Hey, I have been researching for a very long time on which tire size to go with. Have done lots of research and seem to keep going back and forth on my decision.

2004 AP2
Enkei RPF-1 (17 x 9 +45 on all corners)
Tein RS Coilovers (10K F+R)
Stock Bars
-1.7 Front Camber
0 Toe
-2.4 Rear Camber
.30 toe in rear ( I think)

Car is a daily driver, and planning on doing 3-4 track weekends per year.

I have some seat time with a 225/255 stock AP2 wheel/tire combo and can't for the life of me decide what to upgrade to with my new wheels.

255 are nice for ultimate performance, rotatability. Fitment is an issue though. I already have fenders rolled and slightly pulled, but am afraid it will still take serious amounts of work to get them to fit. I know I will have to go to -2.0+ to fit them. I have a very slight pull, but probably will need more. I am not prepared to take my car to the bodyshop atm.

Besides fitment, I am also worried about too much oversteer, and it will be some time before i can add a front bar, or wing. For mainly a street car, that I want great track performance out of, what should I do? I was dead set on 255, but have been going back to thinking about 235 or 245 front tires. I am very comfortable with shock tuning, so I do have the ability to make adjustments and try to tune out some oversteer. WHile i am experienced, but no pro in the S2000, would it be good to gradually increase front size until im really comfortable?

Just to add, I was extremely happy with my car setup before. This was stock suspension and stock wheels. Car felt very neutral and I could get it to do what I wanted. I want to just maximize performance, but would like to keep the balance close to what I had. If I can go to a 255, and setup the car properly, I can probably get the balance close to what it was. Plans are to eventually step up to NASA Time Trials. I am currently HPDE 3-4.

 

Adam,

Jeremy is running your exact setup that you want to run wheel and tire wise. Ask him to let you check out his car out for fitment. Maybe even put his wheels on your car. Tons of people daily on a square set up. I think you'll be fine. Plus the extra rubber up front will help with braking.

Besides it's an AP2.

 

Yea good point about Jeremy. I was thinking about seeing if I can put his wheels on my car to test fit. I think I will follow up with that.

 

I'm personally using 245 all around to minimize fitment/fender issues. I personally do not think you'll see much performance difference between the 245/255. Also, until you actually are racing, who cares if you're a couple tenths of a second slower during HPDE?

BUT, since you're on 255s on the rear... Might as well go 255 on front.

You can remove the rear sway bar to improve the handling balance, though it might still be a little loose. I'm running a 30mm Whiteline front bar with the rear bar removed and very happy with the balance. I'm on KWs with equal front and rear spring rates. I do tend to like my cars more neutral, erring towards understeer, whereas some guys like the car a little more loose.

 

Thanks spdracerut. Still have not made any decisions though...

 

if you don't mind running a slightly higher height, you should be able to fit 255 all around without additional fender issues.

I run 17x9 45 and 2.2 front and 2.7 rear

 

I am at about 2 finger gap in the front right now, measuring with slightly pulled fenders. I forget what the measurment from wheel center to bottom of fender is.

I was hoping to be able to just tuck the tires.

 

front tuck with your setup and 255 likely won't happen if you do a full fender flare

 

Yea tucking is not realistic unless i get new fenders, or do considerable work to my current fenders. I am not worried so much as tucking or not tucking, I just want the setup to be clean and fit well, while offering the best performance. I am not ok with running wavy and chunked fenders on my car. I take immaculate car of my car (aside form beating her at the track) so i want to keep it a nice mix of function and form. Form being the asthetics of the car, but all parts are purely aimed at performance.

 

I would advise:

255x40x17 +47 all around.

You will likely need to get camber adjusters for the front. I like the J's offset ball joints for the front bottom a arm. This will also allow you to run more caster.

-2.5 to -3 front and rear camber will work with rolled and pulled fenders.

you can adjust the amount of overteer with rear toe.

I also have an AP2 with:
Volk CE28 17 x 9.5 +47

Fenders rolled and pulled

have used yoko advan neova ad07 with -2.4 no rubbing

Used Toyo RA1's with -2.9 no problems

rear toe in is 1/16th per side. with a saner bar in the front on full soft.

Get the Saner it's very reasonable and works great. If you don't want to run a bigger front bar then increase rear toe in.