Winter Tires

[eddielake]

I am picking up my new 2007 S2000 today. The care will have it's original tires
P215/45 R17 in the front
P245/40 R17 in the rear

Any suggestions for Winter tires? Not much knowledge on tires - do I need to stay with R17's or can I get R16's for snow? also - do I need to stay with P215 for front and P245 for rear - or can I get P215 for both fron and rear - and if so - what doe this do to its handling?

thanks

ed

[gomarlins3]

I don't drive my S in the weather so I have no first hand experience. I do know that you will need to stay with the 17's if you are going to use the original wheels. Many people will buy a 2nd set of stock wheels and mount winter tires on those to be used in the winter time. From what I have read, a popular choice of winter tires amoung S2000 owners seems to be Dunlop Winter Sport M3 DSST

If you choose to buy a 2nd set of wheels, the AP1 16" wheels will fit on your car. This means you can buy a 16" tire and possibly save a little money since you are buying a smaller tire. AP1 and AP2 wheels come up for sale from time to time. If you don't mind if they have a little curb rash since they will be your winter wheels, you can save a little money there as well. I have seen used AP1 wheels with a little curb rash for as little as $200, but look to pay about $400.

[eddielake]

I heard if you switch to a 16" wheel from 17" - it will throw your computer off. If this is BS (heard it from the repair guy at the dealer) - then what size 16" tires would you recommend (P215 or P245 or a combination)?

also - what does AP1 and AP2 mean?

[gomarlins3]

Your speedo may be off by a little, but that can be compensated by making sure that the circumferance of the 16"tires is the same as the circumferance of your 17's. I will try to find out what they are tonight when I get home.

AP1= Model Year (MY) 2000-2003
AP2= MY 2004- present

AP represents the frame designation I believe.

**EDIT** The site won't load this relpy on it's own so I am editiing this thread hoping it will work.

OK, from what I can find at the Tire Rack.
OEM 17" tires:
245/40/17 24.6" diameter/ 847 revs per mile

245/40/17 Dunlop Winter Sport M3 - $160 each. 24.7" diameter/ 834 revs per mile.
Tire Specs for Dunlop Winter Sport M3

225/50/16 Dunlop Winter Sport M3's $125 each. 24.8" in diameter/ 836 revs per mile.
Tire Specs for Dunlop Winter Sport M3
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It looks to me that the speedo wouldn't be off by that much since the tire only rotates 2 extra times between the snow tires. There is a difference between the regular 17" tire and the snow 17" tire which is odd since they are the same size.

[Java Junky]

Yup. 'Zackly like Go said. Dunlop WinterSport M3s. Finest kind.
N' welcome aboard ed.
May the road ahead be twisty n' free of traffic . . n' motorhead cops in Hemi-Chargers. (They wanna keep all the fun to 'emselves)
Be well.
Java

[S2000dude]

Welcome Eddie. I'd ask where you are living. Here in NJ winters are relatively mild and big snow fall isn't an issue. I bought Hankook W300s through Discount Tire. Price was reasonable and they do the job for driving here in the Garden State. For me the Dunlop's woulda been over kill.

[gomarlins3]

For some reason the site would not let me post my info down here, so I had to edit my post above with the tire info I found. I hope it helps.

[eddielake]

thanks for all the replys - and the welcome to the S2000 club...In doing more tire research - and looking at the specs on the 2007 - the rear rims are 17 x 8.5 and the front are 17 x 7. If I stay with 17" tires/wheels - don;t I also need to stay with the same width rims? I see a lot of 17 x 8 rims - but don't I need to really get the 17 x 8.5?
I found rims in the 17x7 and 17x8.5 that fit on a 2005 s2000 - would this be OK for the 2007? I also agree that the Dunlops wintersport M3 look the best for about $600 for 4 tires - but it is harder to find the 215/45R17 then the 245/40R17 Dunlops.
Do all agree if I went for the 2005 S2000 rims (17x7 and 17x8.5) and the four sets of Dunlop M3's - I should be ready to go in the snow?
I really don't want to get the 16" tires/wheels if I can avoid it. I figure the 17" set of tires/wheels will run about $1300. ouch.... just for the few times it gets bad here in CHARLOTTESVILLE VA.
Ed

[Java Junky]

Ed, The '05 rims'll work fine. There have been no changes in offset r' width between '04 n' '07 to the best of my knowledge n' if you're pickin' up the rubber at TireRack you can check.
Not for nothin', you can sit there all day when the weather's fine n' question the wisdom of spendin' the cash on the winter hoops n' rims.
But put yourself into a situation where the snow's on the ground n' you've prepared for it by fittin' Stewie out in those hoops n' rims. Totally different mindset.
I might not need the Dunlops for everyday that I drive in winter (mine's a daily driver), but when I need 'em they're there for me. When you need 'em there's no question that the money's well spent.
Oh, n' stick with the 17s. There're days when the roads're clear, winter r' not, n' runnin' 16s'll hamstring ya like an ankle-shackled perp.
Be well.
Java

[gomarlins3]

Originally Posted by eddielake

I really don't want to get the 16" tires/wheels if I can avoid it. I figure the 17" set of tires/wheels will run about $1300. ouch.... just for the few times it gets bad here in CHARLOTTESVILLE VA.
Ed

It's too bad you didn't post this a month ago, I sold a set of OEM 17" wheels with some curb rash for $200 plus shipping.

Since you are having 2nd thoughts about the 16" wheels on your car, stick with the 17" wheels.

[Java Junky]

Aaay Ed . . jus' a thought: you're in Charlotte n' we jus' entered February of what's. so far, been a pretty mild winter (watch Ma Nature make me pay fer sayin' that). I'm sure you've been wonderin' 'bout jus' seein' how things play out.
At this point in time it's definitely somethin' ta think about.
Who knows? Sometime later this year someone may jus' up n' give you a full set'a winter wheels n' hoops. Not bloody likely, but one neva know, do one?
Be well.
Java