Stretched Tires Are Silly

Stretched tires are a bad idea. Though it may save money, look cool, or give your car special powers, ultimately it's going to reduce performance. By decreasing the contact patch you'll reduce grip, or you could use wider wheels which will increase weight, rotational inertia, and aerodynamic drag. You'll be losing wheel horsepower, increasing the amount of braking required, and be more likely to run onto the tire's sidewalls.
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[@lowslowfoz]

I feel like you're the kinda guy that will go to a car meet and tell everyone how wrong their setups are

[@anythingbenz4005]

+Kyle Jorcha From short ram intakes and loud mufflers to stretched tires and camber. Only ricers do shit like that because they don't know anything about cars.

[@anythingbenz4005]

T.R.O.S.P.O.E Yes there's cases where that stuff is used. In extreme builds, not in your little honda.

[@austin363636]

+DeltaForceHD he specifically said if used right

[@EPICFLAME98]

+DeltaForceHD your the only childish person here there fore you should be the person wit the honda and not any of us as we respect all kinds of cars and build but you just talk rubbish and then try to cover yourself. Don't talk shit about something you nothing about so if kindly sir take a seat and a pencil and learn something as your honda will be falling apart soon...apart from the engine they are build rather well..but you would know that now would you.

[@EngineeringExplained]

Only if they asked for an honest opinion, I'm a nice person haha. I don't really care what people do to their own cars, as long as it doesn't affect the safety of the vehicle since we all share the same roads. Personally I think the most important thing is that the decision is informed. While I may believe that function is greater than form, I'm glad I live in a world where not everyone believes this.

[@callanklimts]

When choosing tire size for my car I contacted TireRack about this issue. I could only get a tire that was less wide for my car instead of the OE recommended size for the wheel. Tirerack explained they had tested the theory of stretched tires and they actually allow for better road feedback (less tire roll) and quicker changes during corning (better/easier rotation). Now this stretch is minimal compared to "stanced" tire fitments. Youll see minimal stretch on new sports cars like corvettes, ferraris, etc. But on economical compacts, stretch is pretty non-existant. In my case i went with a 230 width instead of the factory 245 (2011 STi) that did show minimal stretch, but since i went with a road/track tire is actually increased contact patch (flatter) and was able to add a little bit of stretch. Overall: little stretch = better road feedback and quicker response no stretch = more tire roll, less feedback, decent responce bulging wheel (bigger than OE) = lots of tire roll, possibly more contact, but reduced feedback and feel lots of stretch = (as you stated) reduced contact, un-needed wide wheels causing increased rotational inertia, etc.

[@UglyBoy9996]

What is considered slight stretch was thinking of going with 235r instead of the 245r that's stock

[@omulduda]

what type of tires are you talking about? economy, normal or performance tires? with the side wall reinforced or not? I'm curious how they reached that conclusion (I'm not saying it's false or real) I want more on this topic and at the same time to find out the opinions of others to help me decide what to choose

[@briansmobile1]

Do a video on the science behind cowboy boots that are super long and pointy. I don't understand the fundamental concept.

[@doraemonster916]

+briansmobile1 it's for reducing drag while riding your horse, duh brian

[@justinfleenor3022]

+briansmobile1 ever ridden a horse?

[@CIRKULOK]

@tyler d. Look up where the whole thing about those boots started man. Im sorry to say that it was in the US and yes made by latin people witch makes me sad but it still was made in the US look it up as botas tribales

[@ScantSphinx9]

+briansmobile1 Ride a horse, you'll figure it out ;)

[@CIRKULOK]

+ScantSphinx9 they are made to tickle them

[@RalliRandy]

Will u soon be explaining wheel spacers? I've been curious about them and wondering if it affects the handling?

[@piero914]

+TekkenH3AT I would appreciate a video on this too!

[@bryankendall7068]

+TekkenH3AT They're more for looks. They do decrease the tipping moment slightly, though it's not a big difference at all.

[@JR113FTW]

+Bryan Kendall If you have a wide front and a narrow rear it would benefit tighter turns.

[@bryankendall7068]

JR_113 We're talking about increasing track width by 20mm, it honestly doesn't make a big difference.

[@JR113FTW]

True. would take a few inches.

[@19pirate70]

could you do a video on why racing tires like formula one and nascar both use taller sidewalls instead of low profile tires?

