Tonight was the 1st time since I got my S2000 that it was raining and wet. I could not bevieve how easily I could get the rear wheels to spin or to step out. From the lights anything over 2k revs would spin the rears. Around corners all I needed was 3.5k+ revs and give it some throttle and the back would come out - and this is in 2nd gear (was doing about 40km/h = 26mph). I was doing this repeatedly.

My old MR2 needed some serious cornering forces to step out in the wet. It would have run circles around my S2000 tonight. Also, from the lights it needed 4k+ revs to spin the rears in the wet. MR2 has almost the same power bellow 5k revs and weight a few kg less (though, the gearing is not as short as S2000's). I know that it was mid-engined while the S2000 is not but the back had so much more grip in the wet. btw, I had S02s on my MR2 as well.

Also, the tyres on my S2000 have only 3.5k km and are inflated at 35psi all the way around. So my question is - "Is this normal? Does the back of the S2000 have so little grip in the wet?". I have not had the S2000 in the wet before so I don't know whether the road was 'greezy' (usually is when it has not rained for a while and it has not for almost 3 months), or whether this is a normal behaviour for the S2000 in the wet.

ps. On a positive note, the car was very controlale and the back was easy to catch even it the wet.

 

Hi DavidM

After all the reports as to how terrible the S2K is in the wet I was pretty worried when it finally started to come down here in SoCal. I drove the car in the rain for 3 days (new rear tires 10K on fronts) - the car was fine. The rear end held during brisk acceleration from a stop and never stepped out on turns. My goal was to keep traction and not break it.

Could be our roads here are less slick ... honestly had no problem with mine and was sure expecting some.

2x6spds

 

Cold is the enemy of the S-02's not wet.

 

Hi DavidM,

I get very nervous when it starts to rain.
I have lost the car several times at very low speeds whilst cornering or braking.

For example, seeing you live in Melbourne, turning through the round-about just over McRobertsons Bridge at maybe 30 K's, the thing just went sideways and frightened the c**p out of me. It happened a couple more times under wet conditions so if you see a Silver Stook driving at 40 kph when the roads are wet, its probably me.

 

My S02s always handled pretty well in the wet; however, near the end of their life (when the wear bars were starting to show) they started to drastically hydroplane on the highway. I have now gone to Michelin pilots on the rear and will also put them on the front when the time comes.

 

I had a '93 MR2 turbo and I feel the Honda is MUCH more neutral. This means it IS easier to get the tail out than in the Toyota. Having said this, I must say I do not feel it is a problem. Is it possible your spring spacers are still in place? This would change your spring rates and make everything happen much faster.

 

Could the 35psi tire pressure you are running be causing some of this? The recommended pressure for the S02 is 32psi.

 

Hey guys, can I suggest http://www.drivingdevelopment.co.uk/Drivin...r%20product.htm next time you're in the uk?

 

On the Best motoring video, the S2000 beat everything else in the wet cone race. I only slide when I want to in mine. No race car driving in the rain, next to guardrails!

Scot

 

At a recent performance driving school I attended, along with 20 other S2K's, it rained the second day and temp was in the 40F degree range. There were some really slick areas on the track (turn 4 in particular). While driving slower and with more caution than in the dry, I really could not say that the cars were really any more slippery than other RWD cars. All 21 of us continued with the classes in the wet, and 2 of us didn't even put the top up during our track sessions. I was driving on the OEM SO2's. Anyone else that was at TWS have a comment?