I'm about to buy an AP1 S2000 and would like to improve its steering feel and make the slides more controlable and easier to happen. I want to avoid snap oversteer so I don't end up in a ditch but I don't want to just install grippy tyres on the back! I've owned a mk1 MX5 for almost 3 years and loved powersliding it all over the place it was so progresive and controllable and I don't want to lose that. so I thought that I should replace the standard 205 front - 225 back tyres for 215s all around. this way the fron tyre size increases so I have more steering response, the back tyre size decreases so it will be more progressive and I can also change the tyres back to front if I want to. I've had Goodyear Eagle F1 GD3S tyres all around on my MX5 and I'm very pleased by them so I'm probably getting the same ones for the S2000 as well. of course I don't know if this will work so my question is this.

does anyone know if this will help improve the cars dynamics (I'm not interested in endless grip) will it make it more enjoyable, more controllable and more progressive? has anyone got any experience with this and been successful?

some people told me that the main problem with the snap oversteer is the suspension set up and the cure is getting an aftermarket suspension mainly for the rear. do they need to be stiffer than the stock ones are? has anyone got any suspension packages to sugest? how much would this cost? and how much more would it be to get new suspension all round? also will I be able to adjust it myself using a couple spanners or do I have to visit a mechanic every time?

I'm sorry I didn't put this ine the tires section but I figured that since I'm also interested in tuning the suspension it should go here

thank you

 

I'm pretty sure no one is going to tell you to decrease the width of your rear tires. if you want to slide a little more just bump up the tire pressure in the back slightly. it doesn't take a whole lot.

The only time I've ever spun out is at autocross, when I'm absolutely driving like a maniac, and I think i spun out 3 times in a year. just drive the car, and if you know how to drive a little bit and know what to feel for you will easily be able to make it drive the way you want it to.

 

The snap oversteer isn't from suspension. It is from weight distribution, tires and alignment settings. The car actually has a 49/51 weight distribution, so it behaves more like a mid-engine car...ie, if you don't have the grip to recover when the tail starts to come out, you will spin quite quickly.

I HIGHLY recommend against the 215 all around. At a minimum 225 all around given you are accustomed to controlling oversteer (THIS WOULD NOT BE RECOMMENDED FOR SOMEONE WITHOUT REGULAR EXPERIENCE IN AGGRESSIVE CAR CONTROL). The s2k is one of the most sensitive cars I've ever raced where tires and alignment are concerned (and I've raced a ton of cars over the last 25yrs).

Honestly...try the car out with the normal stagger. I think you will find it will hang the tail out just fine. I run 225 front / 255 rear on 17" wheels...I can hang the tail out anytime I choose, and arguably with that size tire at the rear it is far more controllable.

For alignment, definitely add add a good amount toe-in at the rear. I run about 1/4" total toe in at the rear. I've also found that for my car (which is 2700lb) -2.3deg rear camber is right. You may need to play around with the camber to find what suites your driving style best for the weight of your car and chosen tires.

 

i want the rear to go crazy get new gears

 

thanks for your suggestions, I'll deffinitelly try the standard setup first with 205-225s and play a bit with tire pressures. if that doesn't work I'll just switch to 225s all round

oh and negcamber do you have the AP2? because you said you run 225-255 on 17" whereas I'm asking about the AP1

 

i just got a set of volk 18s off a buddy and he said run 45 psi in them. is that too much or is that what i need on a 35 series tire to keep from dinging up the rim on bumps

 

AP1 with 17" wheels.

 

45 psi sounds like a lot to me..
negcamber don't the 17"s make the ride worse?

 

Not that my butt has noticed. But then I grew up riding around in old British sports cars with lever shocks...so every car after those seem comfy.

The CR has 17" rims with similar spring & swaybar rates to the AP1...it doesn't feel much different in ride quality from an AP1.