[@boxerliferz4678]

Thank you for the video. Great content and very helpful for understanding the draw backs of stretching tires.

[@frostyshakez77]

THANK YOU! I needed something easy to refer to idiots who think tire stretching is perfectly ok.

[@TheSigp220]

+Romil Singh It is perfectly ok. Just not for performance. Low and slow is still an application.

[@iPROFITDON]

+TheSigp220 or low and fast lol

[@GalvatronTypeR]

Stretched tires with ridiculous a extreme negative camber is stupid. It doesn't perform well nor does it look good.

[@paulyC]

+GalvatronTypeR Thank you! Hopefully the "Stance guys" finally realise that they are effectively ruining the safety and practicality of their cars.

[@85corolla]

I own an ae86. A moderate stretch and camber make the car not only handles better, but look good too.

[@TTime685]

+85corolla Sure buddy.. sure

[@85corolla]

+TTime685 Of course I'm sure. Slight camber and slight tire stretch have been widely used in motorsport, even in F1. Only dumbass trolls wouldn't know, buddy.

[@TTime685]

***** Slight camber.. dumbass. I'm pretty sure this "dumbass troll" knows a lot more than you.

[@TheGarandGuy]

Although stretching may not be that widespread these days, it's only real world application is for lowered cars, which allows wider wheels without the tyre wall rubbing on the inside of the wheelarch.

[@tdolan500]

It's still used in drifting sometimes to create a instant break in traction on turn in due to the loss of sidewall flex.

[@piero914]

+Terry Dolan hmm.. I didn't know that. Cool!

[@dropinbiking92]

+TheGarandGuy My car is damn low, but I still run good tires for good response on corners. 225/50/15 up front and 205 in the rear. Plenty of grip, and nice sidewall action.

[@BigE1205]

+dropinbiking92 Don't usually see wider tires on the front of a car. Front wheel drive maybe?

[@Wildchildinc]

Stretched tires are like the trend when people sagged skinny jeans...

[@PaulsPlace]

+CrushedJustice lmao

[@supplement420]

+CrushedJustice except that tire stretching isn't a trend and is done for more than 40 years...heck even my 1971 NSU TTS had stetched tires back in 78'. ...and fyi don't talk shit about "trends" when you upload videos about "hipstompadour"-styles in 2015. ;)

[@Wildchildinc]

If attention is what an individual seeks, it's up to them. At the cost of safety, lost in performance, and functionality, stretched tires are pointless. That's why I made the analogy when people use to sag skinny jeans. It's called stating an opinion for people to agree or disagree on.Zap le monde

[@hawkeyestiguy]

Finally! A voice of reason! Lol. Great video as always!

[@beersforyearsTM]

i heard if you put alot if cinder blocks in your car.. it actually makes your car faster cause if the down force but you can only go fast down hill.. and you can build a sweet wall at your house when youre done .

[@Tiz263]

thank you!!!! when I was autoxing my mazdaspeed 3 I went from a 18 to a 17 inch slightly wider at 8iches and I ran a 245 45 17 Dunlop direzza tire. I realize the tire was a little wider than the rim however overall grip was much improved and the only tradeback I say was I lost a little I transition responsiveness. I always thought real race cars must have some profile to the tires to act like a suspension that can be controlled through air pressure.

[@LurkerDanny]

thank you for making this

[@001Andrew100]

very nice video, what about explaining the science behind putting wider tyres on narrower wheels (bulging). It would be interesting to hear about the effects of the opposite of streched tyres

[@AndrewHeisey]

Curious to hear your thoughts on the opposite scenario. I've been running 225 section tires on a wheel where the sidewall is square with a 215 section tire. It's not an extreme setup by any means, but still curious the effects of such a mild setup or in a scenario where the difference is much more exaggerated.

[@3-E]

Stretched tires came from an era where there were very limited tire sizes. Stretching gave better performance by widening the contact patch. With the wide availability of tire sizes available now there is no good reason to stretch.

[@wesd3370]

+3E Unless of course you'r stuck racing in a class that only allows for 15 inch diameter wheels and street tires.

[@vegetoe01]

+3E Stretching a tyre will only reduce contact patch, never increase.

[@XxRoflcoppterxX]

+3E Didn't this start in the early days of drifting in Japan. They stretched tires on lower horsepower cars for a stiffer sidewall and less grip.

