What are stretched tires pros and cons?

Last updated on May 21st, 2022 at 04:23 pm

Stretched Tires Pros And Cons are the subjects of this article: Are you having the thoughts of stretching your car tires but still sceptical whether it is safe or not? Tire stretching is a practice some car owners cherish so much, while some others consider the practice as immaterial.

Basically, a stretched tire simply means the process of making the wheel fit in and still the arch won’t be tempered. Getting a tire stretched is a way of adjusting the wheel without it touching the fender. The aim is to get a lower offset of the alloy. In your search on how to stretch your tires, it is important you also know how to carry out a proper tire stretching and where to get it done properly.

Tire stretching can be safe and unsafe depending on how it is done. The idea of stretching your tires is to allow narrow tires fit well into wider wheels. Usually, it measures from 1 to 3 inches to get a well-stretched tire.

Tire stretch: Getting an emphatic answer whether it is right or wrong to stretch a tire may not come straight as there are different reasons to that. But before you join the cliques that run on stretched tires, you should consider the pros and cons.

What Are Stretched Tires Pros And Cons

Pros of tire stretching

There are different reasons for tire stretching. They include the following:

Appearance. There may not be any significant thing about stretching your tires, but one of the remarkable reasons for tire stretching is that it comes out beautiful. How the tires appear in the wheels are so attracting.
Does not rub or touch the arch. Aside from the appearance, the main purpose of tire stretching is to make sure that the wheel does not rub or touch the fender.
Better sidewall control. It is believed that a stretched tire has a better sidewall control because it has been trimmed and can fit into larger rims.
Also, a stretched tire seems to be better than a sloppy one that is too big for the rim.
Better contact patch. A stretched tire has a better contact patch. Stretching your tire from 1 inch to 3 inches creates a better patch.
Can use cheaper tires: One of the huge benefits of tire stretching is that you can actually buy a cheap tire, stretch it into a wider wheel.

Cons of tire stretching

“Too much of everything is bad’’. Some manufacturers and enthusiasts may consider tire stretching commendable. Although the practice is not generally bad. However, doing it excessively can get you into trouble. Having listed some pros of tire stretching, here are the cons.

Cons of tire stretching

One of the effects of stretching the tire excessively is that it can result to tire popping off the bead while you try taking a corner or bend. This is mostly experienced in Honda vehicles.
Gets damaged easily. Reducing or trimming a tire so that it can fit into a larger wheel will make the tire wear off easily. During stretching, the quality is reduced especially, when it is done excessively.
Exposes the rim: When driving on a stretched tire, the rims are exposed, which can be dangerous.
Reduced tire grip: This is very risky because there isn’t much grip. It can cause sidewall damage from the road more especially when the rims are exposed.

Tire stretching can be seen as a ‘personal style’. If you need to stretch your tires, it is better you get an expert in the fitment industry. Fitment centers or industries are trusted centers where you get your tires stretched professionally. The services ranges from wheels, tires, and suspension. There are fitment industries spread across the world.

Stretch tires near me

Depending on your location, you can have your tires stretched at any recognized fitment center nearby. The very popular fitment industries are Dunlop and Michelin. They are located in almost all countries.

Stretching tires is known and accepted in some countries. In other words, it is safe and legal. But, you should also consider factors like insurance and the risk too before you take your tire for stretching.

Tire stretching is not new in the automobile industry. Getting a tire stretched is a choice. Please note, not all tire brands might be good for stretching. Here are top brands that are recommended for stretching.

Michelin
Bridgestone
Dunlop

Usually, tire stretching is done from the range of one- three inches and, most standard tires comes in 14’’, can this be stretched too?

14 inch stretch tire: The question is, can you stretch a 14-inch tire?

The answer can be yes or no depending on the rim size. But if it is stretching the tire on a rim of 15’’, then the answer is no. This is because it is not advisable to put a 14 inch tire on a 15 inch rim; the hole in the middle of the tire is quite small and would not hold it firmly. Nevertheless, you can put a tire that is either wider or narrower on a rim that can size it properly.

Concluding On Stretched Tires Pros And Cons

Tire stretching is safe but can be unsafe when it is not properly done. Whatever are your reasons for having your tires stretched, it is important you seek for an expert in the automobile industry. Also, it is important, that when stretching your tires, you use properly-sized rims. Most times, when the rims are exposed, it is as a result of not using the proper size.

Tire stretching is a personal choice and not a Trend. If you do not fancy the idea of having your tires stretched, discard the idea and stick to a standard fit tires for your wheels.

To get your tires stretched, you are expected to run or check the right tire size for your car. This would enable you get the proper rim size. Putting different and smaller sized tires on your car can cause a pull out especially when taking a corner.

The main idea of a strecghed car is to enable it fit into a wider wheel. The appearance is nice but does not in any way increase the performance. In simple terms, a stretched tire does not equate speed.

If you’re considering getting a Stretched tire, the very important factor to look out for is to calculate or measure the size, and height to get the rim size. To calculate this, use an offset calculator online; enter the original size and input the preferred size. A chart will be shown comparing both sizes.

Very importantly, if you run stretched tires, you must use a very high PSI and make sure, you have a tire inflator nearby.

Generally, running on stretched tires gets damaged faster than the standard-fit tires. Also, the tire loses its grip fast due to narrow tire diameter compared to the rim.