RE "Strikes" response

see Justin's post === it happened to him too at a even lower speed

I'm more interested in preventing wrecks than making excuses for a chunk of metal on four rubber tires ... those of you who live eat and breathe this car are sure to be more aware of its facets than those of us who bought it for transporation.

thanks for your comment

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by speedyclip
[B]RE "Strikes" response

see Justin's post === it happened to him too at a even lower speed

 

.....well put once again CD.
As for Justin you might want to invest in a very good tire gauge and use it weekly.........

Utah

 

Just for the record. I'm a prior Miata owner, actually owned two in a row prior to the S2000. Before the Miatas I owned two Mazda RX-7's, one was a "monster" with 225 horses and fat Pirellis, the other a stock daily driver. All of these cars reacted similarly in wet conditions but the modified RX-7 was by far the most difficult to drive safely in the rain due to power and wide tires (hydroplaning). The Miatas were a blast in the rain while the tires were fresh. In fact the rain was the only time I could enjoy "power-oversteer" and do a little steering with my foot.
A neighbor of mine lost his S2000 recently to a spin in the rain while the tires were fairly new. Even the best tires cannot be considered safe when standing water gets too deep The situation discussed here has everything to do with poor wet traction due to worn tires and little to do with oversteer. Just remember to drive smoothly in the wet and don't tempt fate with worn tires.
I understand your concern as a relatively new owner but try not to perpetuate the hype. The S2000 will "snap-oversteer" at the limits of adhesion when traction is exhausted or the driver is not smooth on the throttle, steering and brakes. Oversteer in general is a totally new and often unexpected sensation for many former front wheel drive owners. Even RWD veterans may find the limit and cause the rear end to suddenly swing. This car will get you to your personal driving limits faster than a Miata for instance. The car can likely go much further but in this corner of the performance envelope you must be prepared. A performance driving event with instruction will allow you to safely explore these areas and develop skills to handle the car with less apprehension that can only come from experience and understanding. I am no race car driver but I believe the "snap-oversteer" descriptions are exaggerated. Where a Miata will gently break into a slide long before an S2000 starts to lose it, the S2000 will eventually reach its' limit and step out with little warning. The key is to recognize your limits and the cars' and act accordingly. The safest action is best developed on a closed course. The countersteering response must be executed before a spin develops or the car slows to the point it regains traction and could even break the opposite way. If this were to happen on a corner at high speed your instincts might be to brake or lift the accelerator, both can lead to loss of control. Even better, don't get yourself into this situation until you have some seat time on the track and you become comfortable with your car.
Get some new tires, perhaps some instruction and go enjoy your car (safely).

 

thanks, SVANN for your thoughful response

 

OK let's define some terms for discussion:
Worn Tires: The accident was your own fault.
Hysterisis: Grip or adhesion between surfaces.
Hydroplaning: Loss of Hysterisis due to insertion of a layer of water lubricant at the contact point that exceeds the evacuation ability.
Oversteer: A condition where the rear tires corner at a greater rate than the front tires are turned.
Snap Oversteer: An oversteer condition that comes without warning and results in a large-extent loss of Hysterisis.
Warning: Feedback from tires that gives notice of impending changes in adhesion. May be audible or kinetic.
OEM S-02s: Highly regarded, high hysterisis, high performance tires that actually suck due to the absense of Warning provided by the tire. Many other high performace tires do not exibit this deficiency while maintaining good Hysterisis and avoiding unwarned events like Snap Oversteer.

 

Well here we have "black ice" real bad cause it won't rain for a few weeks then all of a sudden it will be the biggest storm of the year. In my case, my tire pressure was normal and my tires had 8k miles on them. As I am driving my rear end will shake while driving a low speed, but once you get sideways in the rain with the black ice you are pretty much screwed. Also, I have felt the same thing in G1S2k1 S2000 as well.

 

Well, I had a very similar experience. Driving down the expressway, on drying roads, speed around 70mph. Hit a patch of lying water on a very very slight right hand bend (RHD car in Japan). The back immediately lost traction and I ended up in the central reservation and then on the hard shoulder at the other side. There was no warning at all, and absolutely nothing that could be done. Tyres were on about 9,000 miles.

Yes I am just about to buy a new S2000 (US$21,000 worth of damage to the last car!!).

I will now be able to drive my new car with hindsight!!! They don't handle well in the wet. But then again does anything with RWD, 250hp and wide performance tyres?? I will be changing the stock SO-2's for something that is better performing in the wet, even if it means I lose performance in the dry.....

 

Just how many that have had these incidents have experience driving RWD cars that have a LSD? This needed caution is old hat for many that have that experience so I have to assume that these surprises are just inexperience. If you take away the LSD it gets easier, or with cars with traction control it is less common.. and of course with FWD it is less common. I had a Mustang with a locking diff that I would park if it rained.. this is not an S2000 only trait.

 

At 9k miles on my S02's, I get *really* bad straight-line hydroplaning on a certain patch of pavement (ie. a two mile stretch of IH635) -- no problems at all anywhere else. Time to replace, or just avoid that patch in the rain? Wasn't expecting to replace the rears this soon...

TXR