Toyo Tires in Calgary: History, Best Models, and How They Handle Our Roads
Toyo has been making tires since 1945, and over the last couple of decades it's become one of the names Calgary truck and SUV owners ask for by name. If you've seen a lifted pickup on Deerfoot wearing chunky all-terrains, there's a good chance they're Toyo Open Country.
Here's the rundown: where Toyo came from, the models worth knowing, and how they actually perform through a Calgary winter and pothole season.
The short version
- Toyo Tires was founded in 1945 in Japan and now sells in over 100 countries.
- It's best known for the Open Country truck/SUV line and the Proxes performance line.
- For Calgary, the Open Country A/T III (all-terrain) and Celsius II (all-weather) come up most.
- Toyo sits between premium and budget — strong performance without the top-tier price.
A quick history of Toyo
Toyo Tire started in Japan in August 1945. Over the decades it built its name partly through motorsport — Toyo is a fixture in Formula Drift and off-road desert racing, which is where a lot of its tread and compound engineering gets proven.
The company leans hard on materials science. Its "Nano Balance Technology" is a real thing behind the marketing name: controlling rubber compounding at the molecular level to balance grip, rolling resistance, and tread life. That work shows up most in the two product families that matter here.
The Open Country line — A/T, R/T, M/T, and H/T — made Toyo a default choice for trucks and SUVs across North America. The Proxes line covers performance and summer driving, while Celsius handles all-weather and Observe covers dedicated winter.
What Toyo is known for
- All-terrain strength. The Open Country A/T III is one of the most popular all-terrains on the continent — it balances gravel and trail capability with a quiet-enough highway ride.
- Long wear for the category. All-terrains usually trade tread life for grip. Toyo's hold up better than most.
- Value-premium pricing. Often less than the top-tier names while performing close to them.
The Toyo tires we see most in Calgary
| Model | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Open Country A/T III | All-terrain | Trucks/SUVs on gravel, snow, and highway |
| Celsius II | All-weather (3PMSF) | One set, year-round, no seasonal swap |
| Observe GSi-6 | Dedicated winter | Ice and packed-snow grip |
| Proxes Sport | Summer / performance | Performance cars in warm months |
If you drive a truck or SUV, the Open Country A/T III is the one to look at — built for exactly the mix of gravel back roads, highway, and winter that defines driving around Calgary. Compare sizes in the all-terrain range or the full light-truck tire lineup.
To run one set all year, the Celsius II carries the 3-peak mountain snowflake rating that makes it legal and capable in Alberta winters — see our all-weather tires page. For a dedicated October–April set, the Observe GSi-6 is Toyo's snow-and-ice tire (winter tires).
How Toyo holds up on Calgary roads
- The A/T III earns its name on gravel. The back roads east of the city around Strathmore and Langdon chew up softer tires; the tougher casing shrugs off sharp gravel better than most.
- All-weather Toyos handle the shoulder seasons. Chinooks swing temps 20°C in an afternoon — the Celsius II stays composed instead of going vague in the warm spells.
- Quiet for an aggressive tread. The A/T III keeps highway drone down on long Highway 1 runs to the mountains.
For more, see our guide to all-terrain tires in Calgary.
Frequently asked questions
Are Toyo tires good for Calgary winters?
With the right model, yes. The Celsius II is an all-weather tire with the 3PMSF winter rating, and the Observe GSi-6 is a dedicated winter tire. A standard all-season Toyo, like most all-seasons, isn't built for deep Alberta winter.
What's Toyo's most popular tire?
The Open Country A/T III — an all-terrain that balances off-road grip, winter capability, and a manageable highway ride.
Is Toyo a premium or budget brand?
It sits between the two: priced below the top-tier names but above budget brands, with performance close to premium in the Open Country line.
How long do Toyo tires last?
It depends on model and driving, but Toyo's all-terrains are known for longer-than-average tread life in their category when rotated on schedule.
Does Prince Tires carry Toyo?
Yes — browse the lineup at princetires.ca/collections/toyo or call (403) 452-4283.
Weighing Toyo against other names for a truck or SUV? See our best tires for trucks and SUVs in Calgary guide, or book a visit for honest, no-pressure advice. Prince Tires · 111 42 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2G 0A4 · (403) 452-4283 · Book online.
Posted by the Prince Tires team. Calgary tire specialists since 2021. Last updated: June 2026.
Sources: Toyo Tires Canada, Tire and Rubber Association of Canada.