[@3-E]

vegetoe01 That is not true. If say the largest size tire you can get is Y and you have it mounted to a X width wheel. As you stretch it to a larger wheel it will force some of the side wall area into contact with the road increasing the effective width of the tire.

[@3-E]

Wes Dodson True but most now also have wheel width restrictions as well.

[@wheelheroes7902]

Hello Jason, Thanks for making your video's, I allways enjoy them.But what about putting a wider tire on the same rim? Like if you go from a 235 to a 245. You will have more curbprotection but will you also have better handeling? Rollresistance might go up but will you have more grip instead? What do you think? Thanks for answering, I would bz honourd if you do :) keep it up!

[@wozawayne]

Thanks for this video. That's right, my car runs on 195/55 R 15 on 6J x 15 rims, and that's perfect. As for the Mercedes Taxi E - Class W 212: 225/55 on 16" rims..

[@levidaniels585]

I'd love to see a video with the good old white board, about what the differences are between small block and big block engines, pros and cons etc

[@ryohazuki222]

Thanks for the video. I've been looking into this concept for a long time without a satisfactory answer. Needless to say, I have some questions and would love to hear the thoughts of someone better versed in mechanics/physics/engineering concepts than I am: 1- What do you consider a stretched tire? Tire manufacturers design specific tires to fit within an approved range of wheel widths. I can put a 225/40/18 Michelin Pilot Super Sport on a 7.5"-9" wheel and still be within spec. I believe if I put a 225/40/18 on a 9" tire it will aesthetically have a slight stretch. Yet... it's within spec. So when you refer to stretched tires, are you referring to "grossly" stretched? 2- I forget the name, but I read a vehicle dynamics book that specifically mentioned a situation where a racing class allows an 8" wheel width. In this case, it recommended putting the narrowest tire that fits within spec (slight stretch), as opposed to the widest tire that could fit within spec (slight crown). 3- There's a lot of debate on whether wider tires are better... to me, this video is related to that. Any possibility to tackling this subject? While this is a video saying stretched tires are silly... I feel it there is a point where too wide tires are silly as well? 4- Doing my own research of sports cars on the market, in general, sportier cars tend to have wider wheel sizes with narrower tires on those wheels (usually within spec). The more track tuned models tend to go further down that path. The most severe I found was a new Porsche 911 GT3, which has a 305/30/20 tire in there rear running on 12" wide wheels. I'm not sure the specific tire it uses but a Pilot Super Sport is only recommended for up to a 11.5" wheel. Anyway, thanks for the vids and the channel. Don't usually comment, but this is a subject I've been looking into for a long time without ever really feeling an answer was satisfactory. (Question being, what's the most optimal wheel/tire width?)

[@ryohazuki222]

+Ryo Hazuki Thoughts?

[@ryohazuki222]

+tyler t I'm still seeing more actual evidence and data supporting slight stretch. Aside from the performance cars. A car like an Ariel Atom (3 or 3s) isn't really bound by those same aesthetics and it still runs tire sizes with a slight stretch (within manufacturer spec). Bigger wheels isn't strictly for looks. Sometimes it is, but other times it's function (bigger brakes fit). Thinner sidewalls keep overall diameter the same. F1 is an example of a racing class running stretched wheels. Taking dry tire sizes, fronts are about 245 65 13 and rears are 325 50 13. Wheels are regulated at 305-355mm widths front and 365-385mm width rears. The figures for F1 by definition are stretched even at the narrowest wheel widths. if stretched wheels are so silly, then why does F1 force stretched wheels? Can't be that silly... Again, I'm more on the boat of trying to figure this out that challenging the idea. I can see merit on both sides. I just don't think it's as simple as everyone makes it out to be.

[@ryohazuki222]

+engineering explained thoughts on the f1 stretch?

[@20spray1]

I've done extensive miata forum stalking on this subject, the key is that you want SLIGHT stretch to reduce the sidewall flex/marshmallow effect. many of the people on the forums have found the 15x9 inch wheel to produce faster laptimes than a 15x8 with the same 225 tire. I'm talking about a stretch of about 0.15 inches. excessive amounts of stretch is a terrible idea

[@diegocalcagno5102]

You need to make a speech at SEMA. Your videos are really helpful. I love modifyed cars, but you have to be very well preapared for that

[@zhentrixcalipso2738]

+Diego El Manya LOL he might get shot

[@Rangifulla]

'Silly' is the perfect descriptor. There is no right or wrong when it comes to personal preference.

