Recently got an S... had some questions.
Joined: Aug 2012
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Crappy primewell tires (worn, not that great to begin with), powerful, lightweight rwd car, slippery snowy roads, adds up to recipe for spinout.
It would take a skilled, experienced driver with lots of rwd time in snow to make a drive on roads like that.
Tires make more of a difference than fwd, rwd, or awd. And tires make more of a difference on the S than most other cars.
You need tires suited to your usage.
Sent from my SM-G920P using IB AutoGroup
It would take a skilled, experienced driver with lots of rwd time in snow to make a drive on roads like that.
Tires make more of a difference than fwd, rwd, or awd. And tires make more of a difference on the S than most other cars.
You need tires suited to your usage.
Sent from my SM-G920P using IB AutoGroup
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If you've got a summer performance tires ( like the OEM Bridgestones)the compounds are at their worst in wet 35 deg weather, basically being hard and slippery.
I spent a 40 deg/wet day at LRP in my 911 on summer performance tires and many of us were sideways at 40mph.
In addition to all of the good advice above, I'd make sure your tires match your regular intended use ( don't worry about one time events on your ride home)
I spent a 40 deg/wet day at LRP in my 911 on summer performance tires and many of us were sideways at 40mph.
In addition to all of the good advice above, I'd make sure your tires match your regular intended use ( don't worry about one time events on your ride home)
Looks like you're OK but learned about S2000 oversteer in slippery conditions. The pre-2004 (AP1) cars are infamous for snap oversteer. This was adjusted incrementally in 2002, the 2000 and 2001 models being the worst. Seems like every two years afterwards as well. These cars are not for the unwary.
New tires in front and worn on the back certainly didn't help. The reverse is better but you can't swap wheels due to the staggered arrangement. Staggered helps control oversteer but only if all tires grip the same.
The tires on your car are "ultra high performance all season" which is probably about the best type for the conditions you went thru other than pure winter tires. You'll need to check climate conditions where you live to determine what's the best tire for you. Here on the North Coast it's snowing and 20°F (that rumbling noise was the darn snow plow going down my street!) but I've got extreme performance summer tires on the car year round. The car is in storage until April, of course! If you're going to be daily driving your tires need to fit that role and you climate. Tires like mine will outperform yours in the summer. You'll spin out and I won't.
Putting 17" wheels on the car with AP2 OEM tire sizes will help control oversteer. Honda did this in 2004. Used sets of AP2Vx wheels show up here all the time in varying conditions. There are wheel shops that can restore them to pristine condition. Your car needs an immediate 4-wheel alignment (and general check) due to her off road incident. If summer conditions merit it, a new set of 17" wheels and top grade summer tires will add lots to the car's handling. If you're stuck daily driving it save what you have for winter and get a new set for the rear.
-- Chuck
New tires in front and worn on the back certainly didn't help. The reverse is better but you can't swap wheels due to the staggered arrangement. Staggered helps control oversteer but only if all tires grip the same.
The tires on your car are "ultra high performance all season" which is probably about the best type for the conditions you went thru other than pure winter tires. You'll need to check climate conditions where you live to determine what's the best tire for you. Here on the North Coast it's snowing and 20°F (that rumbling noise was the darn snow plow going down my street!) but I've got extreme performance summer tires on the car year round. The car is in storage until April, of course! If you're going to be daily driving your tires need to fit that role and you climate. Tires like mine will outperform yours in the summer. You'll spin out and I won't.
Putting 17" wheels on the car with AP2 OEM tire sizes will help control oversteer. Honda did this in 2004. Used sets of AP2Vx wheels show up here all the time in varying conditions. There are wheel shops that can restore them to pristine condition. Your car needs an immediate 4-wheel alignment (and general check) due to her off road incident. If summer conditions merit it, a new set of 17" wheels and top grade summer tires will add lots to the car's handling. If you're stuck daily driving it save what you have for winter and get a new set for the rear.
-- Chuck
Forgot to add:
Mismatched rear tire pressure will make the car wander as you describe. I had a very low leak in my right rear tire and it felt like this. Back to proper pressure and the car was fine. No experience with mismatched front pressure. I now keep a pressure gauge in both cars.
-- Chuck
Mismatched rear tire pressure will make the car wander as you describe. I had a very low leak in my right rear tire and it felt like this. Back to proper pressure and the car was fine. No experience with mismatched front pressure. I now keep a pressure gauge in both cars.
-- Chuck
Crappy primewell tires (worn, not that great to begin with), powerful, lightweight rwd car, slippery snowy roads, adds up to recipe for spinout.
It would take a skilled, experienced driver with lots of rwd time in snow to make a drive on roads like that.
Tires make more of a difference than fwd, rwd, or awd. And tires make more of a difference on the S than most other cars.
You need tires suited to your usage.
Sent from my SM-G920P using IB AutoGroup
It would take a skilled, experienced driver with lots of rwd time in snow to make a drive on roads like that.
Tires make more of a difference than fwd, rwd, or awd. And tires make more of a difference on the S than most other cars.
You need tires suited to your usage.
Sent from my SM-G920P using IB AutoGroup
Probably not in the snow besides parking lots, I do want to drive it in the rain though. I came from a 92 Miata which was less powerful and was easier to control imo.
Joined: Jun 2015
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I will add, something I noticed once my tires got down to the wear bars in the back. You could feel the rear tires fighting each other in the rain on certain road surfaces (especially that brand new slick asphalt) Due to the toe-in alignment that the car is designed to have, when one tire would have more traction than the other, it would try to send the rear end in the direction that tire was aligned. This was with Michelin Pilot Super Sports which are probably the highest rated and reviewed max performance summer tire there is for this car. But they were down to the wear bars so I don't blame the tires at all. They are AMAZING tires. Also, this happened on a 6 month old alignment.
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Joined: Aug 2015
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From: Columbia, SC
There are extensive conversations in the tire thread - you may want to spend some time there. If you aren't going to track your car or store it in the winter, then many of the summer performance tires may be a bad choice that is inconsistent with your use and needs.
Joined: Aug 2015
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From: NJ
If you're going to be driving in snow, bite the bullet and get snow tires... I got a set of used AP1 rims for $300 here in NJ, and a set of 205/55-16 Altimax Arctics (all around, based on posts here) installed for about $480. If you can't swing a set of winter rims, just have them put on your one set of rims. The car is a sensitive handler even in good conditions; she needs snow rubber for the snow IMO.
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Illnoise. WAY downtown, jerky.
There aren't all that many good all season tires in S2000 sizing. Maybe the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S3. But.... $$$$$$$. Maybe Conti DWS's would work. Hankook doesn't make any good all season tires that come to mind.
I store my S2000 all winter because I'd rather not get salt on it. It sucks, I'll admit. But a rust free chassis is nice.
For cars that I do drive in snow....I buy a set of snow tires for snow...and a set of summer tires for when its not snowing. I don't use all season tires. Too much compromise. Even rain traction is often better with summer performance tires than it is with all seasons.
I store my S2000 all winter because I'd rather not get salt on it. It sucks, I'll admit. But a rust free chassis is nice.
For cars that I do drive in snow....I buy a set of snow tires for snow...and a set of summer tires for when its not snowing. I don't use all season tires. Too much compromise. Even rain traction is often better with summer performance tires than it is with all seasons.
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 221
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From: NJ
FWIW a new set of Firehawk Wide Oval A/S came on my AP1. They're the only tire I've had on it so far (going to switch to snows later this week), but they're doing pretty well on the street as far as I'm concerned. I'm sure a lot of that is the chassis improvement over the Jetta I'm coming from.
