My rear tires are about shot (12K) and fronts are about 50% worn. I am seriously thinking of going to S-03s (245 in the rear) for my next set. My question is: Should I buy another set of S-02s for the rear and then replace all 4 with S-03s at about 24k or go ahead with the -03s for the rear now and be running a mixed set for the next 12k until the fronts wear out. I think some people on this board are runiing 03 and 02 tires mixed and wonder what your experience and thoughts are.

 

I mixed S-02's and S-03's and they weren't that bad. I ended up going back to S-02's. I would say stick with S02's they grip and handle much better than the S-03. S-03's are better in wet conditions. Tire rack has a sale on S-02's not for 156.

 

Kwando -- Tire Rack shows in the customer surveys that the S03 Pole Positions are better handling than the S02's. You don't feel that way? Can you give us some insight. I was about to get the s03's for my rear set as well (my tire store says they don't make the s02 anymore).

Any idea about the Michelin Pilot Sport?

I really don't want to replace tires every 10K miles, if at all possible.

Thanks.

 

I have S03's in the rear (245/40/16) and I love them. Great in wet conditions, and I feel actually a better handling difference than the S02's....

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by golfnut311
[B]Kwando -- Tire Rack shows in the customer surveys that the S03 Pole Positions are better handling than the S02's.

 

So... once the OEM tires are worn, there's no way to buy the exact same set of S-02s?

 

No there is. You just have to specify the S02's with the W rating (I think).

 

Like Pappy, I have 03s on the rear and 02s on the front. Handling was a little different auto-crossing, but like it more each time out. I also think wet handling is better with the 03s than the 02s were. I also seem to be getting better wear out of the 03s. I have 9k miles on current set with quite a few auto-crosses and a couple trips to the drag strip on them and do not see any sign of needing to replace them in the near future. I think I would go with the 03s again when the time to replace tires comes.

 

It really depends what you want from the car. WHen I had the mix of tires on and I was doing the local montain drives I noticed a handling difference. It all depends on what you are looking for. S-02's are great dry max performance tires, S-03's are great wet AND dry max performance tires.

 

Amazing! So, the S03's have less rubber on the road since they have bigger channels to move water from under the tire to give improved wet traction, but actually handle better than S02's in the dry...that is a pretty difficult trick. The tires designed to give best performance on our cars are actually worse than the stock S03's?

(Pappy, I'm not picking on you, honest.)