If you're going to start AutoX and tracking your car, save some money and just buy four 17x9 TR Motorsport C3s and go with either 255/40 or 245/40 on all four corners. I'd recommend the Dunlop Z1 Star Specs as the best value for the mixed use you are looking at.

You can buy other tires for your 16" rims now, but, you'll want to upgrade them quick. If you had an '00, '01 or CR, I'd have different advice, but, your '03 is going to be more competitive in STR than in B Stock. So you might as well just move that way now.

As a side note eventually you'll want a stiffer front sway bar, but, in the interim you can disconnect your rear bar to compensate for the increased front grip of going to a square tire set up.

edit: see you already picked up just 2 rears, so just keep this in mind for next year, hope to see you around

 

I think you made the correct choice with the S02 and matching the fronts. The next time you will have both of them wear out together and you can make a tire choice to suit your needs. The S02 is a great handling tire on the car though so they will be fine on an autcross. The RS3, Star Spec, RE11 and the Yoko Neova are evem more Extreme almost track tires for the street.
If I can help just let me know.

 

here is my take on the situation. I think the S-02's on stock wheels are a great tire for just starting out at autox, enough grip to be fun, but unforgiving enough for you to learn.

I do agree with eventually getting a bigger front bar but disagree about disconnecting the rear bar on oem suspension especially since you still have staggered tires. it will greatly increase body roll.

I would say if you decide you really like autox and want to get more involved in it then start with a big adjustable front sway bar (Saner or Gendron) and the 17x9 +60 or +63 with RS3's. For dry performance in warm conditions, the RS3 is the top dog, and luckily happens to be one of the cheapest tires in that category.

 

Like most of the people on this thread, I too recommend the Dunlop Star Spec or the Hankook RS3. I've run Star Specs for the last two autocross seasons, and I've been pleased with the grip and the responsiveness. They also last a long time for such a high performance tire. If you want to go slightly less extreme than the above choices, I've heard the Hankook V12 Evo is a pretty good summer tire as well.

 

those look awesome. The color has a nice blue tint to it

 

I hate Kumho, just my opinion but they're not worth the slight savings, they are crap. Zero grip, caused an accident in one of my cars just because it was a slight mist and i was taking a right turn over 10mph.. Slid straight into the median, it was such a slow speed for traction loss i had time to think "woooooooooooooow, thiiiiis isssss bulllllsshhhhiiiiiiit" and BAM! Never doing Kumho again

 

I love my s-02's but i didn't know they still made them?? overstock?

 

Not sure what kumho's you had, but the ASX is a good a/s tire (had em on my RSX) and the XS has been tested against the other top street tires and outgrips many of them. Sorry for you bad experience, but you should really post a specific model when you make comments like this because one model does not speak for a whole brand. (its akin to swearing to never buy a honda because you drive a civic DX and thought it was cheap and slow)

 

I got 'em at Discount Tire. The guy I spoke to in the shop actually owns an S2000 (he upgraded to 17" wheels a long time ago). He was familiar with the S-02s and suggested that they might be discontinued by Bridgestone. However, he found a couple for me really quick in their IN (I think?) warehouse and had them shipped to the store in ~5 days. I should actually check out the Tire ID numbers to make sure they're not already 5 years old, haha. I wonder if he's on the forums? He was pretty knowledgeable and a younger fella, so I'm sure he's heard of the Internets.

 

why do you say that? I have an MY00. I know the spring rates and swaybars are different but didn't think it would make that much different.