I am looking for some advice on replacing my rear tires. The S-02's were great for 5000 miles and now at 10000 miles they need to be replaced. Is there a tire out there that has the same or similar grip but lasts longer. Also, I want to go to 245/45-16's.

 

No other tire will have the kind of grip that the OEM SO2s have. There are many tires available that have been tried and many are satisfied with the compromise between "less" grip and more life. I hear the SO3s are a good choice.
If you do not stay with the OEM SO2s, you MUST go with 245 to get the same tread width on the pavement. This is a known fact. And even at 245, you won't quite have the same width.

 

To add to this. Depending on your level of demand you put on the tires. You might get less miles out of a tire because you will burn it off in turns where as a higher wear tire will not.

A track day will kill 1/2 the life of an S-03 where as an S-02 would not take nearly such a beating to the overall milage. Speaking from experience here.

 

I would be more comfortable with less oversteer in my S2000... looking for more rear traction appears problematic. The S03 245/45/16 is listed as 9.1" wide vs. the 225/50/16 S02's 8.5". However, I'm hearing that the S02 compound provides better grip. I'm not sure how much difference the additional .6" would make anyway. Can anyone help me out with some advice?

M F Bengel

2003 S2000

 

You have to also factor in what the tread width of the front S03's will be vs. the stock S02's. That is the stock 205/55WR16 S02 tread width is 7.1 inches while same size S03 tread width is 7.6 inches.

From what I understand if you go with the suggested S03 sizes of rear: 245/45ZR16 and front: 205/55ZR16 you'll maintain the correct stagger and have an extra half inch of tread on the ground front and rear. And that would be my advice along with a few hundred other owners I believe.

If you only want to replace the rears, then my advice would be to go with the stock S02 tires. Wait till your second set of rears are worn out and then if you still want S03's replace all four tires at the same time.

I struggled with this when the Toyo dealer mistakenly put 225/50ZR16 RA1s on my car. You can read about it here https://www.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?...5&highlight=ra1

You can also look at this for some other opinions on replacing rears only. https://www.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?...&threadid=98679