My car is an 02 with Ohlins and a Gendron front bar.

Having trouble deciding between the OEM 16's with RE71Rs and 17x9s with RE11's. I want a setup that doesn't have too much grip, I want to learn the car at lower limits. I've done three track weekends in an e30 325e that had spec e30 suspension and Toyo R1Rs. It was a great car but because it was so low power and so much grip you could drive like a monkey and it would never bite you. Obviously the S2000 is not like that so I want to get the feel for the handling. Will a 255 square setup with RE11s be too much grip for a beginner-intermediate level driver?

Wild card: I have been thinking about the Firehawk indy 500 for the AP1 wheels, but comments here recommended against those for anything except very basic track use. I'm really only interested in BS/FS tires because my employment gets me a very steep discount on them.

 

i mean you already went as far as getting the coilovers and larger front sway, so in my head the square setup makes more sense. i'm on the 16" jdm bbs ap1 wheels with RE-11's(staggered, on bc racing coilovers and stock sways) as a beginner setup and you can feel right up to the edge of grip. sometimes i feel the turn-in is too quick where you'll lose grip and scrub speed(which is good for learning yes?) and it acquaints you to the sharp,sensitive steering of the ap1 s2000(Ap2 has a slower steering rack). i did this to feel out how the stock setup feels, and when i'm done with the re-11 rears, i'm putting a square setup with 245 tires using 2 sets of the jdm bbs rears, and hopefully a karcepts front sway bar not too long after. what you could do is try using all seasons with less grip with a square setup, and move on to something stickier down the line.

 

If you are wanting something that is not too grippy, and is made by Bridgestone, get a set of 255 S-04 for the 17x9

 

Just do the re11 if you already have them. Your traction level with those is not going to exceed the cars ability to break loose.

 

Thanks for the input guys! Ordered the RE11s. It appears I got one of the last sets of 255s out there.

 

How are people still buying re11a tires? I thought the re71r replaced it, and that it's been out of production for 2+ years now.

 

RE71R will fall off after a few laps. RE11 would be slightly more consistent lap after lap. Why not a RS4 or RT615k+? They'll last a long time, they'll give good feedback. The Falken is VERY cheap and still has lots of grip. They deal with heat better.

Firestones might be fine to learn on, but they don't deal with the heat well.

 

RE71Rs ultimately will give you much more grip, the updated compound is much softer than that of RE11. I guess if less grip is what you're looking for then the RE11 is the better choice.

 

Why would you even consider spending the $$$ and having the fitment frustration of running 17x9s with 255 RE71Rs if you "want a setup that doesn't have too much grip"?!

Personally I think 255 square is grossly overrated anyway (taller/heavier vs. 245), but if you don't even want maximum grip, why would you bother?

Run 205/225 on the stock wheels. ExtremeContact Sports are $416 for the set at Tire Rack, Hankook RS4 for $489. Versus $1800+ to get 17x9 wheels and 255s. No-brainer...