Well, this is getting off the topic somewhat, but...

One thing I've noticed is the S-02's REALLY get bad in the wet when they start getting worn to about 30%.
I know it's true with all tires, but my s-02s went from "hmm ok, the tread is getting a little thin, I should probably start looking into replacements in a month or so" to the car literally jumping 6" or 8" inches sideways back and forth all over when the road was wet in no time at all!
The last bit of tread seems to go really fast and if you're not paying attention, it really sneaks up on you! And they don't have to be completely bald and slick to REALLY suck a$$ in the rain.
My Ecstas seem to grip a lot better in the wet, but I do sacrifice a little in the dry. But when the kumhos let go in the dry, it's not a violent traction loss slide like my S-02s were, it's more of a controlable slow loss. Makes for good drifitng
The other thing about the ecstas is they're LOUD, when they slide or spin, the complain about it very audibly!
Overall, especially with the price difference factored in, I'm very happy with my kumhos. If I auto-x'd as much as I wish I could, I'd probably still keep a half worn set of Potenzas around for track tires though.

This is just my 2 pennies worth in 11K of driving my car hard and having a few close calls to entering the "Big Oops Club".

-V

 

I have just two words to share:
Driving Schools

 

When you don't have enough driving experience and exposure to your S2K in all sorts of conditions, it's understandable that something uneventful might happen. Doesn't matter what sort of setup you're running or what sorta tyres you may have.

If you have bald tyres, you're obviously expecting for something to happen and if you have problems controlling the vehicle in the wet or through high speeds that you cannot comprehend, then it means that you need more adaptive driving experience and exposure once again. Nobody is born a perfect driver and switching from driving one car to the other is usually different in someway.

 

I had a wreck too on July 27th -- 15MPH under the speed limit -- in rain ... I changed to SO-3's because it is so rainy in the mid south of the usa ... I'm not as "into" this type of thing as many of you and was (formerly) ignorant of the dry grip only design of the SO-2's ...
thanks to everyone who responded to questions about the Protenzas ...
My advice is to be careful with the SO-2s in rain ... like extremely careful ...
for the rich -- have one car fitted for wet and another for dry ...

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TXRacer
[B]

Sure it snaps a bit in the dry, but you get used to it.

 

I'd like to think of a more gentle way to say this but, I don't think you know what you are talking about. Have you tried any other tires or had any other high performance cars? Your arrogant response seems to suggest that you don't consider tire dynamics an important part of driving fast. Or maybe you are one of the people who believe that just because Honda did it, it must be better.

Having some experience with both high performance cars and tires on the S2000 other than the S-02, I'd suggest to you that the OEM rear tires have significant deficits in feedback that make them less desirable and more dangerous than other like performing tires.

Every time I read this "If you were only a better driver" crap I have to laugh. Better drivers can overcome more car deficiencies. That doesn't mean those deficiencies don't exist. If a car is great, worse drivers should be able to drive it safely faster, not the other way around. For years Porsche used your argument to dismiss the 911s handling defecits. Eventually, they made it a better, more driveable car.

 

Who said anything about driving fast? Your ignorance must have blinded you from reading the rest of my post. I mentioned many times that people should take more precautions on the street especially when wet. I mentioned nothing about actual tire performance.

People should take the car and the tires for what they are as well as the driving conditions for what they are. If you are driving on SO2's, then know the limits of the car and the tires, but don't learn those limits on the street where you will not only hurt yourself and car, but other people too.

Brian.

 

I was down here in Austin for Orientation at UT, and I was staying with my friends. I was showing off a little, not much though. I was just driving down random streets since I hadn't ever been down here before, and started this turn at about 50-60 MPH. (For those of you here in Austin, it was down N. Lamar where you can turn left on Shore Rd.) The turn isn't anything special. Its about the same as one near my parents house that I can do at 85 MPH no problem. So I was about a 1/4 through the turn, and as I now know, there was a sewer opening there on the right. It dipped down MUCH further than most normal ones do. So I hit that, the back end popped up, and do to the wonderful forces of Physics, my back end slid right, then I over corrected and slid through the open part in the median where you could turn left, then all the way across the other two lanes, hit the curb, started to roll, but the back end hit a telephone pole which knocked me back down. I am supposed to get the car back tomorrow (after two months) and after about $15000 in damage. I learned my lesson. Its one thing to test the limits of your car, but its a whole 'nother to test it in on terrain that you are not familar with. It sucks having an S2K for two months then having in the shop for another two....

 

RE the continuing discussion on the Protenza SO2's
Let's remember that most people who by an S2000 will buy it like any other car. That is to drive from point A to point B. They (and me) are not clued in to the nuances of car design and certainly not tire design. The SO2's are likely fine for dry weather use, but certainly not wet. Honda made a mistake installing the SO2 as a stock tire for general use. It is that simple. Not that the SO2 is an inferior tire, but it is not suitable for general use by most motorists who drive the roads of the USA.
Thanks for the comments. All of this has helped the understanding of this car and the Protenzas.

 

Learned one of my lessons one night on a lonely road with friendly ditches, been over it at least a 100 times near the limit, and was in the middle of a right sweeper when I hit a wet patch due to some fog and the rear end broke loose so sudden, there was nothing I could do.

My beloved stook spun like a top, twice on the road before I kept spinning into the ditch where it finally came to a stop! Kinda surreal, spinning out of control with nothing I could do but hang on! Have to admit I sort of enjpyed it, and it was a humbling experience.

The car handled terrible after the incident but a wheel alignment made it all OK again and I consider myself lucky and wiser for the experience.

The S02's don't complain hardly at all untill they break loose, and it takes experience and sensitivity to learn the limits of these great tires.

I also think its good to intentionally slide the car (wet or dry, regardless of the wear on the tires) in a safe arena to know how it feels and learn not to overreact with improper inputs to steering, throtle or brakes.

If you want to find the limits of this car and the SO2's, it takes patience, focus, sensitivity, experience and concentration.

And it is all so much fun!