I have a 2003 S2000 that I bought used and it has BS Potenza S-02s 205/55/16 on the front and Falken GRB FK451s 225/50/16 on the rear. I already know that if the rear tire is aftermarket it should be 245/45/16. The rear tires are relatively new and the fronts have plenty of tread left as well. I was wondering if this combination is hazardous to the handling of the car on the street as well as the track. I will be attending a track event in September and I am wondering if this combination will negatively effect the handling of the car at its limit. Also, the car is pulling to the right during normal street acceleration and also when I just let go of the wheel while cruising. I already checked the tire pressures and filled up the tires accordingly. I am scheduled for an alignment next week, but now I am concerned that if I get S0-2s for the rear AFTER I get the alignment , that will screw the alignment back up again. Please satisfy my paranoia. Thanks.

 

Bump Can anyone answer this, please?

 

Don't do a track event with your current setup - the car can be a handful with great tires. Also, your front tires may be very worn on the inside out of view.

If you plan on a bunch of track days, spring for new S02 rears. They have poor rain performance when worn, which shouldn't concern you too much in Nevada. As an alternative, you could replace all four with the much cheaper Hankook RS-2 and sell your current tires. It might also be a good time to consider aftermarket wheels if you are into that.

Don't bother with an alignment until you have the new tires on.

edit: Almost forgot, welcome to the forum and the car!

 

Thanks a lot.

 

I agree. In fact I suspect a track would not let you out with mismatched tires. As far as day to day driving goes it would not hurt the car but handling would suffer. You have a much lower stagger front to rear than what the car came with . You also have a big difference in handling of the two tires. My best recommendation would be to match them with another set of S02.
If i can help let me know.
Thank you

 

the hankooks are a perfect street/track tire if thats what you want. they are only $385 or so shipped from tires.com too

id just get a full set of those as a set of new rear s-02s will be about the same price if not more

 

Thanks a lot guys. I knew that the mismatched tires were bad. Thanks for justifying my paranoia

 

Would this apply to S03s on oem 16"? My S03s are 225 in the rear, like my previous s02s. But what's this about the true size being 245. Did I screw up?

 

Yup ideally you'd want 245s in the rear...
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