Performance - ��ɬ is the Tuner's Source for Modified Car Culture since 1999

Toyo Tires Canada Introduces Toyo Proxes Sport 2 Max Performance Summer Tire

2025-04-01T17:41:32+00:00

Tires are one of the most important factors in how a vehicle feels on the road. They connect power to pavement, dictate braking performance, and influence everything from steering response to ride comfort. Toyo Tires knows this, and with the release of the Proxes Sport 2, they’ve taken their max performance summer tire lineup to the next level.

Designed for a broad range of performance vehicles, including gas, hybrid, and electric models, this tire blends new tread compounds, an evolved tread pattern, and an improved casing to enhance wet and dry traction. The goal is more precise handling, better cornering stability, and shorter stopping distances compared to the previous Proxes Sport. It's a true sequel.

A key update is the redesigned profile, which helps the tire maintain contact with the road under hard cornering. Dual silica tread compounds play a crucial role here - softer on the inside for adaptability to changing road surfaces, while firmer on the outside to resist deformation and maintain stability when loading up a corner. The asymmetric tread pattern and dynamic taper design ensure consistent traction whether accelerating, braking, or threading a line through a bend.

Beyond performance, the Proxes Sport 2 also prioritizes efficiency and ride quality. Rolling resistance is kept in check, which translates to better fuel economy. While max performance summer tires often come with trade-offs in comfort, Toyo has tuned this one for a smoother, quieter ride when not being pushed to the limit.

With sizes ranging from 17 to 22 inches and speed ratings in the Y and (Y) categories, the Proxes Sport 2 is available in over 80 fitments, covering a wide array of performance cars, crossovers, and SUVs. From staggered setups to aftermarket wheel upgrades, it’s meant to cater to enthusiasts looking for a balance of capability and refinement. Fitments include everything from the Audi SQ5 and BMW M models to the Ford Mustang Dark Horse, Tesla Model X, and Toyota Supra GR.

The Proxes Sport 2 will be hitting the market in March 2025, backed by a 40,000-kilometer treadwear warranty and a 30-day trial offer. Whether you’re looking to enhance your daily drive or sharpen your weekend track toy, this latest offering from Toyo looks set to deliver where it counts. For more information, visit ToyoTires.com or ToyoTires.ca

Toyo Tires New Proxes Sport A/S+ Ultra-High Performance All-Season Tire

2025-03-18T18:09:12+00:00

As an evolution of the iconic Proxes Sport A/S, the A/S+ refines what worked while improving where it counts. The big talking point here is its enhanced wet traction, made possible by a revised tread compound. That compound also manages to lower rolling resistance, which translates to better fuel economy and extended range - an important consideration for both traditional and electrified vehicles. Toyo is also introducing a High Load (HL) variant in select sizes, aimed at meeting the demands of heavier platforms like EVs, hybrids, and large SUVs.

The tread itself follows an asymmetric design, balancing stiffness and compliance in key areas. A high-stiffness outer rib sharpens cornering response, while the inner ribs utilize a higher sipe density to manage braking forces in both dry and wet conditions. Snow traction isn’t an afterthought either, as the siping pattern is designed to add some cold-weather capability without sacrificing dry performance. Underneath, a reinforced casing with high tensile steel belts and a stiffened sidewall maintains stability under acceleration, braking, and lateral loads, ensuring that contact pressure remains even where it matters.

Another quiet contributor to performance is Toyo’s dynamic taper design. This isn’t just about aesthetics - even though it looks the part - it's also about maximizing grip under changing conditions. Meanwhile, multi-wave sipes work to reduce irregular wear, meaning the tire stays quieter and more effective over time.

Set to hit the market in March 2025, the Proxes Sport A/S+ will be available in over 75 sizes, covering 17- to 22-inch fitments with W, Y, and (Y) speed ratings. The list of compatible vehicles reads like a who’s who of performance and premium models, including Audi and BMW sedans and SUVs, the Ford Mustang and Mustang Mach-E, Nissan Z, Tesla’s Model 3, X, and Y, and the Toyota GR Supra. And with an 80,000-kilometer treadwear warranty plus a 30-day trial offer, Toyo is backing its newest tire with confidence. For those looking to maintain performance across seasons without compromising wet or dry capability, the Proxes Sport A/S+ makes a compelling case.

