47 replies to this topic

[timmy850]

http://tyrestretch.com/

[Tamworthbay]

God, all those look awful - although the broken ones made me laugh a bit to be honest!
 
Also, I call BS on the German racing drivers story...how can a wider wheel with the same tyre give more grip? In actual fact it would probably give less grip as the sidewall of the tyre cannot act as designed to when it's at 45 degrees!

 
No but it will prevent the tyre moving around so much on the rim. On a racetrack, with suspension set up to suit, this could be beneficial.

Don't believe this for one second. The major tyre companies have spent millions and millions over the years testing, if that was the case it would have become standard . The reason you don't see it on race cars is twofold, 1, its all about performance not looks, 2, you would never get it past the scrutineers. If you build race cars you look for any angle that might give even a tiny advantage. I know we do, in fact more time is spent on being within the rules, but in a way that we think others won't think of, than pretty much anything else. If it was an advantage someone would try it and being obvious everyone would copy it. The fact that this does not happen makes me confident that it 100% isn't the case.
If you like it that's up to you, but I am not convinced your insurance will be happy fitting tyres not in accordance with manufacturers limits. And that could mean if you do have a smash you may find yourself uninsured. Whether that is worth the risk is up to you.

 
Woahza, you really went all out on that reply! 
Loving the way you automatically presume that i am one of those who care all about looks, and not performance! I too build race cars, and rally cars, more of the latter but have had fairly major parts in some of the UKs most successful Time Attack cars, and i've specced several drift cars for the ODC and BDC, although that part is fairly irrelevant for this. Right, thats the willy waving out of the way then.
I don't know about you, but whenever i'm building cars for competition and conforming to regulations, whether that be MSA/FIA/BDC... We are always looking for ways to push the boundaries of said rules, not just stay safely within them.
 
Anyway, i too think stretched tyres are pants, and have never really got the whole point of them. I have seen overly stretched tyres fail on rims, but i have seen a hell of a lot more people standing around saying "No way should you run 215s on that 8j rim, thats so dangerous!!!" with the person there talking to having run similar set ups for years. At the end of the day, its up to you, be aware of the risks, and don't go over the limit, and you'll be fine. I prefer a bit of a bulge in my tyre choice, but oh noooo, i dont want to get flamed again!!! 

not a flame by any stretch mate, just looking at the facts. Read some of the replies on this forum to see what I mean! It wasn't aimed at anyone, just wanted to put a bit of thought into the matter without going into the physics where people start arguing one way or another. The people who really know work for the likes of Pirelli and Bridgestone, if they don't do it, its not worth doing. As I said, at the end of the day its up to the individual but I wouldn't want the OP (who I have met and is a real nice guy) to find himself without insurance.

[sonikk4]

Kappa, you can see from what everybody has said , the pictures that have been posted etc that you can make up your own mind about the stretched look.

i will close this thread now as it has now started to go beyond your original request.