You’ve probably seen dozens of mods before, from lowered springs and dual exhausts to suspension upgrades and forced induction.
But have you ever heard of stretched tires?
Stretched tires have a smaller width than the wheels they’re mounted on. In most cases, the size of these tires has a difference of one to three inches compared to the original or manufacturer-recommended tire size.
There are generally two reasons why drivers would want to stretch their tires.
The first one is for aesthetic purposes, which is arguably the most popular reason.
Having a set of stretched tires essentially makes the wheels pop because the fenders sit in line with the lips of the wheels. This setup is popular among stance cars and those with excessive camber.
Stretched tires were originally intended for cars to have a show-style look. Over the years, stretched truck tires have become more popular, giving off-roaders an edgy and dangerous appearance.
The other reason why people opt for stretched tires is that smaller tires generally cost less.
Stretching tires generally affects two parts: the sidewall and the bead. It also increases the risk of the tire cord blowing and hydroplaning.
The sidewall is the part of the tire that sits between the tread and wheel. It’s where you’ll find the tire’s size and construction details.
Stretching a tire will stretch its sidewall to the edge of the wheel. Because of this, the wheel will have little to no protection against the curb or tough road conditions.
Debeading is another common issue with stretched tires.
The bead serves as the foundation of the tire. It’s located in the area where the tire grips the inside of the wheel rim. The bead is typically made from copper or bronze-coated steel wires.
Regular tires have their beads sitting perpendicular to the bead seat area. Stretching the tires can mess up the bead’s positioning, creating a poor seal.
The tire cord is made up of several thin wires that essentially act as shock absorbers. This part is usually made from high-grade steel to withstand stress and improve vehicle stability.
It’s possible to have a blown cord when driving with a stretched tire because of the excessive weight and improper load index that falls on the tire.
A stretched tire will also be incapable of creating sidewall flex under normal and heated driving conditions.
Hydroplaning is a driving condition where water causes the tires to lose their grip on the road surface. Basically, the tires are left to deal with more water than they can scatter because they’re stretched to the point where their contact patch is smaller.
Regulations on stretched tires are somewhat of a gray area. Having stretched tires is usually frowned upon, but it’s not exactly illegal in most cases.
If you’re planning on sporting a set of stretched tires, it’s best to check in with your state’s rules and regulations regarding such modifications.
There have also been some cases where drivers experienced issues with their insurance plan because of stretched tires.
Stretched tires versus regular tires are deemed to be more dangerous, and your insurance might get voided or rejected because of them.
Now that you’ve gotten the gist of what stretched tires are and you’re sure that you want them on your car or truck, here’s a quick rundown on how you can stretch tires on your own.
First, make sure to have the necessary safety equipment, including a fireproof mask, a pair of gloves, and a fire extinguisher. Then, follow these steps.
Caution: If you haven’t worked with tires a lot, the following procedures can be very dangerous, so it’s best not to do it yourself. If you do choose to do it yourself, wear full face protection and wear thick leather gloves.
Step 1: Choose the ideal wheel stretch combination for your vehicle.
Step 2: Generously coat the tire bead with lubricant or soapy water to help the bead slide on the rim with ease.
Step 3: Mount the tire onto the wheel and lay it flat on the ground.
Step 4: Using the fire-seating technique, spray flammable gas inside the tire and push air into it.
Step 5: Light the tire up. This will produce a small explosion that will stretch the tire because of heat and pressure increase. This will seal the tire and have it sit on the rim properly.
Step 6: Use an air compressor to inflate the tire to keep the bead in place.
Step 7: Once you’ve stretched all the tires, make sure to have them balanced.
Note: Tire stretching involves certain hazardous procedures that require professional assistance. If you’re relatively new to this task, it’s best to take your vehicle to the nearest shop instead to avoid accidents.
If you haven’t worked with tires a lot, the following procedures can be very dangerous, so it’s best not to do it yourself.
– Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
Stretched tires aren’t for everybody, and having the right tire size is crucial to your vehicle’s performance. Here’s a guide on how to choose the right tires for your ride.
The tires that came with your vehicle are the ones that underwent a series of tests and evaluations conducted by engineers and manufacturers, so they’re probably the best ones to buy if you need to replace the old ones.
Tire width, size, and aspect ratio can affect braking effectiveness, headlight aiming, vehicle height, acceleration potential, and speedometer calibration.
If the original size isn’t available, the replacement tire should be within 10 mm of the width of the stock tire.
Vehicles are optimized for their intended use.
If your vehicle comes with high-performance tires and you replace them with non-high-performance ones, the carcass won’t be as stiff and the suspension won’t work well with the softer tires.
Under this circumstance, cornering and handling at high speeds can be dangerous. Using non-high-performance tires also limits your vehicle’s capabilities. For example, your vehicle might be able to handle more speed but the tires are limiting its performance.
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.