[@MrNicholg]

this vid was subpar in explanation of theory of ideal ratio of section width to wheel width to maximize tire performance, and consideration of sidewall height and other sidewall stiffness and tire weight issues.

[@ManjaroBlack]

I agree. I would also assume that a stretched tire is a smaller tire and therefore a lighter tire. An additional benefit to go with stiffer sidewalls.

[@zapwatt]

Thank you for taking a stand on this. Tire stretching is a fad.

[@ArchimedeanEye]

Losing grip is often the goal

[@VirusTornado]

Jason saying it how it is, taking no prisoners. yeeeeeaaah.

[@chrisdodging]

less grip than a tire that matches it, I agree. Autocrossers do this for a reason though. Autocross rules limit tire width, but usually not wheel width. By running a slightly wider than recommended wheel (not vw stretch, just like 205/50/15's on a 15x8" wheel) they preload the sidewall, greatly decreasing the delay in steering input. Having tried this setup on my own car, I can confirm it works, however, it is somewhat twitchy.

[@bigbas6887]

Could you make a vídeo, explaing the benefit or not, of upgrading from 17 inch rim to 18 or 19 inch rim?? About horsepower, grip, safety, speedo error and stuff like that?? Thanks

[@kaosaephan123]

so if your wheels spin taking off, would it be bad to put a wider tire on stock rims? would it not give more traction ?

[@dstrax]

if you run a moderate stretch it looks good and stiffens up sideways flex while still keeping the dampening you get from higher profile tires. with stretch a 60profile feels like a 40 or even lower

[@shivpalpatine]

i thoghut friction is not affected by the surface area? force of friction is coefficient of friction times normal force right? how does coefficient of friction change when wheel has less contact surface on the ground?

[@JuanDiaz-jo1rw]

Can you be more specific,,, so my stock wheels where 18x6.5 and my new wheels are 18x8.5 is this minimal stretch on the tire gonna affect me or no??

[@mibolefthanded]

Hi There, love your video...they always refresh my knowledge on automotive and somehow improve my driving...kudos and keep making great videos...pertaining this subject, the tires and wheels that come stock from dealer is always half a size smaller. Meaning the wheel is always 0.5j smaller than the tires that come with it (at least in the country i'm in... How and where can i find the info (beside the user manual and the tag at the side of the door) that the size of the tires i'm using is really fit the wheels..??? example, wheels 17 inch 7jj fitted tyre 225/55/17...where can i get the info if i want to change to 18inch wheels..? what is the correct spec that i need to mate with to maintain confort and reliability..?example do i get 18inch 8jj or 8.5jj to mate with 225/45/18 or 235/45/18..?hope you understand my question and able to provide some guidance...thanks...

[@MrNicholg]

Tirerack has specs shown for various sizes of every specific tire they sell. I bought a 225 Pilot Super Sport rather than a 235 because the actual tread width was the same for both sizes even on a wider wheel. There are other considerations, of course, but tires are labeled sizes like shoes.

[@DEWclassicgarage6206]

Can I know , if we are using stock tyre with wider wheel , how can we measure how many wide can use for stock tyre? For example um using my 155.70.13 tyre( original rim width is 6 inch ) to aftermarket wider rim its 7.5 inch width.. can that tyre use for mount it?

[@aboldone4264]

Finally! someone who understands that stretching tires is ridiculous and wears your tire down faster

[@cheetomane2144]

Does tire stretching cuase your thread to wear faster. Cuz i wanna throw 225 35 19 on a 8.5 rim?

[@oOKasp3rOo]

How about if I want to have wider tires on same wheel? What would be some drawbacks? By wider I mean going from about 225 to 245 with an adjusted aspect ratio.

[@nicke2307]

I coudnt agree more with you.... i run a mobile tire shop and had a guy complain about wheel vibration. When i put the wheel on the balancer I thought the wheel was on crooked but there was a massive bulge and the sidewall was separating. The tire was clearly stretched onto the wrong rim.

[@MrWindmad]

Interesting topic! What disadvantages do you think there might be from a slightly wider tire on the stock rim?

[@EngineeringExplained]

+MrWindmad There would be excessive flexibility in it, so it wouldn't feel as rigid/precise at speed.

[@vanislander420]

when cornering, a slightly stretched tired will provide a stiffer side wall essentially turning your tire into a trapezoid. parallel sidewalls aren't as resilient to a lateral load created by cornering.

