Russ

Schatten, could you please explain why you think different sized wheels are bad for our cars. It was my understanding that because of the width of the specific tires, that is why a 6.5 was chosen for the front and 7.5, especially with the SO-2's footprint being significantly wider than a typical 225, was chosen for the rear. If I was to buy a 205mm front tire and a 225mm rear tire, but install them both on a 7 or 7.5-inch wheel, isn't it the width of the tire which creates the necessary stagger and not specifically the wheel width itself?
Thanks!

Schatten

Russ - I'll try my best.

A wheel size that is 16x6 or 6.5" wide can be fitted with 205's, 215's and 225's. 245's wouldn't work on a 6.5" wheel - that part is correct, no matter what the profiles are. A 7 to 7.5" wheel can work with anything from a 205 streached to a 245 fitting snug. But with a bland example of a 225/50/16 - this is a typical size, and not all tire manufacturers make that tire aspect ratio the same size. Actually, the Potenza S02's and S02 Pole Positions in 205/50/16 sizings are entirely different in their size!

So, it has to do with both size of tire and size of wheel - that much is correct. But as for the reasons behind it all: through several discussions in the past, its determined that wider wheels and wider tires help compensate for the oversteer (not 'snap') characteristics of this car. Also, it helps reduce the tendancy for the rear suspension to 'bump steer'.

Hope this makes a bit more sense. If not, send me a PM/email and I can search through some old threads and see if any of that makes any more sense to you.

Thanks!

Russ

Schatten....well done. No need for an exhaustive search, I figured it probably had something more to do with the S2000 specifically than a universal trend. One thing though that has perplexed me...why do folks say the OEM rear tire has the footprint of a 245 (not 225) and the front is 195-205? Since the construction of the tire is the same, wouldn't they both have the same "oversized" width or is it because a 225mm is being used on a 7.5? Thanks for your time! Lots of valuable info.

Jim@tirerack

Actually the front tires are narrower than most 205/55R16 tires and the rears are wider than most 225/50R16 tires. That is why most people recommend to go 205/55R16 front and 245/45R16 in the rear if you go with aftermarket tires.
When it comes to wheels and tires for the car we recommend to keep the stagger that Honda built with the car. We normally have a 1" or more difference front to rear in wheel width.
If I can help let me know.
Thank you

Jim 800-428-8355-364

S2R

i wouldn't get those rims unless they're forged and lighter than stock. also, those offsets are not good.

Jim@tirerack

S2R,

What wheels were you talking about?

Jim

cjitlim

Jim,
Is it ok to install different size of tires, for example : front/rear 225/245 on the same size of wheels (e.g. 7.5)? Any problem that comes with this combination?

Thanks.

Schatten

it would be difficult to squeeze a 245 onto a 7.5 but anything is possible given the time and knowledge of the tire installer/mounter.

its not so much the wider tires and contact patch in the back of the car that would be the issue. even if you do put wider tires in the back on the same sized wheel - the wheel itself would limit how much contact patch is actually hitting and being used by the road. anything more or less would be 'rolled over' because of the squeeze that the tires had to go through to get on that wheel.

even if you were to get the same sized wheel all around, it wouldn't save you any headaches in getting them rotated and rebalanced every so often. the tires would need to be dismounted and put on just the same.

hope this helps your search for wheels.
looking for anything in particular?

cjitlim

Thanks, my current s02s are worn out (3 track events), so I plan to put race tires on my stock rims. Thinking on Kumho victoracer 225/245 combo.
I bought 18" wheels (nakayama) from 1fastyellows2k. He has Falken 451, 215/235 on them. The wheels are same size, but I will just use these wheels on daily driving only. Will use the kumho for autox and track. Been to TWS 3 times and already, got everything out of my stock tires.

Jim@tirerack

The 245/35R18 will not fit on an 18X7.5 wheel. You would need at least and 8.5 for the rear. The only problem with the 18X7.5 is there aren't any matching tires to keep the diameter the same as the OE. If you have too big of a difference front to rear it will throw off your anti lock brakes and the handling of the car.
The only sizes I show that will work on the 7.5 wheel is 215/40R18 front and 225/40R18 rear. The Yokohama Parada and Pirelli P7000 are avaialable in these sizes.
If I can help let me know.
Thank you

Jim 800-428-8355-364