Honda treading softly over tyres

The secret of the Honda S2000's remarkable handling has been exposed. The car labelled a Japanese Porsche Boxster is fussy about its tyres.

Following accidents in Britain, Honda has issued a service bulletin to dealers warning that only a tailor-made tyre should be fitted to the car.

The handling of the S2000 can become "snappy and unpredictable" unless fitted with the Bridgestone tyres recommenced by Honda. Indeed, Honda New Zealand recommends the use of the tyres.

At least one British driver is seeking legal advice after a crash involving an S2000 fitted with the incorrect tyres.

It is possible, the service bulletin warns, to fit what appears to be the correct Bridgestone Potenza S02 tyre and still equip the S2000 with the wrong rubber.

Despite identical sizing and naming, there are two other Potenza tyres whose internal construction differs from the correct model. Small serial numbers on the sidewall set them apart.

Honda's service bulletin says that this internal difference means that "no alternatives are recommended" ... use of the wrong Bridgestones can adversely affect the handling of the S2000.

It is common for manufacturers to recommend certain types of replacement tyres, but such a specific tyre choice for a mainstream car is believed to be unprecedented.

Honda in Australia and New Zealand say they have yet to receive any complaints and have no plans to issue a service bulletin regarding the tyres.