[@ashrafkma1984]

what's your advice if I want to modify my tires at the rear on a Lexus Is 250 ..?

[@klaXXon01]

Hey I was wondering about the other way around like stock rims with wide tires eg. 17x7 rim with 235mm+ tires

[@gto1228]

Could you do a video about wider tires on a narrower rim (benefits and drawbacks)?

[@Henry-dj8dy]

great tips!! mind if you make a video of why Awd cars can't fit different size tyre ?

[@yahiaelgamal2668]

Can you make a video about the disadvantages of cutting springs to lower cars?! am trying to convince my friend to buy coilovers over doing that.

[@supervitz7178]

What about using a slightly wider tyre on the stock wheels? I've always wondered this...

[@GenesisGenius]

Great vid

[@Moisttt]

I came for his awesome illustrations.

[@Slowcarfastbeans]

Wouldn't the coefficient of friction remain the same regardless of the tyre contact patch?

[@es3502012]

Is 245 tires on 18X9.5 a stretch then?? Whats a good width for 245??? Thanks in advance, I actually want that look from a normal sedan, don't even want the tire to be vertical to the rims.

[@violetLizard]

A friend of mine came over to help me out with my car and also to show off his new stretched tires. Upon getting home, he texted me a picture of his rear shock tower - rather the giant crack therein.

[@DumpValvesAndDnB]

Now you've slated camber queens and stretched tyres... I love you

[@EngineeringExplained]

+DumpValvesAndDnB Haha hopefully not alienating myself, I just want folks to make informed decisions!

[@tdolan500]

You didn't mention the effect of reducing sidewall flex. When you begin to load up on corner entry it doesn't allow the tyre to move on the rim and can lead to snap over/understeer and it some cases a mild case of instant death.

[@i_smoke_ghosts]

0:52 "so you're gonna hav less grip" wow such precisely much slippy very drifty and i reckon stretched on nice rims looks gucci. wow such gucci many sideways very engine much scream such smiles.

[@mcs6979]

I wonder what would happen if someone tried the "stretch" thing but with a Superbike style motorcycle tire. Those can basically run on the their sidewalls. Would there be a net effect?

[@petervirtusio2439]

Hey can you make a video about hid headlights vs led headlights?

[@pastorofmuppets8834]

hi engineering explained! I have 19" wheels with stretched tyres from the factory. I want to improve the ride. Would fatter tyres (which are cheaper!?) do it? Would coil overs? would changing to 18"? thanks great vids BTW

[@marshallrhayes]

Assuming you have a decent running, and relatively unmodified car, to get a better ride the best thing you can do is change the tires. This is pretty much a fact unless you have blown out shocks or something lol. There is a reason why Michelin tires can run up to $250 a piece of 19 inch wheels. They grip well, are fairly smooth and quiet and last a long time. I would recommend going with a taller sidewall. This will reduce noise and make the ride smoother. Also, i would get rid of the stretch and just run a proper size. Reducing rim size will usually help with ride quality but that obviously entail buying new wheels which isn't cheap. Coil overs will likely not help with ride quality unless your suspension is currently jacked.

[@pastorofmuppets8834]

marshallrhayes thanks mate; since posting that comment I've put on 18s with wider and fatter tyres. It's made a world of difference!

[@QueenKymDaBoss]

Dude reminds me of the weather person 😂😂☀️🌈🌪️⛅️🌤️🌩️❄️☃️🌦️

[@sirlozoofbozo9086]

Some people like to stretch tires for drifting purposes in order to reduce grip and sidewall deflection. Gotta get that prius sideways somehow.

[@dannyperez2k11]

hey love your videos dude, very informative but has anyone else noticed you sound like Ernie out of sesame street

[@TheStig85]

Could you do a video explaining the physics behind why going over a speed bump diagonally is more beneficial than straight on?

[@Themayseffect]

+Mark Embury That is simple. You are limiting the amount of front over hang by placing one wheel closer to the bump which will allow for more ground clearance. Generally the trailing edge of the front bumper is shorter on the side of the car (closest to the wheel) then at the very tip (center of the car)

[@RobynTapps]

what if I want more grip but don't want to roll my fenders or have hovercraft fitments..

[@bushtailrazorback9797]

i hear in some racing circles that a small (read:not stanced) degree of stretch will help make the steering response better. for example on a 15x8 wheel a 205/50, on a x9 a 225/45, and on ax10 a 255/40. these would all be super high performance and slick tires with wider section widths as well, could you please address this

[@theeroom]

whats classed as stretched? 205 on 7.5?

