xfactor834

Is this true? Even though Boxsters come with stock 17s, and I think the sport package throws 18s on 'em...I think the S2000 was specifically designed to sit on 16s.

Anything larger starts to take away from the handling/cornering abilities.

Is this true?

Obviously, there are lots of nicer looking rims than the stock S2K's, but if it'll compromise handling, that's a tough sell for me.

Any thoughts?

Psicho54

I've also heard this before. Apparently, the weight and diameter of a larger wheel comes into play and probably something else I'm forgetting. There probably would be some compromise in handling if you went past 16-inches, since I believe Honda engineers designed the car's handling characteristics to be ideal with those stock wheel dimensions. However, I'm not sure about this.

My friend has a sweet MR2 putting 430rwhp's and he refuses to go any larger than the 16 inch aftermarket wheels he got. When I asked him why he didn't get larger wheels, he told me the 16's would give his car the best performance. ???

jguerdat

Various tests have been performed by magazines and, I believe, TireRack about the Plus 1/2/3 changes. There has generally been an improvement in handling (faster times) with the larger wheels/shorter sidewalls with the most effect seeming to come on at Plus 1 or 2. There are tradeoffs, however, with stiffer riding (the sidewalls had better be stiff or you're gonna ding your wheels over evey bump) being most noticed.

This, of course, should be taken with a grain of salt since the real test is what happens for OUR car. Just because you can take a car with 60-series tires and make it handle better with 30-series doesn't mean that this info can be interpolated onto the S2K. Each model will respond differently.

Only hard data will answer the question. And it had better be done as scientifically as possible...