I'll start by admitting that I don't have an S2000 yet, however it seems to be inevitable...

Also still undecided on a '00-03 or a new '04...

My wife and I are experienced autocrossers, looking to graduate from a D-Stock '00 Celica GTS to the S2000. Right now, we are perfectly happy running "cheap" and that means on Falkens (we used to play the Hoosier game, but got tired of paying 2.5-3X as much for tires when we don't run nationally).

Falken doesn't make "perfect" tire sizes for the S2000, but they are pretty close.

For the early models it would be some combination of the 205/55-16 and 215/45-16, I'd assume the 215/45-16 all around would be the better bet (our courses tend to be "slow" enough that the Celica doesn't run out of gear at 57 mph, so I doubt I'd have an issue in the S2000).

For a new car is would be a combination of 225/45-17 and 245/45-17.

It looks like most people do end up with a front-rear tire stagger, while the 245's would concievabally fit front and rear, is that a bad idea (understeer?) The 245 would potentially give the new S2000 a gearing advantage over stock (a touch more speed per gear), and might allow 1st gear to be more useful.

Are the standard (Saner, etc) sway bar offerings too stiff for the Falkens (I'd doubt it, but I've been wrong before).

I'd probably run stock shocks for a year, but Koni SA's aren't out of the question.

So, the basic questions...

1) Of the tire's listed above, what would you run for each model?
2) Big front bar for street tires (assume a competition alignment)?

The harder question:

Which model?

This is going to be a 3 day+ per week daily driver (when it isn't raining in NC, and that's most of the time), and a general fun car. The good autocrossing potential is a bonus, not mandatory. 3+ hour road trips in each direction will be "standard" fare, since that's how far it is to the mountains and the beach (opposite directions). It will actually get towed to the autocrosses.

We've driven a 2004 and really liked it, but haven't had the opportunity to drive a '00-03 model yet (soon). We did think that the price of the '04 was a justified difference relative to the Mazdaspeed Miata (we weren't impressed with the Miata).

Thanks for the thoughts.

Scott

'00 Celica GTS (D-Stock)
'73 Celica (Street Mod/Track)
'02 Tundra (Tow vehicle)

 

I would say not to worry about changing out tires if you're not going to run race tires anyway. Just keep it completely stock. The S02's are pretty amazing tires and I dont' think azenis are any better and I've driven both. When I first got my S I couldn't believe how good the stock tires were.

Why not get some extra rims and put some kumho race rubber on them? You won't even be competitive locally w/o them.

 

The problem is that a set of Victoracers is $50 less per set than the stock S02's...

 

The S2000 can be fun on a decent set of street tires. The stock tires on both models are pretty decent I guess, but one thing to note is that both have very narrow front contact patches. My experience with the '04 was that the balance was okay when completely stock, but on certain courses the car just felt limited by lack of front tire. I think you'll be better off with one of the tire choices you mentioned and a front bar. You'll end up with more total grip and lower roll angles.

If you want to stick with stock tire sizes and diameters for the '04, the Kumho ECSTA MX is available in 215/45/17 and 245/40/17. In reality the fronts will be much wider though, TireRack lists them as having an 8" tread width (about normal for a 215) whereas the OE Bridgestone RE050s have a 6.7" tread width (probably on the skinny side for a 195!). I would get the car aligned and try it without a bar, then if you feel the car is loose you can pick up a bar.

The Saner (as well as the Gendron and Comptech) have decent ranges of adjusment and I would guess the softest position is not too much for an '04 on street tires. The Gendron is available in solid or hollow with 2 different wall thicknesses, plus has 6 adjustment holes on each side so it has the most range. But I would not bother getting a bar that's too soft because you just know you're going to get bug and go buy race tires eventually!

The '03 has weird OE tire sizes as well, the fronts are very narrow for 205s and the rears are about a 245 despite being labeled 225. In that case you may want to run larger rears, but I don't have a lot of experience with the '03- on street tires.

Peter