[@hungder]

still dont know whats the best tire for my car :) Right now i have 9Jx20 with 245/35ZR20 wheels on it and it look kinda stretched. Do you guys think 255 wheels will fix this ? or 265?

[@MrRemans]

Do stretched tyres make much noose when rolling?

[@majdalmohamad4091]

How can i go for wider wheels ,without killing the car acceleration and stopping power,i know that i should get more hp first, but how much hp is needed for every additional inch of wheels width, so I need an equation to know how much i should go wider for every hp .

[@Antto]

So you are saying if I change from my old chinese made cast aluminum wheels to a wider forged 2-piece racing wheels. Put some stretched tires so I can get my fitment just right when slammed to the ground, I am better off with the old wheels, tires and stock suspension also?

[@EngineeringExplained]

+Antto Maybe. Stock aluminum wheels eh? Pretty impressive.

[@BADDTIMES]

+Engineering Explained Don't have to be rude, man

[@EngineeringExplained]

+Dylan Baddeley I was being serious. Stock aluminum wheels are a great thing.

[@BADDTIMES]

Henceforth negating the need to answer the question?

[@MrNicholg]

+Antto slammed? I'd stick with the cast wheels, forged two-piece aren't necessarily stronger in any specific way, but probably lighter in the same size. Fitment just right? Subjective idea, unless that just right fitment maximizes contact patch and suspension wear issues along with the slammed geometry.

[@4u2nvinmtl]

I went from 255 in the front to 275 and in the rear I went from 295 to 315. I was told this would increase grip but if I understand you video it doesn't... Odd because after upgrading my tires my 1/4-mile times dropped by 2/10ths of a second. Q: are 275's on 20x9 wheels considered stretched (correction: bulged)? Q: are 315's on 20x10 wheels considered stretched (correction: bulged)?

[@4u2nvinmtl]

+Brendan R Thank's Brendan!

[@Mylesruether]

its for drifting on the cheap. less grip= more sideways.

[@EngineeringExplained]

With the disclaimer "with less control and at lower speeds."

[@Mylesruether]

+Engineering Explained true. But that's what drifting is, controlling mayhem. is simmilar to that European fighter jet (can't remember the name, eurofighter typhoons?) That is engineer to be unstable but has buckets of computers to make it fly, so when it needs to evade it can redirect on a dime.

[@Ozmeister666]

+Myles Ruether Maybe thats the case in Amateur drifting. Pro drifters actually have tons of grip, they use very sticky and big tyres and have lots of downforce. This makes it easier to control the car while they just Keep wheels spinning with equally big amounts of power.

[@Mylesruether]

Schleberger oh for sure. But I'm talking grass roots, "how much can I really use this 60 up?"

[@Ozmeister666]

***** Ah you even wrote "on the cheap" in your original comment, sorry must've not seen that. So many People have wrong ideas about drifting tough^^

[@gkkamas123]

finally! someone said what i was thinking :D

[@McDylanNuggets]

Where did the things to keep in your Honda video go?

[@tyupton1719]

Will it sacrifice tire life if I use a wide wheel and skinnier tires? I feel like running this on track steels on my Scion tC for winter tires (stock wheels cant use higher profile tire) and then since I have the wide wheels changing the tires after winter and using a proper width tire on the steels on my other vehicle. Sound reasonable?

[@MrNicholg]

+Ty U. winter tires need a forgiving sidewall for grip to not be snappy.

[@pleasetakeasip4556]

It will not, unless it is cambered

[@MrNicholg]

I should have said snow tires, but either way, it's a question of extremes and actual measurements.

[@TWIRKNOLOVE]

+Ty U. It will not @ 0 TOE. Camber doesn't greatly effect tire life. Toe does.

[@64-bitMicro]

The thing that has been missed here is, for some forms such as drifting, the predictability and response in the drive is notably increased with stretched tyres. The virtual eradication of side wall flex has a very similar effect to a very low profile tyre with the disadvantages associated with low profile.

[@marshallrhayes]

that makes sense

[@chrisbrasher2693]

Then run a 30 series...

[@FrankFactor]

Exactly, it was originated from wanting to run a cheaper tire that you are going to quickly trash anyways and have the performance of a higher quality tire while drifting. It's an effective way to reduce sidewall flex. From there it became a 'fad'. Just like wings and tow hooks on street cars.

