Just picked up my 04' Grey on black s2k this weekend, love it so far! It was super fun in the sun this weekend with the top down. Yes I’m in Seattle and it was 60 and sunny.

I did a lot of research on this car before I bought it; I read every car mag or blog out there. I have owned 8 cars and 2 bikes and after poking around on this site for the past few weeks I feel so OVERWHELMED by all the information!

I know these questions have been answered over and over again on this site but I think the problem is every answer is different, haha.

Is there issues with our cars alignment? And what do I need to ask to have my car aligned to?

But the problem I feel I need to fix quick is the tires. They are summer tires and get pretty loose in the rain; I'm very used to having the back end swing out on me since I have owned a few pickup trucks and SUVs. But I would really like to try to help this from not happening by getting the best rain tires. I’m planning on this being my daily driver at least to get to work, my fiancée has a new Subaru if it snows.

So my question is what does everyone run, tire wise, who DD there S2k in the rain. Should I just order then from tirerack and mount them at Discount tire or something?

And whats with all the talk about the correct tire size? If I just went to a tire shop and said the factory tire size would it possibly not be right?

Thanks

PS: My gearbox is notchy going into 2nd gear, should I change the trans fluid. And what service should I do to make the car perfect? It has 50,020 miles on it. I was just going to change the fluids and plugs.

 

I dd my s2000 u just need to learn how to con troll the s in the rain. We have 3 months of bad weather left just take it slow around the turns and you'll be okay

 

Welcome to s2ki! You picked up a great car

Although the search here is sometimes crappy, you can still find out detailed information in the stickies.

Alignments for our car is just like any other. If all you do is plan to DD it, stock specs are fine. For more aggressive drivers, many people use the UK specs but that will wear your tires more.

I DD my car so rain or shine I'm driving it on summer tires, although I do live in sunny california. As long as you are smooth with your throttle inputs, braking etc. you shouldn't spin out, just make sure your tires have good tread.

I believe that the debate about correct tire sizes was mainly for ap1s (early year models 2000-2003) since the factory tires had more contact patch then the later years.

 

Driver skill helps but with the right tires anyone can safely drive an S in the rain. I have a feeling the people who are spinning out are either running the wrong tires or just driving too fast for the conditions.

Last year I was on Toyo performance tires and didn't like the wet weather performance so I switched to some all-season Falkens and it makes a huge difference. The car is completely driveable in the rain. Like any car don't smash the throttle in the middle of the turn and you won't spin. The S is very twitchy at high rpms so use common sense.

BTW I'm using Falken 452s, good balance of performance/quiet.

 

this car is fine in the rain as long as you don't drive like an asshat. make sure your tires have plenty of tread and you'll be okay.

 

Within the stock spec range for alignment, you should be fine.
Personally, I'm a fan of more camber and less rear toe, you might consider asking for the high end of the spec range for camber, and the minimum end for toe.
If you're going to be tracking the car, and suspension is stock, maximum camber adjustment front and rear, zero front toe, minimum spec rear toe should be a good starting place.

*Good* Summer tires are FINE in the rain, as long as it's not cold (~40* or below). In fact, *good* summer performance tires will have much MORE grip in the wet/rain in warmish temps than any all-season tire.
What make/model tires are you on now, and how much tread depth is remaining front and rear? Note that rear tires can wear as much as twice as fast as fronts on these cars.

I vote for Tire Rack. TONS of info on tires there. Customer surveys and even objective tire tests where they compare similar performance tires for dry and wet grip for braking, skidpad, autoX, and track times.
Here are Tire Rack's Max Performance tires in AP2 sizes ranked by "wet traction":
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresult...rveySearch=true
Also put the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 StarSpec on your list. They're fantastic in the wet/rain. But as "Extreme Performance" tires, they have less water channeling capacity, and my be more prone to hydroplaning (never been a problem for me, though, and I DD on these tires).

Correct size is the stock size: 215/45-17 f, 245/40-17 r. Alternate sizes: 215/45-17 f, 255/40-17 r (stock size on CR); 225/45-17 f, 255/40-17 r.

 

I used the Direzza in the rain and they were great grip but a little scary in standing water.
I've used Toyo T1-Rs in the rain and they channel water GREAT to prevent hydroplaning. Never really had an issue with them that I can remember.

 

There's a thread on here somewhere called something like 'everything i've ever learned on S2ki'....i'll try to find it. Great read, even after having the car for a long time. I'll try to find it.

 

here it is:

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showt...&#entry10514869

Worth the read

 

worth taking a look at:
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/compar...omparison_tests

Overall winner was the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3, and I know people who have had very good luck with these tires, especially in the wet.

Tire Rack is a good source, but if you have a Discount Tire local to you, why not have them just order the tires you want? They should price-match any site you find, ask for the manager if you have any trouble.