Thanks to everyone for your replies.

It's a 2001, so the tires are 205/R55-16 & 225/R50-16.

Incubus is correct, the reason I posted this is to publicize the problem with putting the rear wheels on the front of the car. After my experience, I'd never consider doing that, even if the manual said it was OK.

Man, that right front wheel was barely hanging on with only 2 lusgs still attached. I can't believe I didn't notice anything until I pulled into the parking lot. Maybe the act of turning the wheels sharply to the left was the straw that broke the camel's back and sheered off the studs. I did look to see if I could find the sheered lugs but it was raining pretty hard and I didn't look very long.

The mechanic at the dealership said that when he replaced the studs, the original configuration wouldn't allow him to get the wheels to sit properly on the front hubs. That's what led them to find out that the tires were on the wrong rims in the first place.

The thought of the wheel studs sheering off for no apparent reason freaked me out. I have to give it to the mechanics at Brown's, they not only found the problem but gave me back the feeling of confidence knowing that there was a reason this happened.

I will admit, I drove the car hard on that vacation. We had the trunk pretty well loaded with luggage (we were gone for almost 3 weeks). It took all the mountain roads with ease. No problem passing the slower vehicles. It seemed that I always had enough punch anytime I needed it. My past experience with my Miatas was way different. Don't get me wrong, the Miata is a fun car to drive, but the S2000 is like one on steroids!

Cheers,
Md4crabs

 

I'm an idiot and youre right! For some reason, I thought the hubs were larger in the rear. After a quick search (trying to discredit you ) the front hubs are larger!!

Moral of the story: rear rim on front hub = bad! (unless of course you bore it out to fit properly)

edit: apparently, i really just wasnt thinking at all Because I said I'd put the fronts on the rears in a blowout and this is when i assumed the larger rear hub...

 

[QUOTE=tabach0y273,Jul 15 2006, 03:40 PM] I just looked up the OEM tires diameters on tirerack for an AP2.

 

^^ And a footnote to this: when you've had a flat on the rear, moved that side front to replace that rear, and put the donut on the front, get it fixed ASAP and drive very gingerly in the meantime.

The bigger hubcentric ring on the front wheel that is now on the rear means that that rear is riding on the studs, not on the hub (unless there's something about this I don't know). That's not a good thing. HPH

PS:

This quote:
must have a typo. He can't possibly think there's a 6" difference. He must have meant 0.6".

 

Actually, it's no big deal. The wheel is really "lugcentric" anyway. Many people run aftermarket wheels without any hubcentric features at all.

 

Keep in mind the diff on the S2k is a torsen which means it's far more forgiving of different tire diameters than a clutch type diff. On a clutch type diff, the clutches will burn out if you have different sizes left to right. On the torsen, I suspect the worm gears will just act like you're purpetually turning to the right or left.

I mean that's what happens when you turn left or right. The outside wheel always travels a further distance so, it's axle spins more.

 

honda released a TSB about this same issue. Reading the TSB is a reminder of why one never brings the car to Honda for service.

 

Thank God you found out before anything happened.

 

crabs, that really sucks. I hope you get some joy from whatever recompense you seek. I can't imagine how this got so f'd up!