OK here is My S2000 tire experience:

Got a flat right off the lot about a year and a half ago . . . due to complications I put BFG comp T/A on there at 225/50 (REAR) . . . Sondra got my other tire at a good deal . . . those lasted me 16,000mi and when I spun out at 60mph I decided to get new tires . . . I went with the SO-2 PP's
(REAR) at 225/50 OK so by the time I got to 24,500mi I had worn the rears down to the indicators, and the fronts were getting low too so I changed up all rubber.

My biggest problem was that when I got the PP's they handled like crap EXCEPT in the rain. No where near as good as the BFG comp T/A . . . BUT I got to drive Sondra's car with new OEM rears and that car handled soooo much better than mine had EVER! That was the same weekend I was waiting to put my wheels back on. Now, because of the crappy PP's handling in the dry, I have more than measured them I have footprints for the PP's and the RE730's but only measured the OEM, Ill get the footprint later.

OEM 225/50 have about 8" of tread while at rest. (tread that touches the ground)
The Chart for the RE730's says the 245/45 R16's have 8.6" of tread width. I measured the width and it is actually a little wider than 8.7" Off the top of my head the PP's come in somewhere between 7 and 7.5" for the 225/50 Ill get my book out if someone wants.

Soon I will have contact patch area measurements for comparison of sizes vs tread design.

For overall diameter I had to go with 225/50 in the front
and it doesnt look all that bad, just a little meaty.
I have to say that the car now handles as good, if not better than with the OEM tires!

I measure tread witdth by the part that touches the ground at rest, and not the total scuffed area, just to be consistant.

Also the RE730 245/45 R16's are about 2 pounds heavier than OEM 225/50 R16's Just in case somebody is wondering.

I know the topic was for 18's but I noticed the PP's and thought I would speak up, I didnt like them at all.

Oh yeah, I have seen many pics of tires next to each other, my only question is were they both mounted? That also makes a slight difference my measurements are all mounted tires.




[Edited by cmnsnse on 02-03-2001 at 09:14 PM]

 

If you want to keep the outer diameters the same as stock for the Work Meisters your best bet is to go with TOYO Proxies T1-S. 225 40 18 front and 255 35 18 rear. I have 245's on the rear now but next weak I will have 255's. The 255's are closer to the stock dimensions and will fit the 9" width of the wheel better.
These numbers come from experience. And as long as you take it easy on the burnout's the TOYO Tires are awesome.

 

AaronS2K: why are you replacing the 245s? handle bad? speedo, odo readings off too much?
================================================== ========
I appreciate all the posts to my original question about 18" tire sizes, but nobody seems to be able to address what I am really trying to find out:

Am I screwing up the handling of the car if the front tire diameter is much different from the stock?

stock tire dia. = 24.9" (numbers from online spec sheets)
225/35-18 dia. = 24.2"

Or am I just changing the handling in a way that I will have to get used to? I've only had the car two weeks, so I haven't really learned it yet anyway.

 

Don't know about your handling deal but I did wonder how different the front and rear could be before the ABS freaks out.

 

Only thing I don't like about the tires is that they have no tread on them.(Note Doughnut Video in my Sig.) The 245's have always handled great. I am replacing them with 255's because 255's are closer to the stock outer diameter and they will fit the 9" wheel better. (Will not look as stretched)

 

Thanks. Didn't know if it was because they were worn out or for another reason. the pictures make it obvious why you are replacing them.

BTW, I did some research on ABS systems and the size of the tire should have no effect that I can tell on the ABS. The ABS uses speed sensors mounted on the wheel hubs; there are some systems that have sensors on each of the fronts, but only one sensor in the rear on the axle. I don't whether S2K has 3 sensors or 4 (all wheels). In any event, ABS works strickly off rotational speed and should be independent of tire size.

For those naysayers earlier in this thread, Grass Roots Motorsports online
http://www.grassrootsmotorsports.com
click tech topics

has a nice article about plus sizing and the good (better handling, better looks) and bad points (harsher ride) of plus sizing.

 

Actually the stook has 4 sensors, and a 3 channel system, It is recommended not to have too much difference or else the system wont work optimally. I cant say for sure but it may be around .3"

I said earlier .1" but it has to be more than that.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by rocketman
[B]Thanks.

 

Thats what I meant too, the difference between fnt/rear.

Size really wouldnt matter if they are all the same.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by shaner
[B]How about asthetics?