Tire technology has become so advanced today that you can use one set for over 50,000-miles and don’t care about degradation. However, there are some tires that offer even better tread life than that. More precisely, the Toyo Eclipse is one of the most durable budget tires you can install on your car. It comes with 110,000 km treadwear warranty (translates into a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty in the USA), which is one of the best results in its category. However, when manufacturers put a focus on durability, they usually cut corners in other areas, like performance, for example. Is the Toyo Eclipse one of those tires? Let’s find out in this detailed Toyo Eclipse Review.
See, tires that are designed to offer outstanding tread life first are usually lower-cost tires that don’t offer the same performance as premium tires. Sure, they may last as long as premium tires, which gives value to the owner, but they are still not as safe or as reliable. That said, Toyo is a very reputable manufacturer that can be trusted when it comes to producing tires that both last long and have excellent traction throughout the year. The Eclipse might not be the best all-season touring tire, but considering the price, it might be one of the best value tires on the market. I find it to be very good in most categories, with especially good comfort over longer journeys.
The Toyo Eclipse is available in sizes ranging from 13-18 inches, and it is mostly aimed at drivers of subcompact cars, compact cars, and minivans. This is also one of the few tires on the market that is available in 13-inch configurations, which makes it a great choice for owners of older Corolla’s and Civics’ (the 70s’ and 80s’ models). That said, drivers of newer subcompact vehicles such as the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit and Ford Fiesta will be equally well served by a set of Toyo Eclipse tires. Also, owners of decade-old Camry’s, Fusion’s and Accords’ can trust the Eclipse in most conditions. That said, while the tire is available in larger sizes that cover larger minivans, I would still recommend choosing a set of more premium-focused all-season tires, especially if you own a modern minivan.
The Toyo Eclipse is definitely budget-oriented tire, but it still has few aces up its sleeve. Let’s see what are they in the “Tire Overview” section and then see how they’re handling real life in the detailed review of the tire.
Toyo Eclipse Tire Overview
The Toyo Celsius is an all-season touring tire which means that the main points of focus of the designers were durability and comfort. However, Toyo also made sure that the Eclipse is prepared to offer safe and reliable driving experience throughout the year.
The all-season tread design is a testament to Toyo’s commitment to safety. The tread offers an attractive, variable pitch tread design pattern for lower noise, while the full-depth sipes and wide-open grooves take care of traction in wet and snowy conditions. The “S” figure center block slits additionally increase water evacuation in heavy rain, which improves traction and braking performance.
Like most premium tires, the Eclipse also comes with interlocking wave sipes that maximize the stability of the tread block. These sipes help with irregular wear by keeping the tire stable, but also minimize road noise. On top of that, the rigid shoulder stabilizing ribs additionally make the tire more stable, improving handling and durability.
The Silent Wall technology is one of the most impressive treats of the Eclipse. It comes directly from Toyo’s R&D arsenal and reduces pipe resonance noise by disrupting the airflow in the grooves.
Pros
- Durable tread compound
- Excellent warranty
- Very quiet and comfortable
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- Slightly worse traction in dry and wet conditions when compared to premium tires
- Snow traction is simply not there
Toyo Eclipse Detailed Review
Treadwear and Durability
Despite the outstandingly low price point, the Eclipse still comes with 110,000 km treadwear warranty (around 70,000-miles) for “T” speed rated models and 90,000 km treadwear warranty (around 55,000-miles) for “H” speed rated models. Toyo also offers 5 years of workmanship and materials warranty, which is a great addition to the already excellent treadwear warranty.
The Eclipse is not only durable on paper – it is one of the longest-lasting all-season tires for subcompact and compact vehicles on the market right now. The tread seems like it lasts forever – owners around the internet consistently praise this tire for longevity and durability. In other words, if you drive around 10,000-miles annually, you can expect up to five years of carefree driving with a set of these tires. The Eclipse’s durability is even more impressive when you look at the price, which is at the lower end of the spectrum in its category.
Dry Traction and Grip
The Toyo Eclipse is safe for everyday driving, providing enough grip and traction for the average driver. However, you need to set your expectations right here. While it does provide a safe driving experience, the Eclipse is nowhere near premium touring tires when it comes to handling prowess.
If you push it really hard through the corners, the Eclipse starts to show its limits very early. The grip is limited during hard cornering, and the Eclipse is simply not as responsive as a spirited driver would like. Traction is good, but again, not on the level of premium touring tires. Braking is also only average, but good for the category.
With all that said, the Toyo Eclipse is a low-cost all-season tire, and the slightly worse performance it shows is expected. When compared to other cheap tires, it might be one of the best choices out there. However, if you think that you will get similar performance to that of premium touring tires, you’re only fooling yourself. That’s why I mostly recommend the Eclipse to owners of subcompact and compact vehicles – those that own more powerful vehicles might be better served by more expensive tires.
Wet Traction
The story is somewhat similar when it rains, although perhaps not as explicit. As a matter of fact, the Eclipse is outstandingly good at resisting hydroplaning, more so than any other tire in its category. I couldn’t find any faulty with how the tire handled heavy rain both in warmer and colder conditions. That said, performance in damp conditions is slightly worse than premium tires.
Then again, when compared to other low-cost options, the Toyo Eclipse is one of the best tires in its category when it comes to wet traction. The average driver will be completely satisfied with how this tire handles rainy weather, and that’s pretty much everything you need to know.
Snow Traction and Braking Performance
The Toyo Eclipse has the M+S symbol on its sidewall. This means that it can be used in colder conditions and on light snow. However, I would still recommend against doing that. While the Eclipse is usable colder weather, that is only if the pavement is completely dry – snowy surfaces can be a bit of a stretch. The Eclipse quickly loses traction on snow, even when it’s few inches deep. Braking is also very limited on snow. Suffice to say; if you live in areas with harsh winters, you should absolutely replace your Toyo Eclipse’s with a set of winter tires, or choose another set of tires altogether. That said, if you live in areas with mild winters (no snow), the Eclipse might be the only tire you need.
Comfort & Noise
While the Eclipse suffers from low traction in some conditions, especially when compared to premium touring tires, it can match them in this category. Thanks to the Silent Wall technology, this budget Toyo tire is one of the quietest you can put on your car, even at higher speeds.
This is very important for subcompact cars, which usually have worse noise suppression than larger vehicles. With a set of these tires, long journeys on the highway will be whisper-quiet. On top of that, the Toyo is also very good in the ride quality department, and that’s especially true for models with smaller sidewalls. Overall, I find the Toyo Eclipse to be very pleasing on the road, which is certainly not something you should overlook.
Toyo Eclipse Review: Conclusion
The Toyo Eclipse is absolutely not the best all-season tire I’ve driven to this day, but it’s also far from the worst. Even though it has some limitations, I think that there’s a market for the Toyo, especially for owners of older vehicles with smaller rims. The price of the Eclipse is pretty low for the durability you get (excellent treadwear warranty), while the comfort levels are simply outstanding.
However, there are premium touring tires that offer better performance in dry and wet conditions. Sure, the average driver might never notice the difference, but owners of bigger and more powerful cars might want to pay more for the added safety at higher speeds. Overall, though, for the amount of money you pay, the Eclipse is one of the best all-season tires you can get right now!