a look into this tire streching phenomena

[EazyBreazy]

why is it that people constantly suggest to other people that stretched tires are the end all be all for tires....and no im not talking about you niconauts. im just curious.. what is it that makes stretched tires something you would want..

here's my theory on stretched tires.

stretched tires do not make your car faster, they do not make you car handle better in the twisties, on the track, or at an auto-x. stretched tires do create a smaller contact patch when compared to properly sized performance tires. as a matter of fact, the only thing that i am aware of that stretched tires improving is the feeling and liniearity(sp) of traction loss when drifting. that is the stretched tire doesnt have any flex in the side wall so as it looses traction you know about it where as a straigt sidewalled tire(read non stretched) will flex a small amount before loosing traction causing a more durastic initial loss of traction. this affect is so minute that most 95% of drivers can not even tell the difference.

stretched tires do look good(personal opinion)stretched tires do leave the rim vulnerable to damage(fact)

what do you guys think

[Bronze MFP]

I don't drift at all, so the whole stretched tire thing never appealed to me from a cosmetic or performance standpoint. I like sidewalls that flare outwards slightly from the wheel if anything. But i'd rather have a properly sized tire mated to my wheel than stretching or bending anything.

[Nismo_Freak]

It's meerly a dumb trend to allow the usage of excessively wide wheels and/or wheels with the improper offset to be ran on the vehicle.

I personally think it looks stupid for the most part.

[chmercer]

first post is basically right. its mostly a preference thing for drifting. and it looks cool cause you can get the wheel like incredibly close to the fender since the tires dont hit on it (thats how i have it set up on my street rear tires). you can run lower ride height as well since its much easier to tuck a stretched tire. unless you have box flares or somthing whack, then it dosent matter, haha. hell i dont even stretch my rear drift tires because all my spares suck. if i ever get some cash to run decent spares i might stretch. i dont stretch my front tires though (right now). basically the only reason to do that would be to run a lower offset and lower ride height etc like i mentioned above, which technically can increase your track so you get less weight transfer, and lower CoG, so its not technically 100% useless, but in action it is.

[Nismo_Freak]

basically the only reason to do that would be to run a lower offset and lower ride height etc like i mentioned above, which technically can increase your track so you get less weight transfer, and lower CoG, so its not technically 100% useless, but in action it is.

Uh no.

There is zero absolute benefit to it.

[chmercer]

so you are saying that a wider track gives you more weight transfer, and lowering your car raises your center of gravity? im not saying its a practical way to better your handling, but its not completly bad in every aspect, only mostly.

[McRussellPants]

Some of the less agressive stretches are for better turn in, from a stiffer sidewall.

once you get into 215s on a 9J is when its just for looks and fitting big tire.

[Nismo_Freak]

so you are saying that a wider track gives you more weight transfer, and lowering your car raises your center of gravity? im not saying its a practical way to better your handling, but its not completly bad in every aspect, only mostly.

Don't attempt to argue with me, you know what I mean.

[EazyBreazy]

aww come on nismo_freak thats what this thread is for.. well sort of.

[Exar-Kun]

there is one -small- beneifit from running a slightly wider wheel than is optimal for the tire, it effectively reduces the tires aspect ratio.

this does a few things:-quickens steering response-reduces load bearing capacity slightly-shortens O.D.-increases the tires propensity to unseat itself from the bead-artificially widens the contact patch(slightly) by distortion

likewise, running a wider tire than is reccoemended on a wheel does:-increases overall effective apsect ratio-bulges the contact patch(distorts) usually to be longer than if the tire was on an ideal rim-increases the OD-increases the tires propensity to unseat itself from the bead

that said, I prefer slightly smaller than recomended(running a rim width .5" wider than 'ideal'), as it seems to seat very well and provide a bit more linear feel to a car, and always falls withing the tire engineers specs for approved usage. An example would be a 9" wheel and a 245-40 tire.

-Chet

[BaliLover]

I run a 235 on a 9" wheel in the rear for now until I can roll my fenders to clear my 255s. I have to admit, I just did it for the look, but I do know people with 2 way LSDs and Welded rear ends that run stretched so the tires don't skip as much driving through a parking lot.

[tm_kickz]

I run 215/45's on my 9" wheel in the front and 235/45 in the rear. I just like the look. The feel is nice. Plus its like showing off ur rims. Youll notice that the guys that dont agree have basic wheels/crappy offsets and bigger tires to accomidate for there regular style. Do your rims a favor....Pimp the **** out of em... Oh and Im 22 years old. Most of the people disagreeing on here are old farts that dont care about pimpness....

