I got into my car today for the 1st time in almost 2 weeks. Weather was warm and sunny and after about 10km of driving I went through a 70km/h corner that was about 90 degrees and a bit off camber. I had the car balanced on slight power and at no time did I back-off (or lift-off) - the back of the car stepped out. This is not the 1st time this happened and I was kind expecting it (that means I must be getting used to this as a 'handling' trait of the car). When going around corners that are a bit off-camber - the back is sure to step out when travelling at any but 'slow' speed. 70km/h around that corner was 'spirited' driving but nothing I'd concider close to the limit in my old MR2 ... the MR2 could take this corner at 80km/h and the back would barely slip. With the S2000 I get a decently long drift ... drift that is eazily controlable but drift noneless. I'm sure that the car shouldn't be stepping out at these speeds - I'd say that I'm not on the limit ... more like 8/10th, though the back of my car does not seem to agree with me - it's telling me I pushed the car over it's limit.

My tyres have almost 3000km on them and I'm running 38/36 psi front/back and all my experiences are in the dry. I'll try running 32/32psi pressures and see if it cures the problem. Has anyone else had this kind of experience? Also, anyone got any input of what to do with the tyre pressures to iron-out the loose back (in off-camber corners)?

 

David, I'd definitely run with more air in the rears than the fronts - swap your pressures over to 36 front, 38 rear.

By the way, are you coming to the Calder track day on the 25th?

 

My experience is that higher pressures increase responsiveness but reduce grip. I

 

I pushed mine up to 36/36. Feed back is much better. I can tell as soon as she is even thinking about getting loose. However, she has less grip.

 

AutoXing the car I find that I usually need at least 5 lbs less in the rear to tame the oversteer.

 

Interesting. I've been noticing understeer.

 

David,

I would have to agree with cdelena. We have both been on the track in some pretty high speed corners with the tire pressures around what you are running, and were both disappointed with the stickiness of the car at those pressures. I think that you will find that the S02s will stick much better at a lower pressure, around your 32/32 mark.

 

In what situation are you getting understeer? What have you done to the car. Until we put a HUGE front bar on the car, we never had understeer.

Ron Bauer

 

No suspension mods, stock tires. I've seen the problem cornering uphill and downhill. I'm starting to think a larger front tire would be an advantage.

 

Don't forget that the way you set up your pressure depends largely on the surface you intend to drive on - not just temp but composition...particularly if you are in an area recovering from a winter where you may have sand on the sides and in corners, etc....the rules on airing up or down fit with a low-torque vehicle as well as, say, a Mustang or Camaro, but remember that when your car is a little loose in cornering it means you are FASTER than you would be if you were feeling wheel hop or "skittering" on the same corner...and handling a slight "push" is better than having that skid force the rear to catch your headlights!

Try some different setups for the roads you generally drive on and let me amend an old SCUBA saying for you:
Plan your drive and drive your plan!

Hey, I am sorry if this sounds not "wild" enough, but I have driven cars on and off tracks for 17 years and I can tell you a car is always more fun when (if even on the EDGE of) it is under control! KNow the roads you intend to use and set your car up to be as much fun as possible!