grande Panda goes on sale with tiny price and big ambition
Fiat Grande Panda La Prima - front cornering

New Fiat Grande Panda goes on sale with tiny price and big ambition

The newly crowned Auto Express Supermini of the Year is available in hybrid or pure-electric form, with the EV offering 199 miles of range
News
1 Sep 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Enjoy Scandinavian style with the Volvo XC40 for just £296 a month
Volvo XC40 - front full width

Car Deal of the Day: Enjoy Scandinavian style with the Volvo XC40 for just £296 a month

Swedish company’s popular compact SUV is still effortlessly cool, and great value with our Deal of the Day for 31 August
News
31 Aug 2025