I don't understand tire stretching.

[carnagexxxx]

I've been searching for awhile now between Zilvia.net, google, and some other places and have yet to come up with a good enough reason to stretch tires. If you want me to list what I searched I can do that too.

Can anyone give me any helpful insight as to why you would have a wheel that is 9 inches wide and put a 225 on it? I have come across a discussion saying that it "makes a 225 as wide as a 235". I can't make this math work in my head as I was under the impression that the tire-width measurement (215, 225, 235 etc) was taken straight across from the outside edge to the inside edge. In my mind I would think the manufacturer designs the tire to have tread slightly over the edge to take into account slight tire flex around corners which helps traction.

I would think that if you have a wide wheel with a proper sized tire you will get the maximum traction possible. The only other thing I could think of is that for drifting it may may the tire stiffer overall and might help you slide a bit easier. I'm trying to understand the benefit for other types of racing.

I don't see very many cars on the road or anywhere else that do this and there is few information as to the performance "why". I know a lot of guys like the look and I have seen some beautiful set-ups with stretched wheels. Maybe it's more on the west coast (a lot more cali people here than anywhere).

Sorry if this is a noobish question but I am a noob.

[Brian]

This has been discussed many times.


A. smaller tires are cheaper.
B. smaller stretched tires are sometimes needed to fit the specific ride hight/alignment you have.
C. for low power drift cars, it makes it easier to spin a good tire.
D. some people just like the look.



The end.

[240trainee]

This has been discussed many times.


A. smaller tires are cheaper.
B. smaller stretched tires are sometimes needed to fit the specific ride hight/alignment you have.
C. for low power drift cars, it makes it easier to spin a good tire.
D. some people just like the look.



The end.

Yep, this is it. lock thread, lol.

[Ca_laurier]

225 on a 9 inche wide, crap thats huge. I think a 215/45 is massive on a 9

but ya alot of guys stetch for fitment so you can get wider wheels. I went through a couple of pairs just to find the sizes I like on my wheels. I personally like having my car as low as it can go, basically to the point i start bending exhaust flanges. My friends even told me to raise my car so i could drive it and i refused till the new tires got here.

plus i love to stretch tires at work

edit, guess i should have replied sooner. brian hit all the points

[Brian]

Also, I should mention,

It seems a lot of guys that USED to stretch tires, now HATE it and think it is so stupid.

However, I believe that is because those guys now have high powered cars, so they "need" these big tires now.

try out a 225 45 on a 9 inch with 400 horsepower.... you'd probably say it was stupid too.


but me, 130HP. I LOVE 215 45 on a 9 in the back. it is just perfect.

[240trainee]

Yea, I love 215/40 front on a 9, and 235/40 on a 10

Love the way it feels, and I'm at maybe 300hp, so using feddys or some sticky tire, I'm perfectly happy with the way it grips.

[DMaxUSA]

Stretching tires are gangsta! Yeah it doesnt really add much to mechanical grip, but how else would you squeeze a 19x11 +0 offset wheel on stock fenders......?

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a369/Teknolust72/hippari_tire2.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a369/Teknolust72/hippari_tire3.jpg
*photos taken from 7tune.com*

[WISH ONE]

that wheel needs a 35 series, looks like a 40

[carnagexxxx]

I've never been too keen on just looks vs performance when MY money is concerned. Any hobby I get into I can care less about the look of something, I just want it to perform as good as possible for the amount of cash I throw in. That being said, I understand how baller an 18X9 wheel can be for some people but from me it isn't necessary.

I figured that power had something to do with it and the the extreme stretches were for show. At first I said to myself "How much curb rash do these dudes suffer through since the tire doesn't protect the wheel?"

I think this is what is great about a car hobby, people with a limited budget can find ways to make certain things work with an application they have their heart set on. It also adds to the uniqueness of the cars we drive and how we drive them!

As I go through the "crazy stretched tire" posts I see a lot of guys with crazy stretch and was thinking it was similar to the "crazy lip wheels" phenomenon for the past couple years.

[g-via]

... have yet to come up with a good enough reason to stretch tires. ...

there's where you made your first mistake.

[SoSideways]

I've never been too keen on just looks vs performance when MY money is concerned. Any hobby I get into I can care less about the look of something, I just want it to perform as good as possible for the amount of cash I throw in. That being said, I understand how baller an 18X9 wheel can be for some people but from me it isn't necessary.

You don't have to stretch your tires if you don't want to. That's perfectly fine with everyone.


I figured that power had something to do with it and the the extreme stretches were for show. At first I said to myself "How much curb rash do these dudes suffer through since the tire doesn't protect the wheel?"

Yes, power does have to do with it. Guys with 130rwhp KAs are obviously not going to spin 265/35/18 tires for any significant amount of time. Like Brian said, 215/45s work wonders for those guys.

As for curbing the rims... honestly now, if you don't drive like a super tard, you shouldn't be curbing your rims. How hard is it to go "look, my eyes just told my brain that there is a curb there, so let's not drive towards it, hmm?"


I think this is what is great about a car hobby, people with a limited budget can find ways to make certain things work with an application they have their heart set on. It also adds to the uniqueness of the cars we drive and how we drive them!

