But look will improve dramatically.

 

MSM, I think you mean why so much wheel? And handling will definitely NOT suffer, but only improve. (less sidewall, less flex). The ride may suffer a little, but the difference between 255/35/18(which is what I have on the rear now), and 285/30/19, is only about 1/8th between you and the road, so you cannot even tell the difference. The biggest difference is going from the 16" to 18", you can feel that.

I agree with Trent, look will improve dramatically. If I could find more tire options, I would actually go with 20" wheels.

Court and Trent, I am leaning toward #2, the 5Zigen, I can get them now, and the sizes are perfect for what I am looking for. I have decided to go ahead with the wide body rear end, seeing a 911 Turbo in person, I knew I had to have an S with 11" wide tires in the rear.

Thanks for your input guys.

Sean

 

Sean- Mike actually has a point on the handling. That wide of a tire is overkill on such an otherwise stock car and will make it lean more towards understeer. I think it'll look much meaner, but ride will be worse and it'll take more effort to steer the car at the limit. For street, there shouldn't be a problem with this setup, but for track, it's too much. Also, with that skinny of a sidewall, watch the potholes.

BTW, where are you going to get the custom fenders done? I might be interested after seeing the final product.

 

You may have a point on the steering, but the ability to hold a tight turn without to much overstear or loosing grip......Pontiac hit it on the head.....wider is better! There is a good reason race cars have tires equal to 1/4th the total width of the car. Stock or not, more tire equals more traction.

As for steering; understeer is when the front tires do not have enough grip to hold a turn, and tend to push through it, so if I go wider in the front, to a 235 or 245, I would then have significantly MORE grip to handle turns, and if anything, increase oversteer. I do think you are correct about taking more effort to turn, but last time I drove the canyon, I didn't get quite the workout I needed.

Besides, if it does increase understear, on a car that has been criticized for having to much oversteer, then that may not be a bad thing.

Yeah this is extreme, and it will handle differently, sure, but not necessarily worse.

Then again, I am no sort of expert on any of this, and since I don't race, I am not to concerned with any negative effects.

---------------------------

I am still not sure where I will have the fenders done, I may do them myself. I worked at a body shop when I was younger, and had a chance to help do a wide body on a Subaru XT. So I may attempt it, but I will do more checking first. Kendig-It Design said they could do it, but they charge $65/hour! That could end up somewhere in excess of 6k, way to much for what I am having them do. 2-3k is the most I would spend for the body work.

 

I could go on forever about the tires, but I won't because I want you to get them despite what I have said.
Anyway, if you're willing to go to California, I highly recommend Miguel @ Mobworks. He's the guy that did my car. I did some research on Body shops before I decided to go there. He said he likes doing custom jobs. He did a widebody kit for an '02 Civic Si and it turned out good. Not my style, but good. I'm sure he'll do it in the $2-3K range. Give him a call and tell him Trent with the Blue S2000 in Utah sent you. His cell #: 1-714-469-5917

 

Thanks Trent, I will give him a call.

BTW - Check this link out. It helped me a little with understanding steering characteristics.

http://rogerkrausracing.com/overundr.html

 

If you like the look ... go for it. 245F / 285R is a LOT of tire for an S2K. We'll smoke you off the line and through the twisties!

 

Off the line, only without a clutch drop! But for normal starts, yeah, until I get the Turbo. Through the twisties, I don't think so. You see, I just took my 18" wheels off to ship them, and had to put some 17's on temporarily, (235/45/17 tires) and on the way home from the tire store I took a wide twisting road that I take every chance I get. Needless to say I thought I was going to roll the car or cause the tire to pop off the rim! Talk about steering issues- The extra sidewall and narrow rim was sooooooo different than I am used to. I could actually hear the slight chirping of the tires as I was turning. You know what I mean, I know you hear it too. Well that sound means you are starting to lose grip, and that you are using part of the sidewall of the tire. This is a sound I never heard with my 255/35/18's, and will definitely not hear with 285/30/19's.

So like the old saying goes.....When choosing between low profile tires or not, don't knock it till you try it.

Here is real reason you don't want to put larger rims and low profile tires on your car......tire cost. When you go through 2-3 sets a year, it sure adds up.

BTW, heard you are getting some Volk racing wheels.

 

Got the Volk Ce28N a couple of months back -- 11 lbs light! They have R compound tires on them for auto-x ... so they don't see the street.