I think a big part of the issue is that due to the flat cornering character of the car you have very little warning before the tires break lose. Most cars lean very heavily and then slide gradually. Not this car baby. No way.

 

Its the S-02s primarily IMO. A combination of a ferocious sticky tire once warm...coupled with an incredibly stiff sidewall. So this tire, in a curve/turn, will hold, and hold, and hoooooooooold..........riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight up to the second that it can withstand no additional lateral G's. But then its simply too late! Once grip is lost, there simply is no traction to be found quickly enough and that same light, balanced car finds itself and its driver in a lesser or greater spin (depending on speed, snap-steer, throttle-lift, etc.).

Now...for me...I have come to like the Kumhos. Traction? Probably ~ 90-95% that of the S-02s. Sidewall? Definitely a little less stiff. Together this means the tire does not hold a turn as ferociously as the S-02s. But it also means that they'll squall for me when the tire's limits are being met. Likewise, they will slide/drift for me quite forgivingly...counter-steer keeps me true through the turn. Both characteristics, IMO, provide me the opportunity to consider how to proceed in the turn if I've pushed things too far. Add to them a much better wet-traction and longer wear, as well as an economy of price, and I'm very pleased. Another driver will pronounce the Kumhos to be ...that they can accept nothing less than the uber-sticky S-02s. I have no problems with that sentiment for that driver.

I like the Kumhos for me and for my desired driving style. I make no pronoucement to convert the masses. Just offering my experience.

- Dave

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by kneecapper

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by w1ngman
Its the S-02s primarily IMO.

 

My experience with SO2's is that they do suffer a loss of traction after too many heat cycles. By heat cycles I mean two track days where where my tires were chunky sponges afterwards. My tires were definitely harder and not a sticky on the street afterwards. Don't think that normal street use would really hurt them that much, but there was a small noticable effect before I roasted them on the track.

 

Humility, to the extent that it increases awareness, is a good thing.

That said, Ajjra, get new tires.

 

In terms of street tires, the Max performance Khumo is the Khumo MX. Yes, it has a more progressive breakaway than the S02's, but it's grip levels are really pretty good. I know that you're considering an upgrade to 17". I've got a 17" wheel and tire package for the street in which I have 225's up front and 255 in the rear. The fronts weight exactly the same as the Stock 16's (with tire) and the rear weighs 1.5 lbs more or so. Grip was pretty close to stock (I estimate that the car is only about 1 seconds slower than on Victoracers, but they are 16" and 225/245).

Where do you autocross - I don't see many S2000's outside of the NNJSCCA events, at the NYSCCA events I pretty much run alone, and the M club stuff at the Meadowlands can be fairly light on the S200 crowd as well.

Also, at 16K, I'd seriously look at the insides of the tires. With Autocross, trackdays, and hard street cornering, you've got to have worn the inside edges down - I did. The outside tread will still look acceptable but the inside can be scary. I couldn't belive how bad the tires were when I took 'em off this spring at 16K

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by vroom
In terms of street tires, the Max performance Khumo is the Khumo MX.

 

I have also been humbled. When I first got the car I thought I could take turns at any speed. Then after some fishtailing and snap oversteer I became an old lady. I now drive very carefully and only hit vtec in the straightaways. I have an 85 Jag XJ6 that takes corners better than the s2000 and I feel safer in it. No snap oversteer or fishtailing.

 

Did a 1/2 spin once that i luckily corrected and fortunately hit nothing. took it slower as a result. then i got 17 rims and they are much more confidence inspiring and instead of the spinout the car is more driftable imho. So get 17's and breathe easier but not too much so on city streets!