Emil St-Hilaire

xviper

"Learning how to drive an S2000 in the rain" means to understand the driving dynamics of the car and how it is equipped and how this relates to the environmental and road conditions. If this means slowing down a bit because the tires are not as good rain tires as they could possibly be, then so be it. If it means not giving any more throttle than necessary to get the job done safely, then so be it. If it means being more smooth and less aggressive with the throttle in tight turns where the LSD may lock up, then so be it. If it means having to drive slower than other cars on the road, so be it. If it means sacrificing a little of your pride, then so be it.
Many people in S2000s seem to be terribly insulted that they should have to drive so much slower than some SUV (or other vehicle). That SUV has completely different driving dynamics than your S2000. It has far more weight on its relative skinny all season radials than your S2000. If you feel shamed because you can't drive as fast as one of those in the rain, then it is your pride that will ultimately kill you and someone you love. Are you ashamed because your S2000 can't drive into the forest and up and down steep muddy terrain, too?
"Learning how to drive an S2000 in the rain" as it is equipped doesn't mean you MUST learn to drive it at 70 mph in the rain on SO2s. If that is your hang up, you will one day find yourself "hung".

Colin

I've been through a lot of S-02s between mine and my wifes '00 and '01 S2000s. The rear tires have given up most of their grip long before all the tread is all gone. Once the tires get X number of heat cycles, they are pretty hard. One telltale sign is that they chirp going over the painted crosswalk lines when you're leaving a stop. When they reach this state, extreme caution is needed in the wet.

S-03s do better because there is more void to surface (bigger grooves) than the S-02 (especially stock S-02's which are different from the aftermarket ones). They also benefit from a dual compound tread that resists this effect.

From tirerack on S-03s:
"The Potenza S-03 Pole Position features Bridgestone's UNI-T AQ II Technology that uses advanced compound and construction features to enhance and preserve wet traction through the tire's life. "

I remember just before we finished with the 2001 and the tires were getting old. My wife already had her new '04 (RE-050). It was raining "cats and dogs" and she just whistled away while I crept along at 45-50 which was "my" appropriate speed considering my tires and the conditions.

R11

[QUOTE=xviper,Sep 30 2005, 12:57 PM]"Learning how to drive an S2000 in the rain" means to understand the driving dynamics of the car and how it is equipped and how this relates to the environmental and road conditions.

Blue_S2

I have RE750's and they did fine during SoCals rainy season this year. I read on tirerack.com that the S02's don't have very good traction when its wet. The S03s and the RE750's however did rate higher in wet traction. Might be time to switch.

Colin

[QUOTE=R11,Sep 30 2005, 01:39 PM] One thing I will say regarding the 050's having worn out a set here in Oregon, they may be better than the S02, but they are still far from optimal rain tires and should be driven accordingly as well.

RACER

[QUOTE=PilotKD,Sep 30 2005, 10:39 AM]"i think you guys just need to learn how to drive a RWD car in the rain. seriously.