235/45R17 tire ain't gonna improve your ride.

Standard front tire is 215/45R17. The extra 0.4" (less than 1/2 inch) of sidewall won't do a thing. And that's only at the front?

Where sidewall height does have effect on ride comfort is with significantly different tire and wheel sizes. Example: My utilitarian Ford Expedition has 265/70R18 tires and the bling models have 285/45R22 tires. My tires have 2.5" more sidewall (front and rear) which helps prevent this SUV from riding like a truck. Note the 4" different wheel size needed to get a meaningful softer side wall height. Even if you fit 16" AP1 wheels and 205/55R16" tires the extra 0.6" (just over 1/2") won't make any difference.

Our cars are tire sensitive and need matching tires on all 4 corners. Matching meaning same brand/model and age. So even IF the 235 front tire would improve ride comfort -- and it won't -- you might need to replace all 4 tires for decent handling which even for all-season tires will cost about $700.

-- Chuck

 

Tire comfort is all about sidewall stiffness.

What makes sidewalls stiff is:

How short they are

Sidewall construction

Summer tires will always be stiffer sidewall than other types. You want an all season tire, and one that is less performance oriented.

Tire size you'd have to get radical to have enough effect, and that's not a good idea for number of reasons.

Note you site so close to rear in this car that rears make much more difference than fronts for comfort. So going taller sidewall size front only isn't gonna help.

Comfort even more affected by suspension. What is installed? Is it stock? Did you checl for spring spacers? These cars had temp spacers installed from factory to clear car carrier ramps for delivery. Dealership supposed to remove them, but often missed some of them. Especially ones hidden back side of spring.

These would definitely cause harsh ride.

Check for spacers

Check for aftermarket springs or suspension.

Consider koni shocks with stock springs. Softer than stock.

 

Interesting responses. I will definitely check for spacers in the coil springs.
Assuming there are none, and yes my car suspension is bone stock, I am seeing conflicting responses. Some responses are based on experience, and others based on knowledge of equipment, design etc etc.

New tires will most likely be needed next spring (unless my state inspection passes them AGAIN)...never the less, the tires are well worn and will need to be replaced very soon.
Looks like I may be "stuck" with the ride harshness...??

 

A couple weeks ago @kamdogs2k was concerned about the "rough ride" of his newly acquired 2008 S2000. He drove over and we drove his car and my 2006 back to back on the same county roads. A pair of calibrated Mk 1 butt gauges could not find any significant differences in ride or handling. Both cars drove and rode just like they were designed. Nothing wrong with his car whatsoever (nor, do I suspect, yours). Suspensions are taut not harsh. His tires are seven (7) years and due for replacement due to aging out. Mine are weeks old. ( I tagged him so maybe he can offer some help.)

These cars is what they is. You've used the word cruise several times. These are not cars designed as cruisers. Better cars for 25-year olds rowing thru the gears on the back roads than many (most?) 65-year olds on a leisurely drive. (Both work,) It's unlikely you can make a boulevard cruiser out of any of them so even trying will be disappointing. No way you're equipped to diddle with the suspension.

A "couple years" running these well regarded tires at what cold tire pressure? Placard in the drivers door jam specifies 32psi (thirty two) cold tire pressure. This what you're running?

If you find any spring spacers after the car has been on the road for almost 20 years buy a lottery ticket -- you're dead sure to win!

Before you buy new tires (and what you have now is well regarded) seriously consider either selling the car you'll never fully enjoy or just sucking it up and accepting the car for what it is. @A.O. just sold his S2000 and bought a 2004 Lexus SC430 convertible. Did someone say "sumptuous boulevard cruiser."

-- Chuck

 

Slippery slope

We all tweak our cars with small, and sometimes large mods to make it our own.

But at some point, mods required means a different platform would make a better starting point.

Lets just look at wheels and tires. Its one of the first mods people do. Some people switch to square instead of staggered. Some people go with tires from extreme performance category. Some go max performance. Some ultra high performance. Some people run spacers! Some even run offsets abd widths that require rolling fenders.

Is deciding to run softer tires really more extreme than rolling fenders? More misguided than spacers?

He should sell and buy a Lexus because he wants softer tires than most of us?

 

The OP started this thread over 5 years ago and he was looking for "comfortable tires." The more recent post is concerned with comfort and cruising with the assumption that softer tires will provide this. There really aren't any significantly softer tires and if there were they'd be unlikely to provide soft cruising hence the recommendation to "suck it up or sell it." Car is what it is. Lots of soft riding convertibles available,

Just back from a 550 mile weekend with my '06 with 400 of it off-interstate. Didn't arrive home crippled or deafened from the ride and personally don't see a need for a softer ride. My experience/opinion but I suspect I'm part of a majority.

-- Chuck

 

There are softer tires out there, problem is most of us don't want the soft sidewall on this particular car as it isn't suited for it.

@gchalifoux I'd suggest looking into more of a touring tire or all season instead of strictly summer tires for a more compliant ride. It's not going to be a huge difference but may help.

 

People were ANGRY when I said A.O. should consider selling that car when he was looking to make it significantly comfier and quieter. This is an interesting update.

I rolled my fenders because it fit the look I wanted. I would have to roll the fenders on any car to achieve that.

I would not try to make a Lexus LS a sports car and I would not try to make an S2000 a luxury car.

(nevermind that I personally find the S2000 a very comfortable, compliant car)

If a stock S2000 is not comfortable enough for someone, unless it is on old 200TW tires, it is not going to be worlds different on even a comfy, all-season tire.

gchalifoux, what tires are currently on the car?

 

Scroll up...

 

ah, I skipped all the pre 2023 posts