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It really comes down to what look you want, I have all three OEM versions and I find that certain wheels will flow better depending on the color of the car. To me, the V1 is the most versatile followed by the V3. The V2 has a certain look that needs to be on the right color car to be at its full potential, I love my V2's but they have been adapted to my vision and I believe they fit the car well.
I prefer the AP2 V1 wheels. But if I did not have a preference, then I'd probably just go for whichever design I could find the best deal on — how much are these wheels running anyway?
Experience trumps predictions and we have a nice pool of experience here. I started a "will 255mm rear tires cause understeer" tread a year or so ago and don't recall any critical responses.
255mm rears slip right on the car. I'm running Bridgestone S04 215 front/255 rear and don't notice any understeer city (or country ) on my 2006 car. This is the CR front/rear spec and they're not noted for understeer. Two of us had these Bridgestones in the same sizes at the Gettysburg get together last year and no complaints were heard. If anyone is running these same tires and sizes and getting (rather than predicting) noticeable understeer please let us know. Tire patterns may make a difference.
Perhaps my next set will be 225/255 as they'll fit on OEM wheels without modifications as well. My other major vehicle is a '17 Ford Expedition so I'm familiar with understeer.
On an AP2, the 215/255 combo is understeer city, but I suppose it might feel beneficial on an AP1.
I would describe it differently. The S2000 tends to understeer if you coast through a corner. Getting on the throttle earlier can help rotate the car by applying more torque to the rear tires limiting the lateral grip available. The wider the rear tires, the more grip they have and the less that end will rotate - I suppose you could call that understeer, but to me, the effect is to limit how responsive the car's steering is to throttle.
If your experience is exclusively with front wheel drive, then this is going to be a bit counter-intuitive to you and perhaps even a bit uncomfortable. I grew up with rear wheel drive cars, so I am most comfortable when there is some ability to rotate the car with the throttle. Too much becomes oversteer, but a reasonable amount that is manageable is just right, at least for my preferences.
If the OP is not comfortable with a somewhat loose car, then going wider in the rear is probably going to keep him in his comfort zone. But if he wants to take full advantage of the S2000's potential, then I would recommend 225/255 or 215/245. In fact, the stock 16" rims with 205/225 would be the best setup to learn to use the throttle to help rotation - but I realize that's not what the OP wants to do.
To be clear, I'm assuming a stock suspension and alignment reasonably close to stock.
I would describe it differently. The S2000 tends to understeer if you coast through a corner. Getting on the throttle earlier can help rotate the car by applying more torque to the rear tires limiting the lateral grip available.
Although power-on oversteer is a thing (not really so much in a torqueless wonder like the S2k, but possible), in general:
ON the throttle => UNDERsteer
OFF the throttle => OVERsteer
Mid-corner, if you need the car to point IN more, you lift OFF the throttle, which loads the fronts/unloads the rears and gives less understeer/more oversteer. Getting on the gas unloads the fronts and gives more push/understeer.
09-26-2017, 03:30 PM
) on my 2006 car. This is the CR front/rear spec and they're not noted for understeer. Two of us had these Bridgestones in the same sizes at the Gettysburg get together last year and no complaints were heard. If anyone is running these same tires and sizes and getting (rather than predicting) noticeable understeer please let us know. Tire patterns may make a difference.
