Just picked up a MY2003 S and time to learn about its setup for track.
The car came with 17" Volk TE37's - 225/45/17 front and 255/40/17 rear...but the rear has more camber in it than the front (maybe due to rubbing?)..and the front rubs a little in sharp turn(it seems too low)...Nice bling bling..but not for the track..

What is your tire/wheel setup along with the ride heights(front and rear) and alignment? To get it right, I guess I will have to sell OEM wheels/tires and get a set of wheels/tires which work best for the track.
Your input would be greatly appreciated.

 

"04+ cars, but 245/40R17 front, 275/40R17 rear was the most popular combination at the 2004 national championships. Other options include 225F / 245R and 225F / 275R."

 

A good autox setup is not the same as a good track setup. In autox, you kind of want the car to be directionally unstable so that it rotates faster. In high speed corners, that's the last thing you want (unless you are into "drifting").

Generally most people with stock (or nearly stock) suspension have more camber in the rear than in the front for track setups.

And many people use the OEM wheels and even tires on the track and do just fine. OEM 16s are about the cheapest option out there for a spare set of track wheels. The stock S02 is probably the preferred non-rcompound track tire, and RA1s are probably the preferred rcompound track tire. Hoosiers seem to be the preferred racing slick.

 

Thanks for the reply, but I would like to get a set of track wheels which is best optimized in terms of width and offset w/o modifying the fender/wheel well.
That should have to do with ride height and alignment along with spring/shock and sway combo (and others).
I 'd learn the car in a stock form for couple of track weekends or so, but would like to have well prepared suspension and right size of wheels/tires on my car. I am a racer(BMWCCA)/solo driver and not really interested in driving an S on street tires/suspension days after days like MOST other experienced drivers enjoy well prepared track car. At least want to do the homework in advance.

Any help for a noob S owner? Thanks!

 

Well you haven't said how stock your car is right now (except that the wheels are not). I think you will find that unlike a BMW (or at least a non-M BMW), the stock suspension is actually at least as good as any of the under-$4K aftermarket options.

And the non-custom aftermarket wheel market is somewhat limited, due to the peculiar offsets of the S2000. But there are some available.

As you probably know from racing, there is no such thing as "optimum" without reference to some sort of limitations (class rules, cost ceiling, etc.). Your only stated limit is not modifying the fender or wheel well. Is that really your only limitation? Other than that, cost is no limit? How about streetability?

BTW, here's my track configuration, FWIW:

stock suspension, except for anti-bumpsteer rear arms
stock wheels with 205/55R16F 245/45R16R RA1s
stock brakes except for pads and fluid and S.S. brake hoses
front brake ducts
stock body aero
stock engine and drivetrain
Modifry redline beeper

There are people in this forum who are very much more modified than this, though.

 

you're right about limitation
S will just see some track days/autoX and dragon drive..no racing..so no limits other than $$. I am not considering full race shocks/coilovers at this moment (don't have $4k)..so per what you're saying...OEM shocks with GroundControl ride height adjuster is way to go? How about springs? How stiff springs OEM shocks can handle?.. what rates/brand S needs?
I don't mind stiff teeth ratting ride at all (900-1000springs on my M)..but would appreciate good handling...
In fact, the car came with Tein Flex coilovers..would OEM shocks be better choice over Tein Flex? They seem to be a street coilover for lowering and comfort..

and as to the wheels/tires, what's the popular choice for the track use? and what are the good ride heights (fornt and rear) with that choice?

I'd spend around 2k for the wheels but probably none for shocks if OEM shocks are that good..SSRcomps from tirerack would be a good choice? I'd prefer Volks but the offset of those on the car seems too agressive..I think if the rear camber is dialed in, 255 tires would rub..

 

BTW, I've consciously focused on keeping my car a daily driver, and putting my money (as much as possible) into consumables rather than mods. See my edited post above. I guess someone with more experience modding the car should really be answering your questions about the spring rates and the like. You don't have to do that to make the car a fun track car, but if you like to do it then there are options available.

It seems like the most popular one is to stiffen things up in the front and go to wider front tires.

 

Tein Flex may have been a step down from stock, but others can comment.

Only wothwhile (non-custom) wheel choice is 17" Volk CE28N, with tires sizes adjusted along w/ swaybars to achieve desired handling balance. 275 rear and 235 front seems to be about the max widths (may still get rubbing).

Try some more searches; this question's been discussed many many times.

 

Mike, thanks for helping me out.
One more quick question.
the size of rear tire you use is 245. Is that due to the fact that OEM(225) size is equvalent to 245 of others? I've just read about it in wheels/tires forum...can't think of any reason why Honda had to do that

 

Yeah. At least, 205/55 and 245/45 RA1s (and S03s) seem to have about the same under/oversteer balance as the 205/55 225/50 OEM S02s. I've confirmed that to my satisfaction by trying all three types of tires on the track.