[chmercer]

I run 215/45's on my 9" wheel in the front and 235/45 in the rear. I just like the look. The feel is nice. Plus its like showing off ur rims. Youll notice that the guys that dont agree have basic wheels/crappy offsets and bigger tires to accomidate for there regular style. Do your rims a favor....Pimp the **** out of em... Oh and Im 22 years old. Most of the people disagreeing on here are old farts that dont care about pimpness....

idiot.

[McRussellPants]

I run 215/45's on my 9" wheel in the front and 235/45 in the rear. I just like the look. The feel is nice. Plus its like showing off ur rims. Youll notice that the guys that dont agree have basic wheels/crappy offsets and bigger tires to accomidate for there regular style. Do your rims a favor....Pimp the **** out of em... Oh and Im 22 years old. Most of the people disagreeing on here are old farts that dont care about pimpness....

215s on a 9J??????????

YOUR A MADMAN I TELL YOU!!!

[skydragoness]

I don't drift at all, so the whole stretched tire thing never appealed to me from a cosmetic or performance standpoint. I like sidewalls that flare outwards slightly from the wheel if anything. But i'd rather have a properly sized tire mated to my wheel than stretching or bending anything.

I'm with you. Besides, having the sidewall protect your wheel is a *good* thing.. esp. on a daily driver.

I run 215/45's on my 9" wheel in the front and 235/45 in the rear. I just like the look. The feel is nice. Plus its like showing off ur rims. Youll notice that the guys that dont agree have basic wheels/crappy offsets and bigger tires to accomidate for there regular style. Do your rims a favor....Pimp the **** out of em... Oh and Im 22 years old. Most of the people disagreeing on here are old farts that dont care about pimpness....

Wow...

[whiterps13]

another small advantage that i see is the price of the tires. a much more common size, like 225/40 is going to be a hell of a lot cheaper than a 265/40. just an example btw...

[Nismo_Freak]

I run 215/45's on my 9" wheel in the front and 235/45 in the rear. I just like the look. The feel is nice. Plus its like showing off ur rims. Youll notice that the guys that dont agree have basic wheels/crappy offsets and bigger tires to accomidate for there regular style. Do your rims a favor....Pimp the **** out of em... Oh and Im 22 years old. Most of the people disagreeing on here are old farts that dont care about pimpness....

I'm 21

Most of the people disagreeing on here are more likely to actually buy the wheels for the correct purpose rather than to show off the "pimpness".

[GhostDriver]

I thought it was either to be like JDM or for fitment(clearance).

[RB20DETodd]

great info guys, thanks!

[EazyBreazy]

thats what it is for todd

[Scooby24]

It looks dumb. period.

I like functionality as I auto cross. In auto-x we need traction. More contact patch = good

So stretching doesn't look good nor does it function good.

Sweet. That's so jdm tyte yo. Pimp that shyte. Go on brush yo shoulder off.

[DOOM240sx]

I run a 235 on a 9" wheel in the rear for now until I can roll my fenders to clear my 255s. I have to admit, I just did it for the look, but I do know people with 2 way LSDs and Welded rear ends that run stretched so the tires don't skip as much driving through a parking lot.

Hmmmm....i run 255/40/17 on a 9" wheel +35 offset on the rear and it doesn't come close to rubbing?? You shoukdn't have any trouble on a S13. I run 245/40's on the front on the same wheel 9" +35 with 10mm spacer(to clear the AGX's) it sticks out less than 1/2 inch a set of wide fenders solves that problem. I must say it handles nice to!

DOOM out.

[BaliLover]

Guess I should have specified that its a 9" wheel with a +20 offset so its a bit different from you. I'm also pretty slammed on a set of Megan coilovers. The 235/40/17s are so close to rubbing in the rear its not funny, and thats with a fair bit of negative camber. Once I roll the lip I'll be able to run normal camber and a wider tire, but until then, the 235 is fine with me and isn't too much of a stretch.

[RB20DETodd]

thats what it is for todd

?

[nismofly]

Do your rims a favor....Pimp the **** out of em... Oh and Im 22 years old. Most of the people disagreeing on here are old farts that dont care about pimpness....

19 here, you sound like you need a civic

[Exar-Kun]

I think the point has been established, and this thread just seems to be going negatively at this point. Locked.