I love the RS3's on my 02 as well.
Levi

 

Increased (positive) caster results in better steering centering and road feel. 6.5 is probably a good number for that.

 

The PSS is a multi-compound tire. Unless you push hard, you're driving on the hard inner/middle compound and the tire isn't going to feel hooked up or responsive to steering inputs. The reason it feel more responsive when you're slamming through a hairpin is you're rolling the tire into the soft, grippy outer section. When the weight of the car is on the performance section of the tread, it will be a lot more responsive to steering corrections.

That's why going to a uniform-compound tire like the RS-3 or any of the extreme performance tires will make the car feel so much more responsive in situations where the tire isn't already fully loaded with g-forces. But of course you give up the quieter, longer-lasting aspect of the PSS's hard inner compound.

 

Good explanation, thomsbrain. That makes sense because the grip seems endless when I slam it into the hairpins.

 

When you decide to take a drive with us, I'll let you drive my lightly-modded AP1 (sensibly). You will see what you're missing

 

PSS is a compromise tire. Once you go to Extreme summer tires you'll never go back. The S deserves the best tire. I had stock ap2 re050 that tire is old and skinny. Slapped on re-71r. I'm in love. The car doesn't really need much except maintenance. The car just wants to dance.

 

Steering feel doesn't exist as we have EPS, it's pretty numb. Not much you can do about that, I think the CR steering rack stiffeners help out a bit with that, but not much.

 

The PSS is not a "compromise tire". ---- it's the top choice in the Max Performance category which is what our cars came from the factory equipped with. On Tire Rack, the PSS ranks #1 out of 23 Max Performance tires available.

There is another category designed to mazimize dry traction at the expense of road noise and wet weather traction---Extreme Performance --the RE-71R is in this category. It isn't any better "overall" than the PSS or any other tire---it is no doubt better at dry traction if that is your #1 criteria for tire selection for your S2000.

The RE-71R ranks 5th out of the 10 available Extreme Performamce tires in owner's reviews

Here's TireRack's review of the RE-71R--they love the tire for it's handling but clearly point out it's focus is dry traction at the expense of wet weather traction and ride comfort.....(they also point out in their review that the RE-71R is one of the two noisiest tires they've ever tested on the road--- compared them to the sounds of a wheel bearing going bad and "sticky tape being pulled off plastic"....)

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=202

Here's the PSS reviee----

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=174

So, both are great tires--one is not "better" than the other----just depends on what your priorities are for tires for your S2000

 

My 05 has PSS 225 & 255 17's on OEM wheels. I also have Ohlin DFV shocks/struts and have great fun driving roads in the PNW.

 

To complete the alignment:
Toe: left front = 0 right front = -0.01
left rear = 0.17 right rear 0.15