Discussion
I have just bought an early s2000 with the 16” wheels (not collected it yet), currently its fitted with budget tyres not ideal so I am planning on changing the tyres (maybe the wheels at same time). I know the Bridgestone was the recommended tyres for these but they have changed the model now, and I would be interested in what else works well on these cars. Ideally middle of the road tyres like Toyos, Khumos, Falkens as I assume the rears at least will need replacing fairly regularly on a daily driver with occasional track use.
Hi,
I have had a set of Toyo Proxes T1-R's on my S200 for the last year. I am very pleased with the grip but I have just replaced the rears after a year and 5K miles, although if you talk to the guys on the S2ki Forum it seems pretty normal for any rear tyre on an S2000.
Yes I have put new Toyo Proxes T1-R,s on the rear again.
Secondly I have just bought a second set of wheels (used) for my S2000 and have been talking to Dixon Cheng of Dixon Motorsports Ltd as I want a geometry set up before going to the Ring next month. (He comes well recommended). He recommended Hankook RS2's for track use. I have tried to buy a set but can only locate rears. I have spoken to Camskill who have confirmed that the 215/45/17's required are as rare as hens teeth in the UK at the moment with another shipment due from Japan in about eight weeks!
Packman
I have had a set of Toyo Proxes T1-R's on my S200 for the last year. I am very pleased with the grip but I have just replaced the rears after a year and 5K miles, although if you talk to the guys on the S2ki Forum it seems pretty normal for any rear tyre on an S2000.
Yes I have put new Toyo Proxes T1-R,s on the rear again.
Secondly I have just bought a second set of wheels (used) for my S2000 and have been talking to Dixon Cheng of Dixon Motorsports Ltd as I want a geometry set up before going to the Ring next month. (He comes well recommended). He recommended Hankook RS2's for track use. I have tried to buy a set but can only locate rears. I have spoken to Camskill who have confirmed that the 215/45/17's required are as rare as hens teeth in the UK at the moment with another shipment due from Japan in about eight weeks!
Packman
The early S2000's had specially made Bridgestone S02 tyres (labled "eso2jz" on the sidewall - if the sidewall states "so2jz" it is the wrong tyre - Porsche type fitment). The problem is that these aren't made any more and there are no more left in stock anywhere.
What was different about these tyres is that the rears were made from a "225 width carcass" with "233 tread width" and "very low void ratio". This means that although labled as 225's they actually had the contact area of a 245 width and a very stiff sidewall.
Using the wrong tyres (EG 225's)on the back will make the car more prone to snap oversteer and I'll bet most "non-ethusiast" early S2000's out there with stock wheels have the wrong tyres on the back.
To get the car to handle right you need to find 245/45 16 tyres for the back (although these are thin and far between). This is what I would recommend. Bridgestone recommend RE050a's in 225 width (which do actually have a 233 contact area), but several owners have given bad reviews for these.
What was different about these tyres is that the rears were made from a "225 width carcass" with "233 tread width" and "very low void ratio". This means that although labled as 225's they actually had the contact area of a 245 width and a very stiff sidewall.
Using the wrong tyres (EG 225's)on the back will make the car more prone to snap oversteer and I'll bet most "non-ethusiast" early S2000's out there with stock wheels have the wrong tyres on the back.
To get the car to handle right you need to find 245/45 16 tyres for the back (although these are thin and far between). This is what I would recommend. Bridgestone recommend RE050a's in 225 width (which do actually have a 233 contact area), but several owners have given bad reviews for these.
mikdys said:
The early S2000's had specially made Bridgestone S02 tyres (labled "eso2jz" on the sidewall - if the sidewall states "so2jz" it is the wrong tyre - Porsche type fitment). The problem is that these aren't made any more and there are no more left in stock anywhere.
What was different about these tyres is that the rears were made from a "225 width carcass" with "233 tread width" and "very low void ratio". This means that although labled as 225's they actually had the contact area of a 245 width and a very stiff sidewall.
Using the wrong tyres (EG 225's)on the back will make the car more prone to snap oversteer and I'll bet most "non-ethusiast" early S2000's out there with stock wheels have the wrong tyres on the back.
To get the car to handle right you need to find 245/45 16 tyres for the back (although these are thin and far between). This is what I would recommend. Bridgestone recommend RE050a's in 225 width (which do actually have a 233 contact area), but several owners have given bad reviews for these.
My S is an 05 Rev 3 with 17 inch wheels as standard I have no problems sourcing 245/40/17's. It could be that owners of the earlier cars fitted with 16 inch wheels are having problems sourcing 245/40/16's whish could be the reason that Honda updated the wheel size etc for the Rev 3 cars on?What was different about these tyres is that the rears were made from a "225 width carcass" with "233 tread width" and "very low void ratio". This means that although labled as 225's they actually had the contact area of a 245 width and a very stiff sidewall.
Using the wrong tyres (EG 225's)on the back will make the car more prone to snap oversteer and I'll bet most "non-ethusiast" early S2000's out there with stock wheels have the wrong tyres on the back.
To get the car to handle right you need to find 245/45 16 tyres for the back (although these are thin and far between). This is what I would recommend. Bridgestone recommend RE050a's in 225 width (which do actually have a 233 contact area), but several owners have given bad reviews for these.
Packman
mikdys said:
Bridgestone recommend RE050a's in 225 width (which do actually have a 233 contact area), but several owners have given bad reviews for these.
On S2ki, most owners are more than happy with the RE050A's, myself included.Not as good as the S02 in the dry (although not *that* much in it) bu5 the RE050A are WAY better in the wet.
Dracoro said:
mikdys said:
Bridgestone recommend RE050a's in 225 width (which do actually have a 233 contact area), but several owners have given bad reviews for these.
On S2ki, most owners are more than happy with the RE050A's, myself included.Not as good as the S02 in the dry (although not *that* much in it) bu5 the RE050A are WAY better in the wet.
There was a lot of confusion on that thread between the RE050 fitted as OE to the 04-onwards 17" wheels (not so good) and the RE050A which is the replacement OE fit for the 16" wheels...I THINK the conclusion was the 050A is the better tyre.
I went for another set of T-1R's as I really like them, certainly when overpressured 2-3psi (they're a little squidgy at stock pressures), but the 050A gets a lot of good press too.
Falken 452's seem to be the other option - well respected amongst the US community apparently.
Ran RE050A's on the Noble (which had S03's as std) and found them to be far superior tha the std tyres.
Put Potenza Ardenalin on mine as in Aus i couldn't get the right front size in the 050A. Only ever seen dry use, and they are okay, nothing special. Anyone tried F1A's? Another fave of mine.
Put Potenza Ardenalin on mine as in Aus i couldn't get the right front size in the 050A. Only ever seen dry use, and they are okay, nothing special. Anyone tried F1A's? Another fave of mine.
ajg31 said:
Anyone tried F1A's? Another fave of mine.
If you mean Eagle F1 Asymmetrics, we've got them on the front of the wife's Golf GTi. VERY stiff sidewalls (stiffer ride than on ContiSport 2's), but excellent turn-in as a result, and loads of grip. I've not had the opportunity to push them in the wet yet, but they seem surefooted enough.havoc said:
ajg31 said:
Anyone tried F1A's? Another fave of mine.
If you mean Eagle F1 Asymmetrics, we've got them on the front of the wife's Golf GTi. VERY stiff sidewalls (stiffer ride than on ContiSport 2's), but excellent turn-in as a result, and loads of grip. I've not had the opportunity to push them in the wet yet, but they seem surefooted enough.Gassing Station | Honda | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff