51
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
50/100
27 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Falken ZE512 vs Toyo Proxes TR1 — Compared (September 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
VS
75
/ 100
Objective (60%)
70/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
75/100
71 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Toyo Proxes TR1 — better handling, wet and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Read full
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Category breakdown
6 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Score (0–100)
Proxes TR1 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | ZE512 | Proxes TR1 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 71 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 67 | 84 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Proxes TR1 leads by 27
Why this score
| Source | ZE512 | Proxes TR1 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 73 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 47 | 75 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Proxes TR1 leads by 21
Why this score
| Source | ZE512 | Proxes TR1 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 81 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 55 | 67 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | ZE512 | Proxes TR1 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 96 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Proxes TR1 leads by 26
Why this score
| Source | ZE512 | Proxes TR1 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 45 | 71 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Proxes TR1 leads by 31
Why this score
| Source | ZE512 | Proxes TR1 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 50 | 81 |
| DriverReviews owners | – | 84 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Falken ZE512 | Toyo Proxes TR1 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 51 | 75 |
| Dry | 67 | 76 |
| Wet | 47 | 74 |
| Comfort | 55 | 76 |
| Noise | – | 96 |
| Treadwear | 45 | 71 |
| Handling | 50 | 81 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
51
/ 100
Tire A
75
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Falken ZE512 is a polarizing budget-oriented tire that receives mixed reviews, often criticized for its rapid tread wear and inconsistent wet-weather performance. While some users appreciate its initial dry grip and affordability, many report significant dissatisfaction regarding its longevity and lack of structural durability on rough road surfaces.
Pros
- Affordable price point
- Satisfactory dry pavement grip when new
- Generally quiet and comfortable ride quality
- Good initial handling characteristics for casual driving
Cons
- Extremely rapid tread wear and short lifespan
- Poor wet-weather traction and hydroplaning resistance
- Soft sidewalls prone to damage from potholes and curbs
- Significant performance degradation as the tread wears down
Observations
- Users driving performance-oriented or heavier vehicles frequently reported premature wear and lack of stability.
- Drivers noted that the soft sidewall construction provides a comfortable ride but lacks the structural integrity required for rough urban road conditions.
The Toyo Proxes TR1 is widely regarded as a high-value, budget-friendly performance tire that excels in dry grip and provides a sporty, responsive driving experience. While many users praise its ability to transform vehicle handling, the consensus is tempered by frequent reports of significant road noise, soft sidewalls, and rapid tread wear, particularly under spirited driving conditions.
Pros
- Excellent price-to-performance ratio
- Strong dry pavement grip and cornering stability
- Predictable and progressive handling at the limit
- Aesthetically pleasing tread pattern
- Improved steering feedback compared to standard touring tires
Cons
- High levels of road noise, often described as a 'humming' or 'wheel bearing' sound
- Soft sidewalls leading to a wobbly feel or lack of precision under heavy load
- Rapid tread wear and potential for uneven cupping
- Inconsistent wet weather performance, with some users reporting aquaplaning issues
- Performance degradation as the tire reaches the end of its tread life
Observations
- Mid-engined vehicle owners reported dissatisfaction with the soft sidewalls, noting a lack of stability during cornering compared to front-engined setups.
- Users with lightweight hatchbacks and compact cars frequently cited the tire as a significant upgrade in handling and confidence for daily spirited driving.
- Drivers of heavier or higher-horsepower vehicles noted faster tread wear and increased susceptibility to understeer when pushing the tires to their limits.
Community buzz
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Falken ZE512
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Mixed
Toyo Proxes TR1
Community opinions on the Toyo Proxes TR1 are mixed, with users highlighting its affordable price, progressive limit handling, and good dry grip for spirited driving or sliding. However, critics frequently point out issues with soft sidewalls that reduce steering precision, increased road noise over time, and mixed performance in wet or cold weather.
r/kereta
·2 upvotes ·2026-04-27
“Avoid TR1.. the sound will become unbearable.. I suggest Yokohama ES32..”
r/Miata
·1 upvote ·2025-02-18
“Tr1s are great for sliding and are very progressive at the limit but they have very sloppy sidewalls and do not have a lot of grip, it's very easy to lock up and can easily make you do a 4 wheel slide. Even the ancient PS3s have way more grip.”
r/Miata
·1 upvote ·2025-02-18
“Tr1 is a solid choice for relatively cheap grip They do suffer in the cold and wet but if it's a summer car that shouldn't be an issue”
r/subaru
·1 upvote ·2026-06-25
“Bekomme ich mit unterschiedliche Reifen Modelle Probleme mit dem Verteiler Getriebe? Hallo, ich habe mal eine Frage bezüglich Reifen und dem Verteilergetriebe. Ich habe vor ein paar Jahren einen gebrauchten Felgensatz gekauft auf dem Reifen aus dem Jahr 2016 waren Profiltiefe der Reifen war bei allen neuwertig. Anfang diesen Jahres habe ich mir dann hinten links einen Platten gefahren. Ich habe dann die Reifen hinten achsweise getauscht mit dem selben Reifen was verbaut war (neue toyo proxes tr1 Reifen. Unglücklicherweise habe ich jetzt wieder einen platten Reifen, allerdings vorne. Nun wollte ich wieder 2 neue Reifen für vorne bestellen (ebenfalls toyo proxes tr1). Leider läuft dieses Modell wohl aus und sind nicht mehr verfügbar. Meine Frage jetzt, kann ich andere Reifen Modelle nutzen (toyo comfort in den selben Maßen wie den Proxes tr1) oder sind diese problematisch? Vielen Dank im Voraus 🙂 Read more”
Top themes
#affordable budget performance#soft sidewall flex#progressive limit handling#wet and cold performance#road noise levels#sliding and drifting capability
Based on 16 community posts
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Falken ZE512 | B · Toyo Proxes TR1 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Touring tires | Summer Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
51
/ 100
Falken
75
/ 100
Toyo
Winner: Toyo Proxes TR1 — better handling, wet and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Toyo Proxes TR1 scores 81 vs 50 on handling.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Toyo Proxes TR1 scores 74 vs 47 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Toyo Proxes TR1 scores 71 vs 45 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Toyo Proxes TR1 scores 76 vs 55 on comfort.
Tire A · Falken ZE512
Tire B · Toyo Proxes TR1
More comparisons
Also compared with
Falken ZE512 also compared with
Toyo Proxes TR1 also compared with
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.