Cross posting from SCCA forums, where I haven't had any responses;

I am wondering what the general concensus is on tire sizes for a 2004 Honda S2000. The options are:

1) 245 fronts/275 rears

2) 245 fronts and rears

I've heard from some local people that have run 245/40 Hoosier A6's on all 4 corners as well as 245/45 V710s, and apparently the Hoosiers are the way to go for gearing. Another local competetor went with the 245/275 stagger.

However, I'm wondering if anyone has tried both the 245/275 and 245/245 setup, and can comment which one they thought was faster.

Thanks!

 

I've only used 245/275, with V710s. I bought the wheels with tires on them from a couple (both national champions) who were selling their S2000, so I'm certainly inclined to believe it's a good choice. I've been using it for a little over a year, and I like it.

 

I think it is a driving style issue. I like to set the rears (so stagger), some people run off the fronts.

With the same bar... I would go to the different size. With a decent rate bar I would go to same just to be able to swap tires.

 

I've used both the 245/275 Kumho setup and the 245/245 Hoosier setup, both with a big front bar (Gendron/Small Fortune) and the same alignment. The 245/245 Hoosier setup makes it easier to aim the car where I want it and carve constant radius corners, but it is less forgiving when the rear starts to really slide. I've considered trying the 245/275 Hoosier setup to see if it is any better than the Kumhos. I won't go back to Kumhos until they make a non-fender-shredding 245/40-17 size.

 

Cool, thanks for letting me know. Kumhos are out then!

Right now I think I'm going to go for a set of 245/275s, and hopefully get a chance to try out a 245/245 setup, then make an ultimate decision from there.

 

FWIW, I have the 245/275 Kumhos on SSR GT7 wheels (stock legal), and I have no rubbing. Mine are 245/45-17 front; 275/40-17 rear.

 

The offset on the SSRs is +50, right?

Orthonormal, what offset wheels were you running?

I'm going to be using stock wheels for next season, but perhaps they would fit if I put a 5mm spacer in there (if that is stock class legal, I'd have to check the rule book). This point is somewhat moot however, since I'm pretty much decided on Hoosiers, either in 245/245 or 245/275.

On another note, 124spider, are you going to be running any of the NWR events at Packwood this season? I'm going to try to make as many as time, scheduling conflicts and money permit. I'll definitley be there for NT.

 

The offsets are +62 (rear) and +50 (front). Stock legal, but a tad different.

I'll have to see if I do any Packwood events this year. It's a great venue, but there are several complicating factors: (i) I am road racing now, as my first priority adrenaline fix, so I don't do as many autocrosses as I used to do; (ii) Packwood is 2.5 hours from my home; driving for 5 hours for (at most) 6 minutes of seat time is not terribly attractive any more, and (iii) all Packwood events are SCCA events; Oregon Region only counts the first three runs, and NWR is voting tomorrow on adopting the Oregon Region rules; if they do I'm less likely to be interested.

I've done a number of events there, plus two Evolution schools and an NT, and it's really nice to have such a large parking lot.

 

Thats cool you are into road racing now. I'd love to get into it one day in the future.

Packwood is a real trek from Vancouver, its around 5-5.5 hours each way, but for me its worth it, 100%

Good luck road racing next season, and maybe I'll run into you at a NWR event one of these days.

 

+50 front, +62 rear. I checked Mark's front fender liners last year and I did find some signs of rubbing. I suspect that Mark's rubbing is less severe because I run on high grip concrete or very bumpy sites more often.

Possibly also related to the difference between stock shocks, and Penskes with very high rebound jacking down onto the bump stops.