For more information, visit ToyoTires.ca

Move over, Corvette!

2025-02-24T22:39:15+00:00

Powerful Jeeps are nothing new. For as long as Jeeps have existed, people have been cranking, or have at least attempted to crank, more power out of their favorite off-roader.

Heck, even Jeep themselves have been doing it, with the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392, which is equipped with a 6.4-liter (392 cubic-inch) HEMI V8 that produces 470 horsepower and 470 foot-pounds of torque right from the factory.

As impressive as it is, however, other 4x4 news crossed our desk recently that should make the Rubicon 392 blush.

Billed as “the way the Jeep Rubicon 392 should have been built”, Pompano Beach, Florida-based SoFlo Customs has rolled out its latest modded off-roader, the SoFlo Speedster. And the company isn’t shy about its intentions when it calls the Speedster, “a 575-horsepower 4x4 Corvette killer.”

This hand-built, Wrangler-based 4x4 beast uses a high-output 392 HEMI V8 that produces a fire-breathing 575 horsepower, but its high-performance story doesn’t stop there. The Speedster has a sports-tuned suspension, Dana 44-inch axles with electronic locking differentials, releasing sway bars, off-road plus mode, and a custom aluminum roll cage.

Utility isn’t an afterthought either thanks to a pick-up bed that’s almost five feet long, with a 2x2 built-in hidden storage area, and legit off-road rubber – 40-inch Nitto rubber wrapped around 22-inch wheels.

And because it’s a modern vehicle, the Speedster also comes with adaptive cruise control, and Apple CarPlay. And because it’s based on a Jeep, just about everything can be removed, including t-tops, doors, and even its rear glass panel. But don’t worry if you crash the waves a bit too hard on the beach because the Speedster comes with a weatherproof interior.

The SoFlo Speedster is available now starting at $99,999, and $129,000 fully loaded. Interested parties can visit SoFlo Customs at one of their three South Florida stores or go to SoFloCustom.com to learn more.

Precision Turbo & Engine has introduced a one-piece Turbo Inlet Screen

2025-02-18T11:36:01+00:00

Precision Turbo & Engine has introduced a one-piece Turbo Inlet Screen designed to enhance airflow while safeguarding your turbocharger. With a 79% open area, this screen ensures optimal breathing for your turbo with minimal performance impact, making it ideal for street applications. It's also compatible with velocity stacks, offering versatility for various setups.

Available in three sizes—4" diameter for S & H covers, 5" for Sportsman covers, and 6" for ProMod covers—the Turbo Inlet Screen caters to a range of turbocharger configurations. However, it's important to note that this screen is not recommended for maximum horsepower applications.

Priced at $79.99, the 4" Turbo Inlet Screen (S & H Cover) is currently in stock. Precision Turbo emphasizes that this product is not a substitute for a cone filter but serves as a quick solution when other options are unavailable. Its one-piece design allows for easy installation when protection is needed and straightforward removal to maximize performance. The company advises users to exercise caution, as they are not liable for any property damage or personal injury resulting from extreme conditions in which these products are used.

For more information or to purchase, visit Precision Turbo's official website.

Porsche Taycan Sets New Drift Record on Ice

2025-02-03T15:37:23+00:00

It’s official – the Porsche Taycan now owns the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous vehicle drift for an EV on ice.

The record, which was set in mid-January at Porsche’s Arctic Center in Levi, Finland located about 93 miles (150 km) north of the Arctic Circle, was a controlled drift for 17.053 kilometers (10.59 miles) using only throttle and steering inputs. The distance is equivalent to 132 laps of the 59-meter (193.5-foot) drifting circle used for the attempt.

