Just got a new set of tires for my S2K, and I'm wondering if I got the wrong kind. I got the correct size with stock wheels, 205 55 16 and 225 50 16, but my car doesnt seem to be gripping much better, and the tires that I had on before were bald and I don't believe them to be of very good quality, I think they might have been dunlop's in back. I bought Toyo TPT tires, they were $600 out the door from Les Schwab, an all season tire because I'm going to try to drive this car 10-11/12 months a year, weather permitting, and this is in eastern Washington, so there will be cold weather and I'm not hell bent on great cornering. What I mean by the wrong kind...is are these tires not supposed to be on a RWD sports car like an S2K and supposed to be on a Taurus or Altima? Any comments are appreciated, thank you.

 

I am not sure what the Toyo tire is because I don't carry them. You would need to check the speed rating and make sure they are Z speed rated. If you had a summer performance tire on the car before and you went to an all season tire they will not handle as good. You also still need to break the tire in before you get the best traction.
You need to decide if the handling is good enough for your driving style. If not you may need to go to a summer tire and winter tire set up.
If i can help let me know.

 

I believe they are V or H rated, I'm not sure...is a Z rated tire absolutely necessary?

 

The fronts are H, the rears are V...boy do I feel like an idiot

 

These are the numerically correct sizes for this car, however, you might want to read this:
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=48572
This thread talks about the weird sizing of the OEM rear tires on this car and how you need to get a different size in order to maintain the correct tread footprint. BUT, since these tires are "all seasons" and you are using them in some adverse driving conditions (one of which will be snow), then the sizing you got will suffice.

This, in itself, is not such a bad thing. Like I said before, you are using these for "all season" capabilities and as such, a mixed speed rating is not a big deal as long as you drive the car within the performance parameters of the lowest rated tire.

Like Jim has already said, you can't expect to get the same kind of grip and handling with this type of tire as you would with performance summer tires.

 

I went back to Les Schwab today to see if they have any kind of return policy, and I'm giving back those all season TPT's and getting some Toyo TS1's I think they are called, they're Z rated and not the all season's. They'll take my tires off and keep em and put these ones on that are better and I think I only owe like $60 or something, so I'm happy about that

 

See if you can't get the T1-R, which is the replacement for the T1-S.

 

Toyo has a 500 mile "test drive" program that'll allow you to return the tires to the factory.

The T1-R should be more appropriate for the S.