Stretched Tire FAQ
09-17-2009, 08:42 PM
#1
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Stretched Tire FAQ
what is stretch?
- "stretch" refers to stretching a narrower tire over a wider wheel, the sidewalls stretch from the lip to the tread
why do stretched tires?
- well the whole thing started in germany/belgium, local laws required that the tire tread be within the fender line. well that doesnt allow one to run wider or lower offset wheels, so they put narrower tires on the wheel to maintain legality
- when you would like to run really wide or low offset wheels and keep the tire tread at the fender
- when you would like to go really low and not rub
isnt this unsafe?
- there hasnt been any soild evidence that running a stretched tire is any more dangerous than a regular tire.
where can i get tires stretched?
-any reputable wheel/tire shop should be able to do it.
can't you afford the right tire size?
- the tire that stretch the most tend to be at the top of the price list, so it isnt an issue
what tires stretch best?
- from what i have seen, the best tires with regards to stretch are:
toyo t1-s
dunlop sp9000
dunlop sp8080e
falken fk451
im sure there are more, but look for a tire with a rounded shoulder and a lip protector, they tend to give the "desirable" look
but staggered wheels are stupid on fwd cars, arent you worried about handling?
- its all about looks, you wont see anyone with low offset deep dish wheels flopping around the autox course.
what size/offset wheels are the best for a staggered look
- its all about personal preference.
arent you worried about curbing a wheel?
- one thing about running stretched tires, the driver tends to be a bit more careful because of the cost of the wheels, i definately drive more alert with the tramonts than i do my stock wheels.
feel free to post up your opinions, i'll add them to this post as i see necessary
helpful links
wheel offset calculator
http://www.1010tires.com/WheelOffsetCalculator.asp
tire size calculators
http://gs.tolan-hoechst.com/tirecalc.htm
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalcold.html
- "stretch" refers to stretching a narrower tire over a wider wheel, the sidewalls stretch from the lip to the tread
why do stretched tires?
- well the whole thing started in germany/belgium, local laws required that the tire tread be within the fender line. well that doesnt allow one to run wider or lower offset wheels, so they put narrower tires on the wheel to maintain legality
- when you would like to run really wide or low offset wheels and keep the tire tread at the fender
- when you would like to go really low and not rub
isnt this unsafe?
- there hasnt been any soild evidence that running a stretched tire is any more dangerous than a regular tire.
where can i get tires stretched?
-any reputable wheel/tire shop should be able to do it.
can't you afford the right tire size?
- the tire that stretch the most tend to be at the top of the price list, so it isnt an issue
what tires stretch best?
- from what i have seen, the best tires with regards to stretch are:
toyo t1-s
dunlop sp9000
dunlop sp8080e
falken fk451
im sure there are more, but look for a tire with a rounded shoulder and a lip protector, they tend to give the "desirable" look
but staggered wheels are stupid on fwd cars, arent you worried about handling?
- its all about looks, you wont see anyone with low offset deep dish wheels flopping around the autox course.
what size/offset wheels are the best for a staggered look
- its all about personal preference.
arent you worried about curbing a wheel?
- one thing about running stretched tires, the driver tends to be a bit more careful because of the cost of the wheels, i definately drive more alert with the tramonts than i do my stock wheels.
feel free to post up your opinions, i'll add them to this post as i see necessary
helpful links
wheel offset calculator
http://www.1010tires.com/WheelOffsetCalculator.asp
tire size calculators
http://gs.tolan-hoechst.com/tirecalc.htm
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalcold.html
Last edited by yellowxhoodie; 09-17-2009 at 09:07 PM.
09-18-2009, 06:50 AM
#3
nitpicking, but fk452. also ziex 912s toyo t1rs, dunlop dz 101, Fuzion ZRi, and federals (forgot which one) stretch very well. Basically anything that have soft sidewalls and run normal or on the narrow side. keep in mind, other than the toyos and dunlops and maybe the 452s, you'll get pretty bad grip.
and if someone says "stretching sucks, it's dangerous blah blah blah", keep in mind that people normally drift on stretched tires, and the tires they're stretching are usually fatter than stock anyway. look at matt powers if you don't believe me.
and if someone says "stretching sucks, it's dangerous blah blah blah", keep in mind that people normally drift on stretched tires, and the tires they're stretching are usually fatter than stock anyway. look at matt powers if you don't believe me.
09-18-2009, 02:30 PM
#4
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yea, the reason drifters usually run stretched tires is because the smaller size tire is cheaper and stretching the tire essentially turns what would be a softer side wall into a stiff one.
allthough I knew much about this, this dialed in all I needed to know 
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