OK...ready for this? I have just shy of 21,000 miles on my original S02's and think it's about time I pick out some new tires for the S2K. Yes.....a slice of bolgona has more tread than these S02's, so it's time.

I use my car as a commuter in the summer and spring months. I don't have a need for "track tires". I'm currently looking at the S03's, Yoko's or the Kumho's.

Anyone have any feelings about any of these tires??

 

The S02 is the best I have seen for handling on the car. If you are looking for a more civilized tire the ones you mention would all be good. Obviously the Kumho is a very good value on a performance tire but the handling of the tires you mention would be the lowest. The Yokohama AVS ES100 would be a good choice. The tire has good handling with better than average tread life and ride quality.
If I can help let me know.
Thank you

Jim 800-428-8355-364

 

Jim, does that mean Kumho MX won't handle good?
I feel AVS intermidiate gives much less feedback from tire compare to S02 and S03..!! wonder how will that be for the MX..

 

yoko es 100 are very nice tires. not as sticky as s02's but good enough for spirited driving. kumho's are ok, but great deals.

 

Jim was talking about the Kumho 712, not the MX. (There are no MX tires sized for our stock wheels.)

I say go for the 712s - I have them and am extremely pleased with them. I can keep up with the group just fine while canyon carving, they're awesome in the rain, they're dirt cheap, and after 8500 miles I'm amazed at how much tread is still left.

(Track performance isn't important to me since I have actual race tires for that.)

 

Elistan is correct about the MX. The only have the 225/50R16 for the rear and the tread width is about 1/2" narrower than stock. It was an excellent handling tire but you really need the 245/45R16 for the rear. I asked Kumho if there were any plans and they said none at this time.
The tire recommendation all depends on how the car is driven and what you want out of the tire. What is good for one driver is not good for the next.

Jim

 

First off Bud Murphy let me just say this -
21,000 miles

Second, if you have gotten that kind of mileage out of the S-02s, why not just go with them again? The S-02 really is just about the best handling tire for this car.

I have thought about the Kumho 712s but I'm still on the fence and only have 11,000 miles on the car, so I have time to keep changing my mind. In the end I will go with the S-02s I'm sure.

I know there are those out there who will read this and then fire up the flame thrower, but that has never stopped me in the past. I think the S-02s handle great in the rain. I have done autocross and highspeed driving schools in the rain on the S-02s and have been amazed at their ability to stick. The last time I was at The Glen I drove for more than 1 hour and 30 minutes straight in the rain, straight-line speeds were up to 100+mph and the car felt great. I got loose several times in turn 7 because of too much throttle, but that was driver-induced error, not the fault of the tire!

 

Tripple-H,

I had to reply...I could not suppress some fond old memories of driving my HP sprite at the Glen in the early 70's...oh well, that was another era.

So, 100 + mph in the rain! Wow! I can't do much more than 45 - 50 with the stock tires on my 2002 in the rain here in Houston. I have played around at slower speeds in the rain with very hard acceleration and hard cornering and I can't hardly get the tires to break loose. But, as soon as I get to higher speeds, the rear of the car starts jumping around like a jack rabbit. Definite aqua-plaining. Did you have quite a bit of tread left when you were at the Glen? I have about 9000 miles on mine, with probably 3/32 to 1/4 in left. But really squirmy.

John Dixon

 

I also agree with Mark, I am on my second set of Kumho 712's... I do have the 245/45's now and like them alot(discount tire ordered them for me). Wet weather performance is vastly improved but cornering speeds are down 10-20% from new S02's though. With 34/36 cold they do better... but would never be confused with OEM S-02's.

If you really want to keep the car's performance then S-02's are a no brainer. For example I have easily hit 70 on the onramp to 114 from 482 (near tx stadium), yet the best I can do with the 712's is around 55. They do allow you to steer the car at that speed.

 

i have kumho 712 245/45 for my rear. i have to say, they suck big time compared to the so-2. they squeal like a pig. chirps like crazy even at low rpm. they are ok for daily drive, but dont even consider these if you want great handling.