Porsche's and BMW make lots more torque so they can get away with it.

 

Cars like the 911 and M5 have to balance looks and performance. Buyers spending $100k+ don't want dinky rims. Odds are they'd get better performance from a 17" wheel, but cars performance street cars are a balance between looks and performance.

Like everyone has said, rotational mass is the enemy. It will increase you acceleration and stopping times. I am happy w/ the 16" AP1 wheels, but if you want a balance of looks and performance I think 17" wheels are good on the S2000.

 

Driving wise, I dont see any difference between the 18's I just put on and the oem 17's............

Tire wise, I really reccomend the Fuzion ZRi's..............these tires came with the wheels I bought, MUCH quieter than the Potenza's

 

I know of two very experienced S drivers who have totalled their cars with these tires.

I have driven on them and they seem VERY uncommunicative with some scary breakaway characteristics.. also much lower absolute grip limits than the RE 050's

Maybe way TOO quiet, at least at the limit.

On what do you base your strong recommendation?

 

Can't go wrong with the RE050's especially if you live in an area where you get a decent amount of rain. The tire channels water much better than the AP1's stock S02.

 

I put on 18" SSR gt3's and couldnt believe the diffrence in breaking. Huge diffrence. Go with light weight.

 

I base my recommendation on just having switched to these tires from the OEM Potenza's..................If your talking about taking them to the track or something, I wouldnt know. Mines a daily driver and weekend canyon carving.

Just my 2 cents worth

 

i say go with the 18s for a daily driver, i did the swap from my 16s and for everyday use I don't feel the difference. Ya I don't race my car everytime I drive it which is why i dont notice as much. Actually in the handling department it is a lot more stable in turns which i think helps the performance. I can see where people would want smaller wheels for track but if you are using these wheels for the track then you wouldnt want 18s and you would throw on some race tires too. So in a nut shell I say go for the 18s and looks you will not regret it one bit.

 

I was talking to Nate from comptech and he suggested 18's. He says that all CT cars run on Work 18's.

But then after the call I was thinking maybe it makes sense when those cars are SC?

 

Actually One of the euro mags did a test between 16" and 17" OEM rims on the S2k. I think it was fifth gear? Anyway, the S was actually faster with the 17's than it was with the 16's???

So maybe all this talk is just theory!!