Toyo tires are a favorite of off-roading enthusiasts as well as motorsports competitors. The tire manufacturer has many other options, beyond all-terrain or mud-terrain models.
This article will cover Toyo Tires, including its reputation in the industry, cost, and most popular models. Instead of focusing on a few models of Toyo, we will give an overview about the entire brand. This will give you a better understanding of Toyo’s strengths and weaknesses.
The tire industry is a complex one and our review team has ranked the top tires available. To ensure you get the best tire for your vehicle, we recommend comparing Toyo Tires with other top brands.
Toyo Tires Overview
Toyo Tires, a Japanese tire manufacturer was established in 1945. It moved to the United States in 1966. The current headquarters of the company are in Cypress, California. Toyo is a well-known name in motorsport racing, having made its mark on passenger car, truck and SUV tires.
Because of their exceptional traction, Toyo tires are popular with off-roaders and severe-weather drivers. Toyo’s Nano Balance technology, which structures rubber materials at the molecular level, was also an early pioneer. It improves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions.
Toyo Tires, in keeping with its innovative technology, has moved its focus to the future by making strides towards sustainability. The company voluntarily participated in the Sustainable Natural Rubber Initiative, (SNR-i) in 2016. According to a Toyo Tires press release, the initiative seeks to create a sustainable natural rubber economy that benefits society, the environment and the entire natural rubber supply chain.
Toyo Tires Industry Ratings
Toyo tires and most consumer tires use the same grading system as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG) is a system that evaluates non-specialty tires based on their performance in three categories. These are traction, temperature resistance and treadwear.
- Traction: This grade indicates how well your tires “grip” a wet surface. The traction grades are rated from highest to lowest using A, B or C. High-quality passenger tires usually have an A rating.
- Temperature resistance The temperature grade is a measure of a tire’s resistance to heat. It is rated using A, B or C. The tire must withstand higher or lower temperatures depending on its purpose. Because they rotate at higher speeds, performance tires have higher temperature ratings.
- Treadwear A treadwear rating roughly predicts your tire’s life expectancy. All treadwear grades can be determined by comparing the manufacturer’s tire with a control tire with a 100 rating. A tire with a 500 treadwear rating will last five times as long as the control. According to SaferCar.gov, most passenger tires have ratings between 300 and 500.
Here are some popular Toyo Tires products with their UTQG grades according to SaferCar.gov
| Toyo Tires Model | Tire Type | Treadwear Score | Traction Score | Temperature Resistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyo Open Country AT II | All-terrain Truck and SUV | 600 | A | A |
| Toyo Proxes 4 | High-performance All-season | 300 | AA | A |
| Toyo Extensa HP II | High-performance All-season | 500 | A | A |
| Toyo Versado Noir | Standard touring All-season | 620 | A | A |
Important to remember that although the NHTSA sets the grading scales, it doesn’t actually perform tests. Manufacturers hire outside companies to conduct their tire testing.
To find out more about the Toyo tires you have, check the sidewall of the tire for the UTQG grades.
Toyo’s most popular tire models
Toyo Tires are most popular for trucks, SUVs and crossovers. Although its performance tires remain highly rated, customers tend to choose Pirelli or Michelin models. Toyo tires are excellent for rugged terrain and areas where strong traction is important.
Here are some of the highest-rated Toyo tires, based on data from TireBuyer
- Toyo GSi5 A studless winter tire with a 3-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF).
- Toyo Celsius A standard touring all-season tire with safety and grip features, which is also common for winter tires
- Toyo AT II:All-terrain tire for trucks and SUVs. It features an “open block tread” design for traction in mud, dirt and snowy conditions.
- Toyo AT II Xtreme: All-terrain tire designed for trucks and SUVs. It has a tread that is durable, can withstand tough terrain and provides enhanced grip.
All of the Toyo tires mentioned above received a minimum of a 4.0 customer review rating on TireBuyer. The Open Country models from Toyo are highly rated in the tire industry.
Toyo tires warranties include a limited five-year warranty on the original equipment (OE), replacement passenger and light truck tires, and a five year limited warranty on all other products. According to the warranty manual, this protects against defects in workmanship and materials on Toyo tire purchased by the original owner of the vehicle where they were installed.
How Much Is a Set of Toyo Tires?
Toyo tires are quite affordable by industry standards. The Open Country AT II tire is an example. It costs between $115 and $325 depending on its size. Toyo’s lowest priced tire is just $50. Some customers have mentioned that Toyo’s tires are highly recommended, not only because of their quality, but also because they are affordable, particularly the all-terrain tires.
However, the most expensive Toyo tires listed on TireBuyer are also some of our most expensive. Toyo’s can be more expensive than passenger tires because they are generally more expensive than mud-terrain tires. However, Toyo’s can go for as high as $850 per tire depending on the size of the tire, vehicle type and type.
Toyo Customer Reviews
We gathered some customer reviews from TireBuyer to give you an idea of Toyo Tires’ daily performance. Most Toyo reviews are 4.0 stars or higher, with some customers mentioning issues with the tires’ tread life or noise.
These are just a few customer stories about Toyo Tires.
Positive Experiences with Toyo Tires
“I needed tires that were more suitable for the terrain I was traveling on to my hiking destinations. Toyo Open Country At III were affordable in my factory size. They were delivered the next Tuesday after I ordered them on a Saturday. They have been great so far.
– Holmes via TireBuyer
“I asked my dealer for suggestions on tires that wouldn’t break the bank. The Toyo Observe 5 GSI5 was recommended by my dealer. These tires are outstanding in winter conditions. Their combination of superior deep snow traction (as deep and confident as possible in a sedan-sized four-wheel-drive sedan) and exceptional dry road handling .”
Tubasti via Tirebuyer
Negative Experiences With Toyo Tires
“Worst wet road tire I’ve ever seen. This tire will make you very uncomfortable. It is almost impossible to take off from a stop on wet roads without spinning the tires. They will also break apart on wet roads. These .”
Rob via TireBuyer
According to the sales literature, “[The Toyo Proxes 4 Plus] tires were advertised as ultra-quiet and even claimed [to] become quieter with use. This is far from reality. These tires are some of the loudest I’ve ever seen on a car. This sounds like I’ve just installed some aggressive mud tires to my Cadillac em>
TireBuyer – Kent M.
Our Final Thoughts on Toyo Tires
Toyo was rated 4.0 out of 5 stars. We love its strong options for trucks and SUVs, particularly its highly rated Open Country range. Although Toyo’s passenger tires can be a good choice, we believe there are better choices for the average price. Toyo is a great brand for heavy-duty tires.
We encourage you to compare Toyo and a few other top-rated tires, especially if your car is smaller.
Top Tips for Tires
We recommend Michelin or Cooper tires if you are looking for passenger tires but don’t like Toyo. Both of these brands were highly rated in our industry review.
Michelin: Best Overall
Michelin is a top-rated tire manufacturer due to its industry standing, wide range of tires options, and excellent product reputation. Although a brand may be known for a few models, Michelin tires excel in all categories. Although Michelin tires can be more expensive than other models, the long-lasting tread might be worth it.
Cooper: Most Affordable
Like Toyo tires and Cooper tires, they are more affordable. Based on our research, Cooper tires were rated 4.0 out 5.0 and named them the Most Affordable Tire Brand of 2021.