Hi guys,
(hope this has not been covered, if it is, please post a link below thanks)

I was reading about the handling has been diminished since the size of the wheels and tires went up to 295 or so(in rears).
How could larger size of wheels/tires diminish the car's performance? what's the ideal size to maximize car's handling characteristics?

Thanks much

 

Where did you hear that?

The added grip aside, my handling has dramatically improved.

The biggest thing tire wise that causes poor handling, is a flimsy sidewall. Stiffer the better. Having a tire that is slightly stretched, and not pinched/bulged on the rim helps as well.

 

You're confusing handling with fun. They're talking about increase tire size make the cars more grippy but harder to slide.

 

I might have to look back at that thread. I don't recall exactly the idea but the main point is that the certain sizes are too larger for s2000's structure so it diminishes its performance.

 

Generally speaking, any modification effectiveness will be relative to the other supporting mods. Sometimes a modification on its own has great results, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it excels in one aspect but falls short in another, depends on what its to be used for. But usually more rubber is always better.

 

cool. how large do you have ? how do you feel about them?

 

I run 295-17" in the rear on custom widened 11.5's RPF's. One of the best mods I have made on the car, but I have many mods that go along to keep the car balanced. On a nervous handling car, the extra rubber in the back just really planted it well, and made it more stable at speed. Not to mention the significant added grip in the corners and strait line for my power level, wile still being able to retain the usability of a extreme summer compound rather then an R on the street.

 

Do you mean grip-handling, or nimbleness-handling? There are two different types. The larger the tire, the more grip, but also the less diminished steering feel. For instance, going from a 215 front tire to a 255 will cause the steering to feel heavier and make it seem like the car isn't as "tossable". But the increased grip of a 255 will let you take corners faster without the front end pushing.

 

Depends on what, specifically, you're attempting to maximize. As stated above, you need to consider the entire impact of such changes and not assume that making a particular adjustment will be beneficial in all cases. In anything in life when you start to max something out, you're doing so at the expense of other attributes. Nothing is all gain -- you're always compromising something else.

 

What size tire do you run in the front? Do you understeer more now? Did you add more spring or anti-roll bar?