S2000 Winter Use

[TommyBuoy]

Hello,

There is another Winter Tyre / Summer Tyre argument going on in General Gassing...

The BMW I had before was fine for 3 winters without any winter tyres so my immediate thoughts are that the S2000 should be fine too. However, can anyone offer any advice on whether the fitment of winter tyres to an S2000 is recommended?

I don't want this to turn into an argument over the general use as I know that the performance of my current tyres will drop off and that winter tyres are for lower temps - that is a fact.

So, what I really would like to know is people's experienced with this car in wintery conditions?

Any help appreciated!

By the way, I'm in East Anglia.

[JFReturns]

No advice to give, but I'm considering the same thing....

[Riknos]

I find every winter (and I almost always spin my cars!) is to remember that you are driving on ice/snow/slush etc, and NOT on dry roads, and to adjust your driving style appropriately. Millions of miles are driven each winter by drivers not on winter tyres without any problems, just remember what the road conditions are etc.

Of course if you've got more money then sense then fork out for the tyres by all means..

[TommyBuoy]

^ As I did with the BM.

I think it's just the constant winter tyre threads that put some doubt in my mind. It's not as if the S2K has a load of torque so there really shouldn't be too big an issue.

Mine's and 06 as well which means the staggered alloys, but also revised suspension.

I reckon I've just talked myself out of winter tyres...

[hondafanatic]

A bag of sand in the boot and I managed to get up my road on the Bridgestones.

My neighbours X5 did not.

[ady_GTi]

I have been thinking about it as well. I know you can pick up 16" wheels fairly cheap off the older models. Only just got mine so no idea what it will be like .

My Integra was useless in the snow but i think that was more down to the tyres (Hankook rs2's).

[Mr Sparkle]

I managed just fine on summer tyres through all the snow last winter when many of my colleagues for some reason couldn't get to work. (lazy fkers)

[normalbloke]

With daft 18" rims on ours and 255 tyres ( previous owner!), I thought ours would be hideous. The bottom line is, if the snow will fit under the front bumper, it'll go.With the LSD it has a tad more traction than it should for a skinny tyred car.
We always head out in ours in the snow to play, it's just a huge giggle and controllable.

[James_N]

My S2K was brilliant on Uniroyal Rainsports, so not strictly winter / snow tyres, but it stuck like glue. Would always recommend these now

[havoc]

3 years ago in the "milder" winter we had, I drove my S2000 in the snow on 16" T1-R's and it was OK. Diff helped it go in a straight line and the wide grooves in the T1-R helped it grip. On wide, empty roads it was rather entertaining! (and of course the half-empty office car-park! )

Not sure it would have been so good on hard snow/ice though...experience with my ITR and the wife's Golf on Summer and then Winter tyres (Hankook V12 Evos/Vred' Wintracs on the ITR, Conti-3's/Conti-Wintersports on the Golf) have told me that ice (not snow) is the real bh with summer tyres.


- Pick up a tatty set of 16"s, fit some half-decent winter tyres and keep them for the next 2-3 winters.
- Or figure that after this winter we're unlikely to have anything so bad again and just drive very sensibly on snow and try and avoid driving on ice...quite probably only be 2-3 days of real problems if we have a 'usual winter' (unless you're in Wales/Scotland/hilly bits of England, that is).

[TommyBuoy]

Right, if an S2000 on 18's with 255 tyres can survive my standard wheels will be fine!

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I'll be changing from the Bridgestones when they wear out so maybe look at the uniroyals as they have had good reports.

[britsportscars]

That's very interesting... I assumed the S2000 would be a complete dog in the snow! I was thinking of putting off getting one until next year, now I'm thinking of trading in my CTR for one

[Stooky]

Personally after 3 winters with an S2000 in the snow, my opinion is that it's a bit of a nightmare.

I took the other option which was to buy an old banger for £500, insured it 3rd party for £120ish quid (and got £60 back through Quidco) and then sold the banger for more than I paid for it when the weather improved.

If you're careful i'm sure the S2000 is useable in the snow/ice but after battling to get up the hill at the end of my road and going sideways no matter what I did, I felt better using an old banger - I didn't give a monkeys if that died a horrible death in the snow - I did care about my S though.

[havoc]

[quote=StookyI didn't give a monkeys if that died a horrible death in the snow - I did care about my S though.

[/quote]
THAT is a very fair point. Mine was a weekend car and I had a short commute, so I could pick and choose a little more.

[gbduo]

I have Kumho KW17 and KW27 for the staggered fitment, used them last year in the snow and they were amazing on the S! I was overtaking 4x4s that were stuck! Great feeling, top down with the biggest smug grin on my face!

I think they were only like £300 for the tyres, much cheaper than buying a banger, insuring it, tax and MOT etc.

Also don't forget that winter tyres are superior in all adverse conditions below 7C, so wet grip is massively improved with no twitchy rear end.

You still drive to the conditions, but it does mean you have more grip and you are driving the car rather than the weather, if that makes sense. You have so much more control.

There are loads of threads on this on S2Ki UK forum at the moment,

All the best,

Graham

[normalbloke]

gbduo said:

I was overtaking 4x4s that were stuck!

Now there's a line...

[TommyBuoy]

Well I've got the solution.

Drive to the conditions and borrow my dad's jeep when it gets back.

Sorted...

[maz8062]

TommyBuoy said:

Hello,

There is another Winter Tyre / Summer Tyre argument going on in General Gassing...

The BMW I had before was fine for 3 winters without any winter tyres so my immediate thoughts are that the S2000 should be fine too. However, can anyone offer any advice on whether the fitment of winter tyres to an S2000 is recommended?

I don't want this to turn into an argument over the general use as I know that the performance of my current tyres will drop off and that winter tyres are for lower temps - that is a fact.

So, what I really would like to know is people's experienced with this car in wintery conditions?

Any help appreciated!

By the way, I'm in East Anglia.

Firstly, an S2000 is not a BMW - there's no comparison. What is good for a BMW isn't necessarily good for an S2000 so best to change that mindset straight away.

Secondly a lot of S2000's get crashed in the winter months. The Torsen diff needs grip to function optimally. Summer/all season tyres are useless below 7C. If your Torsen doesn't grip on both sides of the axle it will send a disproportionate amount of torque to the wheel with the most amount of grip. This sometimes causes oversteer - in a straightline - and a bent car.

Best to get the best tyres you can for the conditions - funds permitting.

[normalbloke]

maz8062 said:

snip-This sometimes causes oversteer - in a straightline -snip

This is why most of us bought them.

[havoc]

maz,

You're forgetting the S2000's very linear throttle and very light low-throttle power delivery. I drove mine in the snow and the only oversteer I had was on demand. Even pulling out of junctions I only had the odd 'shimmy'.

So it depends how you drive it.