[@kaasimmir8971]

I understand a large stretch will have a significant effect on performance but how about a small stretch. I will be downsizing my tyres from 245/40/17 to 225/45/17. this is on a 8.5j rim and fits tyre manufacturers recommended minimum tyre with for that size of rim

[@Jnunez00]

You should be good it's going to be a plush fitment. Your new tire width 225mm (8.85inch) is slightly wider than your rims width 8.5inch, so your tires sidewall lip should be perfectly inline with your wheels lip. You shouldn't have any noticeable performance loss.

[@Tulliocity]

+Kaasim Mir As long as you are within the recommended wheel size for the tire, you should not have any negative affect on performance.

[@kaasimmir8971]

Great. Thanks

[@sirtrizzle6272]

Aftermarket rims can be lighter even though same diameter but wider width. Running slightly stretched tires is not a problem. The car scene right now is the major stretch for that fitment. I run 195/50 on my 15x8 with no problems. Many examples on forums as well. I would not want to stretch 165/45 on 15x8, that is just too risky and not my style. That combo has been done as well. It all depends what the driver wants for their car.

[@nicholashollow9410]

Do a video on how long wheel bases effect towing ability.

[@pootisspangle6636]

I've seen stretched tires on a Ram 3500 Heavy Duty, where the rear tires used two tires.

[@pootisspangle6636]

Also causes a very American thing to happen; The turning is slow, you have to yank the wheel more, and is hard to corner, almost falling off road.

[@Kamukix]

I haven't seen more than 20 seconds, and want to thank you for making this video. It's crazy what people are doing to their cars and justifying it. To each his own, but seriously people, be careful!!!

[@wilsonmlin]

I had to look up what "stretched tires" even were. Is this part of that "stancing" fad going around? Not to knock on your diagrams, but it didn't quite illustrate the negative aspects as much as photos might have helped. I wasn't sure which was stock and which was the stretched tire.

[@1Cichfishy]

Besides them looking stupid, they are also dangerous due to the risk of the tire peeling off the rim under cornering. Many states can hold the tire mounter responsible for damages for wrecks involving tire failure when mounted in this fashion.

[@Chris.Davies]

Stretched tyres are indeed stupid - but there are aspects of them which have a goal in mind. First issue is that a smaller contact patch actually increases grip IN THE WET. Normal road tyres greatly benefit from higher pressures in the rain, and I have proved this in my car at a race track, in dry and wet conditions. The reason it provides better grip is that the smaller contact patch applies more pressure to the road surface, and is far more efficient at clearing water, than a larger contact patch, with lower pressure. You are far more likely to aquaplane with lower tyre pressure. Stretching tyres slightly might reduce the slip angle required before a tyre initiates a turn, thus improving turn-in feel and speed. All tyres must develop a slip angle before they can change the direction of a car, and this is why low profile tyres are preferred in race cars. There's a trade off though: lower volume of air in the tyre reduces the ability of the tyre to absorb shock, and thus places greater stress on the suspension system and hence decreases ride quality. And this is why properly designed wheel have spokes which are hollow, and greatly increase the volume of air in the wheel and tyre combination. This radically improves the ride. F1 cars have massively tall tyres because they essentially ARE the suspension system in the car.

[@YellCalum]

Hmm so what about tyres that are too big for the wheels? assuming you can get them on the wheel xP

[@jwkpov734]

+Engineering Explained All Terrain Tire. BFG TA KO2 215/65R16, BFG suggest to put on 6.0 to 7.5 rim. I want to put it on 16x8 rim. Stretching tire by 0.5 is Too much?

[@JBPerformance]

my father told me that they used slightly narrower tires in formula 3 and formula lotus and historic rally and the other ones( he was a mechanic for marko mankonen who won legends trophy, and mika salo from the karting career to formula 3) so the tire would lean less in corners, any thoughts on that?

[@EngineeringExplained]

+OvalD Maybe so! There's obviously some point between stretch (and the opposite of it) which would be ideal for certain scenarios. You can also adjust camber to reduce the negative effects which occur during heavy cornering.

