Konig Fit Check: Honda S2000

HERE'S WHAT FITS YOUR HONDA S2000

There are plenty of cars that have earned legendary status among enthusiasts, but few have managed to do it quite like the Honda S2000.

Honda's lightweight, rear-wheel-drive roadster came with a very Honda approach to performance. Introduced in 1999 for the 2000 model year to celebrate Honda's 50th anniversary, the S2000 carried on the legacy of Honda's S-series sports cars.

Under the hood, you had a naturally aspirated 2-liter four-cylinder making around 240 horsepower in U.S.-spec form.

The first generation, the AP1, was all about the revs. With a 9,000 RPM redline, it earned the distinction of having the highest specific output of any naturally aspirated production engine at the time.

Then came the AP2.

Honda bumped the engine up to 2.2 liters, trading some of those sky-high revs for a little more torque.

Power was sent through a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission to the rear wheels, while four-wheel independent suspension and nearly perfect 50/50 weight distribution helped make the S2000 the driver's car that it is.

And even though it's a convertible, Honda gave the S2000 a rigid X-bone frame structure to help keep the chassis stiff.

Add in a short wheelbase and relatively low curb weight, and you've got a car that was designed from the ground up to be responsive.

And, of course, if there's one thing S2000 owners have never been shy about doing, it's modifying them.

Suspension, brakes, engine modifications, aero, and of course, wheels and tires.

So let's take a look at what fits.

Factory Wheel Specs

The S2000 uses a 5x114.3 bolt pattern, with factory wheel sizes and offsets varying between the AP1 and AP2 generations.

For the S2000, we're looking at:

• Front: 17x7-inch

• Rear: 17x8-inch

• Bolt Pattern: 5x114.3

• Center Bore: 64.1mm

Now let's get into the fun part.

A. Slight Flex

Aggressometer: 50%

This is where we're starting to open things up.

You're adding width over the factory setup and giving the S2000 a more aggressive stance, while still keeping things relatively straightforward.

Konig Suggested Fitments:

Square Setup: 8 ET38–40

Staggered Setup:

• Front: 8 ET38–40

• Rear: 9 ET40

This gives you more wheel and tire without jumping straight into the kind of fitment that requires a ton of body work.

If you're running wider tires or lowering the car, you may need some minor suspension and alignment adjustments to get everything sitting properly.

But overall, this is a pretty straightforward way to give your S2000 a little more width and a more aggressive look without going completely overboard.

Shown on Hyperspec 17x8 ET40

B. All The Wheel

Aggressometer: Full

Now we're getting into the more aggressive stuff.

This is where you're adding significant width and starting to push the S2000's factory bodywork a little harder.

Konig Suggested Fitments:

Square Setup: 9 ET40

Staggered Setup:

• Front: 9 ET40

• Rear: 9.5 ET40

• Or Rear: 10 ET50

At this point, you're going to need to start making some suspension and alignment adjustments.

And depending on your tire choice and ride height, you're most likely going to have to roll the fenders for proper clearance.

Up front, that can mean flattening the fender liner tabs and rolling the edge of the fender.

In the rear, you'll want to roll the fenders as well, and you may need to relocate the rear fender bumper tab mounting point.

So, definitely more work.

But if you're looking for a more aggressive S2000 fitment while still keeping things relatively usable, this is where things start getting interesting.

Shown on Hyperspec 17x10 ET43

C. You're On Your Own

Aggressometer: Extreme

Or, as we like to call it...

YOYO.

This is where you're pushing the S2000 well beyond a typical bolt-on setup.

If you're looking to run a 9.5-inch-wide wheel or wider with an offset below ET38, you're going to have to put in some serious work.

Konig Suggested Fitments:

• Front: 9.5 ET38 or lower

• Rear: 9.5 ET38 or lower

At this point, you're looking at serious fender work, suspension and alignment adjustments, and very careful tire selection.

This is definitely not the "bolt it on and go" setup.

But if you're trying to push the limits of what you can fit under an S2000, this is where you're getting into some serious customization.

What About a Square Setup?

Now, what if you want to run the same wheel size front and rear?

That's where things get a little tricky.

The S2000's front fenders aren't particularly friendly to a 9-inch-wide wheel unless you're working with a very high offset and a carefully selected tire.

Once you start pushing wider up front, you're looking at things like fender rolling, bending the fender liner tabs, and potentially trimming the liner itself.

Or...

There's always the aftermarket approach.

There are several companies offering replacement front fenders that give you more room for wider wheel and tire packages.

Some stay pretty close to the factory look, while others add vents, different angles, and styling designed to work with aftermarket aero.

You've got fiberglass, carbon fiber, and metal options available, and these can give you the additional space you need to run a more aggressive square setup.

So, if you're trying to go wide front and rear on your S2000, that's definitely an option worth considering.

And as always, if you've got questions about your setup, drop them in the comments and we'll answer them for you.

This is Fit Check.

Quick Reference Fitment Chart

S2000 (AP1/AP2)