Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
How much better have performance tires gotten in the last 20 years? You're about to find out in this first-of-its-kind track test.
If you're not a tire nerd, maybe you will be after this, because it's fascinating. We've got two sets of brand new summer tires: the Toyo Proxes R1R, which debuted in the mid-2000s and was produced without any major changes until this year; and the Toyo Proxes Sport R, which launched this year as the replacement for the R1R, benefitting from everything the tire industry has learned in two decades.
The R1R is basically a time capsule for how tire companies designed an affordable performance tire 20 years ago, and the Sport R shows how they're reaching for the same goal today. And right now, we're in the brief window of time where we can actually measure what those 20 years have done for drivers.
So, we grabbed some of the last new R1Rs available and the first new Sport Rs rolling out of the factory, a FWD Honda Civic Type R and a RWD time attack Toyota GR86, and put Nik in the driver's seat to throw down laps in each car on both sets of tires.
You'd expect the Sport R to be faster, and duh, it is. But with our data recorders hooked up, we were able to demonstrate exactly why that is, where the gains came from, and what that says about the next 20 years of tires. Enjoy.
Big thanks to Toyo Tires, Apex Wheels, Garmin, Buttonwillow Raceway, and Stephen for the GR86
Learn more about Nik's coaching business here → fastsideways.com
Produced by → instagram.com/rassoolracing
Hosted by → instagram.com/nikromanoracing
Hosted by → instagram.com/kylecheromcha
GR86 owned by → instagram.com/downshiftxlr8
Previous episode → youtu.be/9_2-7qjynEA?si=yeBX7KhnVu0Q5Eqs
The Drive is the chronicle of car culture. We write stories you actually want to read. → thedrive.com
FOLLOW US!
Instagram → instagram.com/thedrive
Facebook → facebook.com/thedrive
TikTok → tiktok.com/@thedrive_official
WORK WITH US → youtube@thedrive.com
How much better have performance tires gotten in the last 20 years? You're about to find out in this first-of-its-kind track test.
If you're not a tire nerd, maybe you will be after this, because it's fascinating. We've got two sets of brand new summer tires: the Toyo Proxes R1R, which debuted in the mid-2000s and was produced without any major changes until this year; and the Toyo Proxes Sport R, which launched this year as the replacement for the R1R, benefitting from everything the tire industry has learned in two decades.
The R1R is basically a time capsule for how tire companies designed an affordable performance tire 20 years ago, and the Sport R shows how they're reaching for the same goal today. And right now, we're in the brief window of time where we can actually measure what those 20 years have done for drivers.
So, we grabbed some of the last new R1Rs available and the first new Sport Rs rolling out of the factory, a FWD Honda Civic Type R and a RWD time attack Toyota GR86, and put Nik in the driver's seat to throw down laps in each car on both sets of tires.
You'd expect the Sport R to be faster, and duh, it is. But with our data recorders hooked up, we were able to demonstrate exactly why that is, where the gains came from, and what that says about the next 20 years of tires. Enjoy.
Big thanks to Toyo Tires, Apex Wheels, Garmin, Buttonwillow Raceway, and Stephen for the GR86
Learn more about Nik's coaching business here → fastsideways.com
Produced by → instagram.com/rassoolracing
Hosted by → instagram.com/nikromanoracing
Hosted by → instagram.com/kylecheromcha
GR86 owned by → instagram.com/downshiftxlr8
Previous episode → youtu.be/9_2-7qjynEA?si=yeBX7KhnVu0Q5Eqs
The Drive is the chronicle of car culture. We write stories you actually want to read. → thedrive.com
FOLLOW US!
Instagram → instagram.com/thedrive
Facebook → facebook.com/thedrive
TikTok → tiktok.com/@thedrive_official
WORK WITH US → youtube@thedrive.com
