Destiny2002

For my first tire purchase I'm thinking of replacing my OEM rear tires with AVS ES100 245/45W-16 @$186/pair, instead of another set of S0-2's with less treadwear rating @$304/pair.

I am willing to trade a little performance for better value.

The question is: will my car still handle reasonably well with the mixture of tires?

Russ

The tread width on that tire would be 9.2-inches, slightly wider than the SO-2's 8.7...about a half an inch wider. I wouldn't go that wide myself, rather I'd go with the 225/50/16 and get a tread width of 8.5-inches, just .2 inches less wide. Another .5-inches of stagger on top of the already large 1.7-inches might exasperate (sp-?) the already snappy oversteer characteristics of the car whereas the 225 might water down some of that, if only slightly since we're only talking .2 inches. If you go 245 in the rear, the increased width of the rear tire will bring your tire edge outboard by nearly an inch. Seems to me you're fine sticking with the 225/50/16 ES100 and going with its 205/55/16 sibling when you replace the fronts.
As for mixing brands, as long as the general construction of the tire is in the same family and they're on the same axel, you should be fine in all but the most taxing driving circumstances (racing) where minute differences from changing parts can mean tenths of seconds.
Perhaps Jim will chime in with his recommendation as well. If I was you, I'd replace the fronts with the ES100 at this time as well and sell your OEM's to another who has SO-2's exclusively and is looking for a pair of low mileage fronts. After all is said and done, the cost would be minimal to go with ES100's on all four corners.

Destiny2002

Thanks for your comments, Russ.

I'll probably go with your suggestion to use 225/50s, mainly because this brings the cost of the ES100's down to $162 a pair.

I don't drive my car at the track or in the rain, so I'm rarely at 9/10ths. I think I'll be aiight.

Destiny2002

Update--

I've decided to bite the bullet and get Bridgestones again, at least until the fronts are worn and I can get equivalent tires all around.

alex@tirerack

Not mixing is the safest idea, particularly on this vehcle. Very smart thinking.

Alex

Scot

hey paul,

You may want to rethink those shitty Yoko tires..... I put a set of RE730's on my S2000 at some point (wear rating 250 or something like that), and they were like hard plastic instead of rubber. it was freaking awefull..... i had to work like hell doing donut's, burnouts, etc.... to burn through the back ones just to get rid of the set..... i got AVS Sports afterwards and loved them.

Jim@tirerack

You are better with the matched tires. When the fronts wear out the next time then make the switch if you like.
The S2000 is twitchy enough and the OE tire sizes are really not true so I always recommend to match them.

Jim

s2kJer

I just got the Yoko AVS ES100's put on the back in 245/45/16
Left OEM S02's on front... Handles and drives fine if you drive politely and don't go over 90 mph.
However, if you like 9k rpm downshifts and going over 100 mph it is a bad idea... The rear end gets out of control
Bite the bullet and get all four...........

Jerry