delcbr

thinking of getting new wheels at 8" wide on 15" rims using 195's so tyres will be stretched.
currently using 6" rims just now will it improve handling or is it just for looks any experience?

GC8

A slight stretch will help, but I suspect that Im talking about something different to you. If youre talking about a so-called 'Euro look' then its form over function and the dynamics are compromised. If youre talking about a touch over vertical then thats ideal.

billythekid

Its almost all a look thing, IME.

Racers may play around with tyre widths, most often larger IME.... but you will find that the VW "stretch" is miles beyond anything that would be of any use.

In fact, IIRC, the only reason this ever came about was because of an EU law saying the tyre could not protrude outside the wheel arch.... but the wheel is not mentioned... hence fit wide wheels and standard tyre.

I think there are some new EU regs (on the way or just come in) that should stop road use of stretched tyres anyway...

If you want better handling I would almost 100% say you need to be looking at tyre type and compound before size... and then I would advise you look at ARB and spring rates too.

HTH.

Jamz3k

...plus it just looks plain stupid!

The Dogs B******s

We have a winner

delcbr

one guy who was selling 7" wide wheels having 195's fitted says its better than 6" wheels as you want the wheel to be slighly wider than the tyre to support the side walls for hard cornering.my thought was get the lightest wheels possible so go for the smallest width for less weight but what he says makes sense too.
so might just get 7" wide if 8 is overdoing things.

GC8

I agree with the first line: he is correct

Most posters here think, by 'stretching', that you mean something like this though:

GC8

Btw: I have a 1990 Porsche 944 which came with 7" wheels all round and 195(/65/15) tyres as an OEM fitment.

RA Dunk

^^ lol, how **** does that look, like something straight out of some ***** gansta movie

billythekid

195s are the accepted size for 7 inch wheels on anything a bit quick though - keeps the side wall straight... 205s for "normal" cars.

7.6 inches to be exact. 205s are 8 inches.

AFAIK!!!

StickyMicky

Leslie

A medium bit of sideways stretch so that the sidewalls just have a bit of lean from the rim to the tread would stiffen up the sidewall and decrease the distortion of the tyre with the sideways forces during cornering. This would decrease the sideways "walking" effect or slip angle where the tyre moves sideways in relation to the road without actually sliding. The effect of the lean is to make the car feel more positive as you enter a corner, low profile tyres have the same effect to a degree.

It might also decrease any tread distortion during very hard cornering forces which will also help the tyre to maintain its road gripping ability.

Overdoing it as in those pictures above would be unwise and would probably actually produce less tyre grip. Pretty uncomfortable ride probably too!

Les

r32

Check with the tyre manufacturer and abide by their advice after all they make the damn things..... dont risk safety.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

It does seem to be overdone in the "Dub" scene, like a lot of car modding scenes a look is developed and then done to death and then overdone, some people think that more is always better, subtle is good and a lot of peopel cant get subtle, its like fashion, when you see people slavishly trying to get a particular look and its so obvious and contrived it looks stupid.

Gutmann pug

Is the stretching done because in Europe the car has to run standard size tyres, but rim sizes aren't governed?

belliott69

iTrader: (3)

run wider tyres, the more ground you cover, the more grip.

Jamz3k

If you stretch the tyres you must then follow using uber "stance" for maximum cockage.

vindaloo

Erm... It doesn't quite work like that. All to do with the footprint of the tyre on the road... Narrow tyres tend to produce a long but narrow footprint. Wider tyres produce a wider but shorter footprint. (Assuming similar inflation pressures and tyre construction).

Fitting wider tyres but maintaining the same diameter of the wheel/tyre would mean you'd gone to a lower profile tyre. Usually lower profile tyres resist deformation better allowing grip to be maintained at higher loads.

J.

GC8

...and: if the tyre is too wide then youll never warm it up. You only need a wider tyre when youre fully working what you have.

what would scooby do

ignoring the technical aspects ...


.. the euro look is retardsville

Setright

Rim should be 90% of tyre width for the handling sweet spot.

delcbr

this is interesting how they manage to stretch tyres without any tools!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xwfD...eature=related

dunx

iTrader: (3)

LOL

At least he has a fire extinguisher handy....

dunx

P.S. All tyre manufacturers issue a range of suitable rim widths for a tyre, exceeding this SHOULD ? invalidate your insurance..... IMHO.