I'm picking up a 2000 Silver S2000 this Tuesday. The stock Potenza S-02s are shot on the rear. The previous owner tried both S-03, and the stock S-02s, and liked the S-02s better. I had the S-03s on my Integra Type R and they were amazing both wet and dry. It rains a lot where I live so I'd like good wet traction also. The S2k will be daily driven, just like my Integra. I have only driven an S2k in dry summer weather so far.

Anyone tried both in an area that gets a decent amount of rain?

I'll be buying one or the other so any help is appreciated.

 

If you are worried about the rain - get the S03's. Also, make sure you get the 245/45's.

 

s03's slightly better in snow. and like bagel said, make sure you get the 245/45/16 size for the rear

 

I know why to go with 245 from the 225 but don't understand the numbers. The s-02 in 225 is rated with a 9.2" section width and 8.5" tread width. The overall diameter is 24.8". Now the S-03 245 is 9.6" section and 9.1" tread width. The overall diameter is 24.6". Now if I go with the 225 in the S-03 it is 9.3" and 8.3". The overall diameter is 24.9". The story goes that the S-02's have a better contact patch than the S-03's but I don't see it tire for tire. 0.2 is not anything to frown at. I can see the advantage of going with a wider tire in the back but can't see any other benefit. Input??? What am I missing?


-Chris


Modified by frxtc@9k at 3:26 PM 7/28/2005

 

stock s02 rear is 225/50/16
s03 size you should get is 245/45/16

if hold them side by side, they are the same size. our stock s02's are actually wider than any 225 out there. they are 245 is you measure them. so anytime you change to another tire model or brand, you must go with 245

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Nishant &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">stock s02 rear is 225/50/16
s03 size you should get is 245/45/16

if hold them side by side, they are the same size. our stock s02's are actually wider than any 225 out there. they are 245 is you measure them. so anytime you change to another tire model or brand, you must go with 245</TD></TR></TABLE>


When I measured the tread between the S-02's and my new Ra-1's it was only .15 difference in contact patch. The numbers to buy a 245 to keep the offset between front and rear still don't add up. Help me out here. What the hell am I missing. If it was like .5" then it would be a big deal but .15" ro .2" is nothing at all.


Are they just posting the wrong info on the sizing charts for tread width??


Thanks
-Chris

 

what size RA1 did you get? 225 or 245?

 

225.

 

you will have less grip, on the track it makes a difference

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by frxtc@9k &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">225.</TD></TR></TABLE>
That's what I run up front with RA1's. A bit too narrow for the rear. But the RA1's are quite blocky.

I can tell by driving behind someone at 100 feet if they have the wrong tires on the back. The stance is just narrow and yes, you will not have as much grip in the rear. Less grip in the rear will be less understeer, which means, more oversteer. Not a lot, but enough to matter to most.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mr. Bagel &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
That's what I run up front with RA1's. A bit too narrow for the rear. But the RA1's are quite blocky.

I can tell by driving behind someone at 100 feet if they have the wrong tires on the back. The stance is just narrow and yes, you will not have as much grip in the rear. Less grip in the rear will be less understeer, which means, more oversteer. Not a lot, but enough to matter to most.</TD></TR></TABLE>

very true. less grip in corners usually means slower and also more chance of spinning out

 

hmmm,


I haven't ever spun out and I have pushed the car quite hard. I measures only a .15 difference from my previous tires. I am going to call Toyo today and ask for tread width. They don't have it listed and I don't have my car right now to confirm. It does look like there is a difference in the S-02's used on our cars and the replacement pole position. Tread width is different.

Thanks for the info.
-
Chris

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by frxtc@9k &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hmmm,


I haven't ever spun out and I have pushed the car quite hard. I measures only a .15 difference from my previous tires. I am going to call Toyo today and ask for tread width. They don't have it listed and I don't have my car right now to confirm. It does look like there is a difference in the S-02's used on our cars and the replacement pole position. Tread width is different.

Thanks for the info.
-
Chris</TD></TR></TABLE>

that is correct. the s02's used on our cars is different from the current pole positions. this only holds true for the rear. honda had bridgestone specifically design these for our car. at the time s02's were available, there were 3 versions of the 225/50/16. One was the standard size, one was for a porsche, and one for our car. If you sat all 3 side by side, you see the width and tread patterns were all different. why honda did this? no idea, just made it a pain when changing to another tire.

reasoning is here, go down 3-4 posts

http://www.s2ki.com/forums/ind...48572

 

Thanks for the input. I never ran into that post on S2ki when I searched. Thanks for the info.

-Chris

 

I thought I would add that the Toyo Ra-1s measured tread width is 8.65 and the measured tread width on my old S-02's is almost identical in the 225 sizing. The Porsche size of S-02 is .4" smaller.


-Chris