TESTED: Toyo Proxes RR
Toyo has been a staple in the R-compound world ever since it introduced the venerable (and still relevant) RA1 over a decade ago. In that time, however, they did not offer a true DOT approved dry weather track tire. With the introduction of the Proxes RR, Toyo makes a run at the hotly contested dry weather DOT field, and we installed a set on our grey piece of masonry (Project G20 Racecar) to find out if they succeeded.
In the past, Toyo has always offered what is considered the “sweet spot” for track-going enthusiasts: excellent grip, feedback and ease of access while still wearing like iron. With the Proxes RR, Toyo attempted to build on that reputation while offering the faster laptimes attained by those who had switched to the competition. To find out how they did, we slapped a set on Project G20 Racecar and ran them in the MotoIQ Pacific Tuner Car Championship (MPTCC) to see how they stacked against the Hoosier, Hankook and Goodyear “DOT slicks” that our competition was running.
Again, as with all of our tire comparos, one must keep in mind that Project G20 needs some major fender hacking if it wants to run the same 245mm tires that the competition is sporting. By fender hacking, we mean more than your usual pound it with a hammer until they clear. So, while we love breaking out the plasma torch as much as the next guy (though we wonder how well it would work on Bondo), we decided to stay with our tried and true 225mm wide tires. To give the tires more of a chance, we switched to a 50 series sidewall (making for 225/50-15 sized tires) for more more heat capacity from a larger circumference.
To allow our tires to stay alive longer, we went with a taller sidewall this time around. Project G20’s fenders will not clear a 245mm wide tire, but going with a 50 series tire makes them 1” taller, giving the tire more circumference to spread heat.The first and most obvious thing you’ll notice when looking at the Proxes RR is that there is no tread design whatsoever other than the obligatory 2 ribs (minimum requirement for DOT standards). For the Proxes RR, Toyo ditched the tread and went with a race ready with a 4/32nds tread depth, meaning no shaving is required. This not only represents a performance gain, but a cost and time savings to those who want maximum dry performance as you won’t need to pay for (or wait for) tire shaving. Just order, mount, and go. In addition, the tires are 100% consistent, meaning none of the quirks and differences from tire to tire you’d see with shaved tires.
No need to shave, Toyo’s Proxes RR comes ready to run. The twin grooves allow for DOT legality (though not recommended for the street), qualifying this tire for a slew of series to race in.