Tyre Stretch??

[crimeblitz]

hey guys,
just a question about something i saw whilst out and about the other day. Is stretching a tyre accross the rim safe? How much stretch is to much? Im not planning on doing this myself but i was just curious after seeing this leons tyres.

that looks verging on the unsafe to me but i really dont know anything about it, what do the stretchers among you know?

 

[m0rk]

Two answers

People with stretch tyres "mine are OK, I just don't drive hard, or ever take evasive action"

People without "Stupid, because you can't avoid evasive action and the tyre could pop off"

There's "mild stretch" which is one thing, and then people take it to the extreme, which is where it is dangerous.

 

[ReDBull]

This is a real can of worms you're opening there. Most tyer manufactures have max/min tyer to rim recommendations. Am I right in thinking the stretch look goes back to Japan in the 70/80's street racing and drifting? On some other VAG sites people say they drive there cars hard with a decent stretch with no problems. It's not for me though function over form.

 

[crimeblitz]

So what's your opinions on theft above stretch? I still think a slight sideways jar and its all over

 

[m0rk]

Reduced rear grip would be my concern. That's why the drifto's do it (that & clearance)

Not appropriate for a road car IMO

 

[ReDBull]

I just couldn't do it and drive around with my kids in the car.

 

[Applemobile]

You have to take into account the size of the seat on the rim. Some wheels are more suited to stretch that others. The picture in question looks about just on the safe point, about the a
Same stretch as me, and I have driven very hard on them. Stretched tyres have zero roll, so IMO are far safer when driving hard than standard ballon tyres.

 

[oldskool]

looks sick. Not the cool kind either.

 

[ReDBull]

You have to take into account the size of the seat on the rim. Some wheels are more suited to stretch that others. The picture in question looks about just on the safe point, about the a
Same stretch as me, and I have driven very hard on them. Stretched tyres have zero roll, so IMO are far safer when driving hard than standard ballon tyres.

Why don't they use stretched tyers in motorsport then?

 

[Applemobile]

They do? Drifting is a motorsport, hi use of stretched tyres there. And if you look at track cars, they often use a very light stretch or at least neutral.

 

[ReDBull]

Don't they use it in drifting to reduce the grip there by allowing them to drift?

 

[Al]

Tyre manufacturers spend millions researching and developing tyres. These tyres are fitted to every type of road car from Fiat to Ferarri. None come with any kind of stretch from the factory because they are not designed to be fitted or work like that. This is true for all road cars from cars with a top speed of 100mph - 250mph.

Sure, there may be ways tyres can be fitted to reduce roll for things like drifting, but they are taking advantage of using the tyre incorrectly for another reason.

Anyone who stretches tyres on a road car is doing it to attain a specific look regardless of any possible negative effect having the tyres fitted that way has on the running of the car.

At the end of the day, I would sooner trust a tyre manufacturer and their engineering knowhow over some testosterone filled young adult who thinks he knows better.

 

[UncleFester]

They do? Drifting is a motorsport

That's like saying Joyriders are pre qualified racing drivers.

 

[tyrer]

Love a good stretch, on the right car at the right height with the right stretch BUT most people don't do the whole package.

I mean STANCE is a word people throw about, to get proper stance then it's alot more than low/space. Tyre stretching is needed for real stance.

That leon is too high for stretch tyres IMO

 

[LEE69]

Competing against others is a sport and they do it in motors

Edit for wiki input

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorsport

Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition

 

[drka-drka]

Stretching is cool as feck, if you do it the 'scene' queen comes and gives you a medal.

But again crazy stretch just looks scary

 

[UncleFester]

Competing against others is a sport and they do it in motors

Edit for wiki input

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorsport

Drift racing is more like entertainment than 'motorsport' per se although i'm splitting hairs. If someone was using stretched tyres in F1 then that would give some credibility, that a group of nutters use it whilst going sideways as easily and as frequently as possible lends no credence to their use on a road car as a safety feature.

 

[drka-drka]

Every form of motorsport is entertainment tho aint it?

groups of nutters going sideways...rallying? kinda same bracket their nutters. Drifting has really taken off and is starting to get reconised alot more and has real championships all over the world

 

[UncleFester]

Every form of motorsport is entertainment tho aint it?

groups of nutters going sideways...rallying? kinda same bracket there nutters. Drifting has really taken off and is starting to get reconised alot more and has real championships all over the world

But you don't drive like that on the road do you. That's the point. And stretched tyres might look 'cool' but it's not a safety feature in any way shape or form.

Seen a lad pull up here the other day, stretched tyres, low as you like ... spent 5 minutes grounding out turning around in my drive way to rescue his mate who had torn his sump off on a bump in the road around the corner. Both cars low, both stanced, both running a bit of 'poke'.

As a means of extracting oerformance out of your car, it's an epic fail IMO.

 

[drka-drka]

But you don't drive like that on the road do you. That's the point. And stretched tyres might look 'cool' but it's not a safety feature in any way shape or form.

Seen a lad pull up here the other day, stretched tyres, low as you like ... spent 5 minutes grounding out turning around in my drive way to rescue his mate who had torn his sump off on a bump in the road around the corner. Both cars low, both stanced, both running a bit of 'poke'.

As a means of extracting oerformance out of your car, it's an epic fail IMO.

But you dont drive like any form of motorsport on the road(Touring cars, Rally, F1...if you happen to have a F1 car kicking around) as that would be speeding and thats naughty.

Agreed its not a safety feature at all, but not all forms of stretch are super dangerous(some agreed are just stupid) For example my stretched tyres on my merc wheels have a limit from which the manufacture say they are happly the tyres will perform, like my rear wheels 9.5j wide the tyres should fit in normal 7.5j but Falken say they are happy for them tyres to be fitted up to 9j width rims. With Falken being big part of drifting too they know stretching goes on. But agreed that i sometimes look at some tyres and thinking that cant be safe.

As for extracting performance from your car i know most folk who like this euro/scene fad know what theyr doing to their car will kill performance but they just dont care, It is a epic fail in that sense but a WIN in another. Just like how i think turning up to the shop in a normal road going car with full buckets, 4-point harnesses and a cage is super gay cause you look like a tool trying to get out all this crap and clamber over a cage trust me iv done it in a full track going EK9 not the best look. BUT i still think its cool for going on track as a track car