I just ordered some and I've heard good things about them but I wanted to hear some more.

Any experienced S03 drivers out there?

 

No experience, but I'd really like to know how those work out for you. Are you going to be autocrossing on them? I, myself, just ordered a set of the Falkens today, and can't wait to put them to work. Judging by my past experience with Bridgestone, I'm sure you can't go wrong. (Just pricey as hell!)

 

For a street/track tire with an emphasis on street the SO-3's are some of the best out there.

 

have you tried them Active Aero?

 

I'm thinking about picking up a set of S03s myself. Word of mouth/reputation says they're awesome. But for so much $$$, they're not exactly a good value (like an Azenis).

 

No experience with them, but more than one Impreza driver handed my *** to me with those tires this year. I think they still have a very good deal on 195/50/15 size at Tire Rack. $86 each I think. I wish I needed tires, cause I'd be all over those like white on rice.

 

Having spoken at length with the aforementioned ***-handing Impreza driver about this, and being the unlikely chap who had to run against him the day he installed them on his car, I can comment that he liked the Falkens more. Said driver is known for being a bit on the stoic side, and the Falkens made him smile uncontrollably after he came off shaved S-02s PPs and S-03s. I'd have almost sworn I heard a cackle come from his lips after he finished squashing me like a very small insect on that day. This reaction told me a whole lot; hell had just gotten much hotter for my snowball's chance of getting within a second of him.

 

I haven't driven on S03s. However, I've put in quote a lot of time on S02 Pole Positions, and I can say that they are some serious kick-*** tires, both dry and wet. A few autocross events I tied or beat a well-prepared, well-driven, supercharged Mustang GT that was on V700s. And there was at least one event where I was only 4 seconds off the killer ASP porsches. I'm usually 3-4 seconds off them with my Kumhos V700s, too. The kumhos definitely had more grip, but not a LOT more because the fronts are too old, and they're too big for the rims I'm using them on, and they're on 15f/16r wheels, whereas the S02s were on 17/17, with a lot more offset (er, less offset, ~40 vs 55-60), so the driveability made up some of the grip difference.

Anyway, S02 PPs rule. They're also really popular among NSX owners. I think the concesus on the NSX mailing lists is that the S03 is in the same league, maybe not quite as good dry, a little better wet, and maybe better treadwear.

-Mike

 

I have never driven on S03's but I think they are a good tire.

 

I have Michelin Pilot Sport's; I'd like to to drive a set of S-03's to compare them side by side

 

I've seen S03 on the track on some 240SX. They look really nice as to the RE010s.
RE010's thread wear is 140 and S03 is 220....which suggest a longer life span than the RE010?
I wouldn't call it pricey for merely 115 ea compare to 010's 190 ea.
The guy said it right: never spend cheap money on tires, they are the most important aspects of your car.

Since S03 is by far of my knowledge the BEST street tyres for my car, I will have no regrets putting down my $$$ for a set.

And please give back some feedback once you have tried them on.......and after 1000mi.

 

Looks don't matter as much as the compound. If a Bridgestone has a 220 treadwear rating, yes, it should last a bit longer than a 140 rated Bridgestone. I really wanted S-03s, but pricing it all out, it just didn't add out quite nearly as nice as the Falkens. See, it was either buy a set for nearly $600 (shipped), or buy a set of Falkens for $279 shipped to my door. I'll buy two sets of those, and have double the fun.

 

Local guy just put S03s on the back of his S2k. He wore his rear ones out autoxing and at Deals Gap. He hasn't autoxed on them, he has race tires now, but at Deals Gap he can't tell a difference between them and the S02 except the S03 gets MUCH better wet traction.

 

I'm using S-03s on my car and they are very nice. Best tire I've used yet... So far I've only taken them on some canyon roads and the grip is awesome. I plan on going to an upcoming Speed Trial at Buttonwillow in December to really put them to the test. But I'd give them two thumbs up so far...

 

Compared to the crap stockers, they're a world of difference. I've only had them on the street (haven't tested them on autox yet) but they don't make a sound, even when making a 180 deg turn at 20 mph or so. Very nice, very grippy tires. I've had them on for about 2.5K miles, and it takes a little while to break 'em in but they're awesome, even in the rain. 100% confidence in wet or dry. I don't think I could buy any other tire, especially after this set. Thumbs up here too!


[Modified by SilverGS, 5:59 PM 11/19/2001]

 

I've got a set on my stock GS-R, and I like them a lot. The only other set of tires I've had on the car (aside from the crap stock tires) were RE-71s. These have more stick than my RE-71s did when nearly worn out....at least, to my butt-meter and the speedo on my favorite on-ramp on the way to work.

Even more than dry traction, they're awesome in the wet. Now that they're getting about halfway (or maybe a bit more) worn, I'm interested to see how they'll react to wet...but, since it's November in Iowa, I'm guessing I won't know for a while. They'll be spending the winter in my basement while Arctic Alpins hold the Integra off the ground...and the Dodge Ram pulls winter duty.

All that said, I'm looking toward trying some Azenis next summer, in large part because of the cost.

Jarrod

 

Well, I posted this question a while ago and since then have driven the **** out of the tires. I love them. Better than the Kumho 712 (duh) and better than the Dunlop SP8000.

What really impresses me is the breaking and accellerating traction. I have a CRX boosted to 9psi which is pretty hard to launch due to it's light wheight. With the Kumho's I got tons of wheel spin but the Potenzas really stick.

cool

 

how do u like the arctic aplins? i bought them for this winter but I havent put them on yet....also im afraid to go home on them from school (400 mile commute) because of their low speed rating...

 

I'm happy with mine (205-50-15). They've been great in the last two downpours. And they almost never squeal on the street. They were also pretty good this weekend at the Thunderhill (local track) driving event.

Autox-wise, they're not the V700 killer I had hoped they would be when I first got them. I got a ride in another teg with them and his inside tire wasn't spinning as early out of a turn. Unless it was the Tokicos. They seem to pick Hoosier bits easily for 2nd day events though ...

Infinitely better/safer than stock (all I had before).

-al