You will tell me that winter is not totally over, and you will be right. Call it wishful thinking. A kind of request to the universe for the snow and the cold to go away. But the last few months still allowed me to test the new Toyo GSi-6 Observe tires.
From the very start, as I said at the beginning of the season, I was skeptical. Because the Toyo Observe has the great quality of being an excellent performance tire. Which, on a vehicle like a Mazda5, isn’t exactly a need.
Even worse, in fact, it’s usually a handicap. Because the Mazda5 may be a handy little minivan, it doesn’t have the dynamic drive and handling of a sports car. So I was a little worried, despite the manufacturer’s claims, that the tires might be a little too dynamic for the needs.
After two months of regular driving, I was able to realize their versatility and efficiency under all types of cars. Which, I can confirm, really surprised me.
The tire
A little introduction first. The Toyo GSi-6 Observe is the new generation of Toyo tires. It retains elements such as Microbit, those crushed nutshells in the tread that increase grip. But it’s the tread design that stands out this year.
The grooves, in the shape of a spiral in the center, ensure better evacuation on all surfaces. And the multitude of grooves confirms that, regardless of the direction, the tire will be able to react quickly.
The fear: that these multiple grooves may increase ambient noise. Error. It’s hard to tell if it’s the tread compound or the complex groove pattern. But the rolling noise is less than in the past. And when you consider that the cabin of a Mazda5 literally acts as an echo box, it’s surprising not to hear more noise coming from the tires.
The experience
Let’s specify here that the vehicle was used a few times for me, but was also used to transport the small family of one of my children. A cute couple with two young children, I did not want the winter conditions to put them at risk during their trip.
The observation is the same. In deep snow, the tires were able to make their way through to ensure some grip. The relative lightness of the vehicle at the rear, however, sometimes resulted in a loss of grip. But it was necessary to insist a little in order to feel the loss.
The big breakthrough was on the ice. The GSi-6 literally looked like a field hockey player, so much so that it bites with conviction on the iciest surfaces. When driving in less busy urban areas, where compacted snow formed a slippery layer on the pavement, the tires didn’t seem to be affected by the conditions at all. In fact, they even provided less stopping distance than most other vehicles in the same conditions.
My favourite conditions, however, were the wet conditions. As the melting began to occur, the pavement became wetter but kept a cold temperature. It almost felt like the GSi-6 was sucking in water before it bit the asphalt, so short was the braking time, and with no surprise.
Driving
This is probably where the Toyo impressed me the most. The rigid walls withstood the weight of the small vehicle very well, and no matter how enthusiastic I was in my turns, the tires remained strong enough to never let you feel any weakness in this area.
The Toyo GSi-6 Observe proved to be a surprising winter companion on all types of road surfaces, with a convincing bite on almost any surface. Better yet, for a price (check out Blackcircles.ca) that is more than reasonable.
One last detail: the GSi-6 Observe is now available for sedans and SUVs, larger SUVs and trucks as well as performance cars. Quite frankly, this is a remarkable evolution for tires that have suddenly become more versatile than ever.
PHOTOS: DANY BUTEAU