[@eagle_gr]

+Engineering explained First of all, happy new year! also, I think it would be a good idea to make a video about how rotating / unsprung weight can help (with diagrams and all), because I see a lot of debates of how for example a 10lbs decrease in unsprung weight equals to 10/20 and even 100lbs of sprung weight, also others comment that for every 10lbs of unsprung weight removed you "gain hp" and so on I think that it would be AT LEAST very enlightening for many if could analyse it in one of your videos :)

[@EngineeringExplained]

+eagle kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYOWn4muZsaUitE

[@eagle_gr]

+Engineering Explained I hereby stand corrected! thanks for the very fast answer :D

[@alfonsoValle21]

+Engineering Explained is there a video pros cons on running wider tires on say stock wheels is. 18×8 wheel then slapping a 275/40/18 tire

[@robertct06]

Forgot what channel but I think “The Tire Rack” channel did a video about this about a month ago and had faster lap times with the smaller tires. However in real life it’s probably better to go with recommended tire size so you don’t wear the tire fast

[@Zendail]

what about putting on wider tires? such as 255 45 17 on 17x7? stock was 215.

[@MrNicholg]

+Zendail sloppy

[@Zendail]

Vague

[@TickleMePinkGaming]

I was always told a stage 1 10mm stretch gives performance benefits

[@RobinKassam]

I know the effects of stretched tyres but are there any downsides of using wider tyres on smaller rims and what's the actual term for this? I ask this as I'm thinking of doing such a thing to my car but I'm not sure if there is any downsides to this and there doesn't seem to be that much information on the internet about it.

[@EngineeringExplained]

+KartDodger Haven't looked into it much, but it seems like you'd have a lot of flex in your tire, and it wouldn't stay very stable.

[@MrNicholg]

+KartDodger narrower contact patch, crowned wear at extremes, but mostly it makes for sloppy steering response and understeer. Requires increased psi to regain some steering sharpness, which will again lead to a narrower contact patch and tend to wear down the middle with less overall grip.

[@aaronhachmeister7922]

Stretching tyres will (if you do it correctly, most people don't) actually stiffen up the sidewall during cornering. If you see a regular wheel while it's turning, the sidewall flexes under the lateral forces. I'm assuming you know this but others don't. However, when a stretched wheel turns, the sidewall, which usually is straight up and down so it can be stiffer holding the car up, is perpendicular with the forces while turning. This is common practice in drifting, many large drivers do this, because it makes the back end kick out easier, and more stiffness and grip is used the car is sideways. However, this does apply to tarmac driving too and is not uncommon during road races as well.

[@EngineeringExplained]

+Aaron Hachmeister "makes the back end kick out easier" is same things as "less grip" and I certainly understand that on a budget, this could be a way to reduce traction and thus make it easier to initiate a drift. That said, it's not a method professionals would implement as grip is important for high speed drifting. Here's a video with more detail: kzbin.info/www/bejne/onLSl4uadsSJaJo

[@aaronhachmeister7922]

+Engineering Explained If you'd read the second part, which I did have a typo in, the grip from the sidewall stiffness is used when the back end is sliding, not when the car isn't sliding. You also never covered stretching tyres in the video, either why they would or wouldn't do it. If you want to see professional drifters with stretched tyres, a driver at the event, Ryan Tuerck stretches his tyres on the FR-S he runs. Otherwise look at Mad Mike or Calvin Wan, just to name a couple others. It's common practice in D1 GP for most drivers to do it there too.

[@T231Flexx]

plz do a video on why stance is a bad idea

[@nickamarit]

I think a slight stretch is good for steering response.

[@TassieLorenzo]

Stretched vs overstuffed tyre*? (*Australian) Is it better for performance or feeling to run a 205 on a 8" wide wheel, or to run a 245 on a 8" wide wheel? (assuming the ideal is a 225) A lot of autocrossers seem to stuff the widest possible tyre they can onto a wheel...

[@EngineeringExplained]

+TassieLorenzo I'm not sure, seems like the tire would be more flexible (wouldn't feel as stable or precise), but for minor changes it may not make a huge difference.

[@MrNicholg]

+TassieLorenzo more dependent on actual tire model and its actual specific measurements of that tire, the tread compound, and sidewall height. you can diminish tread width gains by needing more psi to maintain feel, which means slight stretch might be more effective than big stuffed.

[@gorrilaunit99]

As long as it’s within the rim width range, isn’t that acceptable?

[@Whoactua11ycares]

In contrast to this it would be nice to see a video on wider tires on narrower wheels.

[@gabrielsabode]

well drifting