Hi,

I know why to go with 245 from the 225 but don't understand the numbers. The s-02 in 225 is rated with a 9.2" section width and 8.5" tread width. The overall diameter is 24.8". Now the S-03 245 is 9.6" section and 9.1" tread width. The overall diameter is 24.6". Now if I go with the 225 in the S-03 it is 9.3" and 8.3". The overall diameter is 24.9". The story goes that the S-02's have a better contact patch than the S-03's but I don't see it tire for tire. 0.2 is not anything to frown at. I can see the advantage of going with a wider tire in the back but can't see any other benefit. Input??? What am I missing here?


-Chris

 

There is a difference between the S-02 Pole Position and the S-02.....

 

The simple explaination is that the S-02 found on the S2000 is not a standard S-02. The biggest indication of this is the speed rating (Z vs. W).

If you measure the OEM S-02 it's very close to an actual 245.

When I had winter tires on my old '01, I went with 225 in the rear, knowing they would be skinnier than the stock tires, and there indeed was a big difference, when placing them next to each other on the ground. I've also had an OEM S-02 up next to one of my OEM RE-050's on the '04 and they're very close.

 

How about this as a technical answer

225mm = 8.85inches
245mm = 9.64inches
*OEM S02 Rear Tire (labeled as 225mm) = 9.2inches.*

On the OEM S02, the Section Width which is much larger then an actual true 225 Tire. The only next common tire size up is the 245-45-16. Most 245 tires are around 9.6inch section width. On the S2k you are better off to go to a wider tire then narrower(will give you dangerous oversteer), hence the better decision is to use a 245 tire if you go to an aftermarket rear tire.

 

Hmm. Looks like I am going to do some more comparisons and measure my tires again.

Thanks for the info.



Maybe I do some phone calls.

 

so with aftermarket wheels it would be 245...but would about the fronts? 225?

 

Nishant from Honda-Tech found this old post for me.


https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=48572


The third or fourth post seems to explain. So there are some tires that will have the similar tire tread widths to the S-02's. It isn't every tire just most of the tires on the market. So you would keep the 205 front and go 245 rear unless you want the understeer or find a tire with similar tread width.

My Toyo Ra-1's have tread width of 8.65 give or a take a little. This is comparable to the measured tread width of 8.5 on the S-02 replacements for OE on S2000 products. Others do not. The S-02 for the Porsche is only 8.1 therefore will not work. The 9.2 stated in this thread is overall and is not an applicable number. It is the overall number not tread width wich is largest possible "contact patch".


-Chris

 

Asside from being wider than most 225's the S02's have VERY narrow rain groves. If you look at a 245 (say an S03) you will see that there is a good bit more void space. Hence, more rubber on the road with an S02 than the "wider" tires.

 

Did you perhaps means aftermarket tires? The fronts should still be 205s as they weren't sized weird like the rears (assuming you wanted to stay close to stock).

 

yeah i meant tires. sorry, so when i get aftermarket tires stick with 205 front, 245 rear to stay with stock widths?