was just thinking about the wheels i want to put on my polo next and i have a set of 15x7 e30 OZs that are running 165/50/15s so got a nice bit of dstretch :-)

My problem is, i like driving fast and hard, particularly on bends, and was debating wether or not stretched was a safe option?

so could anyone just kinda explain exactly how safe stretcg is, like, at speed and hard cornering etc etc

cheeers :-D

If you put those wheels/tyres on your car, you will certainly die.

If you put those wheels/tyres on your car, you will certainly die.

bahahaha. comment of the day.

Drifters often use stretch because it reduces the sidewall flex thus allowing them to break traction easier so no, stretched tyres aren't the best for grip.. I think you've really got to push it to notice a difference though. I'm running 165/50 on 6.5J's (minimal stretch on 6.5's, I know!) and haven't noticed any difference to standard steelies...

hmm. perhaps i'll just sell the OZs and get some Yokos put on my valver alloys then

cheers guys :-)

On a more serious note, I run stretch most of the time and I've never had issues, I've driven them quite hard but never gone mental due to them rubbing on the arch, if it weren't for arch rubbing, I'd be willing to push them pretty far.

Ah rite fair enough, think i'll just get some better tyres sorted for the valver wheels for now tho

Are 195s alright to run on valver alloys? as they are usually 185s..

10mm ain't gonna make any real odds, may get some slightly increased wear in the middle? of the tyre

hmm, only reason I'm askin is that I've got a mate offering me a set of 195/45/14 Toyo tr1s for cheap

its either that or 185/50s and the only items I've found in that size are Yoko's and its approx £230. for a set so buggar that

Yeah dont run stretch on a rim if you want to corner hard, run the correct tyre size. I run 165 on 8J rims an the grip is appauling.

195 on 7" will be fine :)

cheers m8, valver wheels are 6j tho

anyone know if 195s are ok on a 6j wheel or not?

After a quick search on google, 195's on 6J will be fine

I have 195 on 15x7 only for the winter, i hate them purely because they look ugly! They grip like mad but stretch is better so they go on new wheels as soon as spring comes

Stretch, depending on how much can cause some handling issues, but very minimal.

To be honest, if you know you're going to be pushing it and want good handling, get yourself some decent tyres that are the right size tbh.

Yeah dont run stretch on a rim if you want to corner hard, run the correct tyre size. I run 165 on 8J rims an the grip is appauling.

roundabouts ahahah

i got 185/45 (nankangs) and a 8.5" rim! I'm still alive :)

(altho tooth ache is slowly killing me)

Tyres popping off rims is the horror story but I've never heard of it actually happening.

The issue is more to do with a smaller contact patch due to over inflation to keep it seated properly. Also a lot of big stretch tyres need mad PSI to get them on which is very bad for the tyre as it damages the internal structure and could cause a failure.

My personal experience of stretch on car's I've driven is they handle poop and as I like to drive like I stole it I run correct sized tyres.

nick

Grip is certainly lost, and pressures have to be constantly checked, too little or too much air and the tyre is gone.

How can it not be safe? a 165/50 on a 7J? thats fine for chucking around just do it, your just getting answers from grandads on here. Heck i have 215/35 on a 9J, perfectly fine. The tyres of today are all road and track tested, the walls are thick and can cope with the extra abuse a polo dosnt exactly weigh much more than a tonne. Dont listen to lame ducks forums talk utter rubbish.

STRETCH = SAFE

Even crazy stretch it takes like a 4/5 bar to flaming get it on the rim hardly going to blow off!!!

Dont try convince me.

Edited 18 December, 200916 yr by polochris20

165 is fine on an 7j wheel.

Ed (wellse) runs 165 on 7.5J OZ Turbos, but that's because he's G.

Another lad I know runs 165 50 15 on 8.5's.

STRETCH = SAFE

To be honest from my experience I have to agree with that. I thought my tyres would be fairly dangerous but I've run them for 10k+ with no issues whatsoever, apart from lack of grip (probably due to them being budget nankangs ). I have seen rare cases of stretched tyres blowing out, but with every tyre there's possibilities of blowouts, so it's to be expected really. I'd like to know whether stretch actually does increase the likelihood of blowouts and the like....

165/50 on an 8.5 must be hella stretch!

Even so.. yes you need a large amount of air to pop the tyre onto the rim, but you dont need to run stupid pressures inside the tyre..

I ran 195/45 on 9j's and never had 1 issue in a year of driving (hard to be fair).. the bead was seated and wasnt leaking any air, so i ran normal PSI in the tyres.

The only real dangers are popping the tyre off, if you're running serious amount of stretch and hit a pot hole or something, and obviosuly with almost no sidewall flex the handling will be sketchy..

Dont be put of by the horror theories mate it's not half as bad as people make out..

yer fine no worries at all, i sling mine about on 165's on 7j wheels and its spot on!

You're obviously not pushing it hard enough!

165/50 on an 8.5 must be hella stretch!

Even so.. yes you need a large amount of air to pop the tyre onto the rim, but you dont need to run stupid pressures inside the tyre..

I ran 195/45 on 9j's and never had 1 issue in a year of driving (hard to be fair).. the bead was seated and wasnt leaking any air, so i ran normal PSI in the tyres.

The only real dangers are popping the tyre off, if you're running serious amount of stretch and hit a pot hole or something, and obviosuly with almost no sidewall flex the handling will be sketchy..

Dont be put of by the horror theories mate it's not half as bad as people make out..

I agree. You here of people using like 40psi in there tyres cause there stretched but its not needed. It will just make even less contact on the road.

I've got 165/50/15s on 7s at the moment and they are fine in the dry. But at the moment in this snowy weather on a car the size and weight of a Vento they aren't fun. Has a tendency to slide about a bit. If you don't have them on the car now I'd say just wait till the weather cheers up a bit. I never have issues with them in the wet (but I don't really push the car at all, I just potter about in it miss daisy style). But in the snow even just pottering about can be a bit of an issue.