Very well said. At least you don't sound like those "maximum tire on rims" police, that goes around and tell all the guys that stretch tires that they're ________ and ______ _________ (insert your choice of expletives and other derogatory terms).


As I go through the "crazy stretched tire" posts I see a lot of guys with crazy stretch and was thinking it was similar to the "crazy lip wheels" phenomenon for the past couple years.

To get crazy lip, you either have to have a wide tire, or a very low offset. To get as much as you can, you'll have to get both.

Some people don't want to go through the hassle of putting on over fenders and doing it right, so they rely on super stretched tires, lots of camber, and fender pulling methods to pull that type of wheel fitment off.

It's not for everyone, and again, I applaud you for keeping an open mind on this subject, instead of going off on a tangent with the "maximum tire police" mentality on everyone.

[thejapino]

During a turn, a normal tire's sidewall flexes a bit before it actually turns the car. Its sort of like a shock absorber.

On a stretched tire, because the sidewall is already stretched, the tire's sidewall reduces that flex causing quicker response.

The difference might be so small that a normal person won't even notice but there is a difference.

[dynamicck]

The trend started in mainly in Japan and Europe. In japan, it was illegal to have your rims stick out past your fenders.
Sooooo, they stetched the tires, and cambered like a bitch.
It's for people to add bigger rims onto a car that normally would not fit w/ fat tires.

You might think it's stupid, but it's human nature to go bigger/better/badder.
Like watches got bigger the standard high end watches were 38mm, now its 42mm,45,49,50mm sized watches.

Girls gets implants, veneers, big ass purses.

Lastly, why modify your car? Cause you want people jockin/breakin their necks staring.

[carnagexxxx]

It's not for everyone, and again, I applaud you for keeping an open mind on this subject, instead of going off on a tangent with the "maximum tire police" mentality on everyone.

Thanks for understanding that I'm really trying to get the dirt on this and I don't want to rip anyone for any reason. By reading a few of these posts (and I really really appreciate the lack of flaming) I might try a stretch on my 17x7.5 wheels to see if it is easier to rip it with the limited horse power I have now. I currently have 225's on all around and they do give me some great traction.

[lilredstiffy]

i do it because the internet said so

[carnagexxxx]

The trend started in mainly in Japan and Europe. In japan, it was illegal to have your rims stick out past your fenders.
Sooooo, they stetched the tires, and cambered like a bitch.
It's for people to add bigger rims onto a car that normally would not fit w/ fat tires.

You might think it's stupid, but it's human nature to go bigger/better/badder.
Like watches got bigger the standard high end watches were 38mm, now its 42mm,45,49,50mm sized watches.

Girls gets implants, veneers, big ass purses.

Lastly, why modify your car? Cause you want people jockin/breakin their necks staring.

I like the way you put that. Right now I'm trying my best to get performance out of the car without spending on the way it looks. That said, I do have a really clean coupe with shiny factory paint that I am proud of. Once I learn the car (driving/how everything works) is when the body and paint get tackled. And yes, I will eventually get big baller wheels like I always wanted.

[dynamicck]

negative.
Do not stretch tires on a 17x7.5 wheel.

stretching tires is to fit wheels that normally would NOT fit.

[!Zar!]

At first I said to myself "How much curb rash do these dudes suffer through since the tire doesn't protect the wheel?"
Curb wheels?

Never in my life.

Only people who suck and don't know their car's size curb wheels.

Whoever can't park needs to buy feelers or some shit.

[Taniguchi_Is_#1]

I might try a stretch on my 17x7.5 wheels to see if it is easier to rip it with the limited horse power I have now.

lol. don't do that. you'd have to run a 175 to stretch on a 7.5. lol. seriously. put some 205's on it and call it a day. if you can't spin 205's you've got more issues to deal with than stretching tires.

[Matej]

If you don't understand it and look for performance reasons to do it then it's most likely not for you. Most people with stretched tires do it because they love it from the moment they first see it, it's mainly a wheel fitment/looks thing.

[Pank]

lol. don't do that. you'd have to run a 175 to stretch on a 7.5. lol. seriously. put some 205's on it and call it a day. if you can't spin 205's you've got more issues to deal with than stretching tires.

i bet he could blow a motorcycle tire on there
gsxr fronts ftw

[carnagexxxx]

lol. don't do that. you'd have to run a 175 to stretch on a 7.5. lol. seriously. put some 205's on it and call it a day. if you can't spin 205's you've got more issues to deal with than stretching tires.

Lol, sorry, I guess I should have been more specific. I guess the semantics of my comment were a bit off. I meant that based off this information I might try running a smaller tire and not necessarily a stretch. So in other words for daily I like the tires now, but for drifting the 205's might work better.

I don't usually care about the rep points too much because I know people can be 'tards, but I had to mention the donkey-porn photographer that left negative rep for my post and only said "enjoy red"... at least leave your name. Maybe try explaining what you don't like about what I said.

Again, I do appreciate the help from the mature people here who can help someone who doesn't know things.

[exitspeed]

http://theroosterstrikes.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/beating-a-dead-horse.gif