Stretching tires??

[Boosted Euro]

Being a VW guy... I get this question allot from non European car drivers and also new kids just getting into VW/Euro scene.

"Why do they stretch a skinny tire on a wide wheel?"
and
"that doesn't look safe"

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2234638

I found this thread on vortex that explains about this "LOOK". I know it's not for everyone and this thread will probably get cluttered with people saying it's stupid. But I put it in the tech section just to help inform people not to say everyone should do it.

Whether it's safe or not is always an argument but I think it comes down to how much you stretch the tire. There is always a line and someone crossing it.

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

Hear is a video with alot of stretched wheel/ rim combo's not on the car though I'm working on getting some pic up of them on cars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pcli-xVfGjo

[4u2nvme]

Good to know, I've always wondered.

[Boosted Euro]

I do belive we have the same restriction here in the states.... that the tread can't stick out the fender. That is why trucks put on fender flairs.

[Boosted Euro]

Hear are some pics of stretched tires you can see how the point it to allow the rim to stick passed the fender but the tire tread not to.













Not just for euro's.... JDM stretch?

[r32dub88]

yuk!

Like i always say "Function > Form"

[Boosted Euro]

Yea... I like a little stretch but not allot.

[packofqtips]

as a mechanic i would not do that for a customer

[katzenjammer84]

I'm not a fan of it myself. The tires ability to successfully "shed" heat must be reduced greatly. Plus the handling must be interesting.

[OVRBST]

Not a fan either, but again, different strokes for.... well, you know.

It's like bagged trucks, or lead sled's. They look awesome, win car shows/cruise nights, but there's no performance or motorsport lateral to them (generalizing here fellas).

I like wide wheels... and LOOOOVE wide tires . Yin and Yang in my book

[civic si hb]

I agree 100% with Alex by far....

[sciff5]

that first vw with the purple rims is gayer than aids


Seriously though it looks flat out dangerous. People give me #!#!#!#! saying its dangerous to put too wide a tire on a rim when I use a tire designed for a rim half an inch wider but that looks like an accident waiting to happen. The others arent so bad

[EuroTrash]

The beads are plenty strong, but the look is retarded.

I plan to run 225 series tires on a 8.5" rim, I wish I could go wider without rubbing. That is the most id ever stretch myself.

[PlastikAvenger]

sigh...im not a huge fan of the stretch...but it looks ok when done right



and pretty sure that first gti is quite nicely executed actually

[N9nefiveAccord]

stretching a tire is probably one of the best looking things i've seen done to a lowered car IMO. the low offset, slammed stance just makes the car look so mean.

[D-BlockEK9]

stretching a tire is probably one of the best looking things i've seen done to a lowered car IMO. the low offset, slammed stance just makes the car look so mean.

times ****in 2