The car, a Taycan GTS sedan, was driven by Porsche instructor Jens Richter who bested the old record of 14.809 kilometers (8.75 miles). The car was outfitted with Michelin tires with one-millimeter spikes and was equipped with a professional GPS measuring device to track the route precisely. In addition to the car’s movements, the GPS tracker recorded steering wheel inputs, acceleration, braking and G-forces.

Guinness World Records officials were on site to oversee the attempt, and they presented Richter and Christian Lehwald, Managing Director of the Porsche Arctic Center with an official certificate afterwards.

The Taycan now holds four Guinness World records. In 2023, a Taycan Cross Turismo set the greatest altitude change record for an EV at 5,573 meters (18,284.1 feet) while driving a route from Xinjiang to Tibet. In 2021, racing driver Leh Keen hit 165.1 km/h (102.5 mph) at an exhibition hall in New Orleans in a Taycan Turbo S, setting the record for the fastest speed driven by a vehicle in an enclosed building. Lastly, in 2020 Dennis Retera, a Porsche instructor, set the record for the longest continuous drift in an EV when he did 210 laps in a Taycan at the Porsche Experience Center in Hockenheimring, Germany. The record covered 42.171 kilometers (26.2 miles) in 55 minutes.

Porsche 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman EVs Expected This Year

2025-02-03T15:30:21+00:00

While they have been a long time coming, 2025 is expected to be the year when both Porsche 718s, Boxster and Cayman, will officially become EV only. Next generation models have been in development for the past few years, and the company’s CEO, Oliver Blume, said back in 2022 that both cars would be EV only for their next generation.

Full electrification for these cars follows the path of the compact Macan SUV that went EV only when second generation models went on sale last year. The 718s would be the third pure EV models to join Porsche’s lineup, following the Macan and Taycan mid-size sedan and wagon.

While it’s too early to know about power units and performance numbers, spy photos of the next gen 718 prototypes testing in the wild are easily found on the Internet so it shouldn’t be too long before we know more.

But if EVs aren’t your bag, Porsche still sells a full roster of gas-powered 718s available, including the 493 horsepower Spyder RS, and Cayman GT4 RS. 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds!

BMW Reveals First-Ever M3 CS Touring

2025-02-03T15:20:33+00:00

It’s time again for another entry in the cool cars that aren’t coming to North America file. This time around the entrant, BMW’s M3 CS Touring, is a gorgeous wagon recently revealed that is truly breathtaking.

Powering this hot wagon is a 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engine that produces 550 horsepower and 650 lb-ft. of torque. With those numbers you’d assume the M3 CS Touring is quite fast, and your assumption is correct. BMW’s official 0-100 km/h (62 mph) time is 3.5 seconds.

The M3 CS Touring features technology derived from racing, according to BMW. In a press release, the company states the 3.0-liter inline six has, “an extremely rigid crankcase with a sleeve-free, closed-deck construction, a forged lightweight crankshaft and a cylinder head with a 3D-printed bore.” Designed to save weight, the cylinder bores also feature a wire-arc sprayed iron coating to reduce friction loss.

Other highlights include unique engine mounts with increased spring rate, M-specific exhaust system, M adaptive suspension with electronically controlled dampers, and available carbon ceramic brakes. Oh, and those carbon ceramics are available in red or matte gold. As for wheels and tires, the M3 CS Touring runs a staggered set up with 19-inchers up front and 20s at the rear. These alloys come in matte gold, bronze or black. As for tires, BMW didn’t list the brand in the release, but did reveal sizing and said they’re track rubber. Up front they’re 275/35 ZR19, and 285/30 ZR20 at the rear.

As for transmission and layout, the M3 CS Touring is 8-speed automatic / xDrive AWD only, with no manual available. The Active M Differential is rear-biased, however, and there are drive modes that will send more power to the rear wheels. A 2WD mode, with stability control off, is also available.

As we said at the top, the countries getting this limited-run model has been revealed and the U.S. and Canada aren’t on the list. But if you happen to live in Europe, Australia, Japan, or South Korea, you’re in luck. Deliveries are set to begin in March. For the rest of us, there’s always the M3 sedan.

Performance - ����ɬ is the Tuner's Source for Modified Car Culture since 1999