Stretching tires?

New to this concept and had questions. Looking at new wheels and would like to stretch current tires until I needed new ones.

1) Anyone have pics of 225/45/18f; 255/40/18r tires on 18x9.5 f and 18x10.5 r wheels?

2) Does the tire installer I go to have to have special equipment/experience in installing stretched tires?

Thanks!

They can do it normally, doesn't require anything special. Just gotta ask them to do it. Keep in mind that running them stretched poses some higher risk of catastrophic blowout while you wait for your new tires. You really should do it properly.

I would advise against it. Abusive, dangerous, and ugly.

Try www.tyrestretch.com for pictures. Ive done this on my old vw gti, it looks good when it's done well but that's the only positive point. Would never do that on a bimmer.

Originally Posted by e46mango

i would advise against it. Abusive, dangerous, and ugly.

+1

A mild stretch is okay. Making the sidewall bend in slightly is fine, but when it gets to where the sidewall is totally separate from the wheel lip then it's getting dangerous and ugly.

Originally Posted by WDE46

when it gets to where the sidewall is totally separate from the wheel lip then it's getting dangerous and ugly.

I'd say it is certainly dangerous and past getting ugly. Wouldn't even consider it in pothole country.

OP:

This is 225/35/18 on 9.5 (look on the front, the lip sticks out very prominently, smaller aspect ratio but you get the idea):






This is 255/40/18 on 10.5:



I'd say rears you could safely do, fronts absolutely not.

Originally Posted by Zell

OP:
This is 255/40/18 on 10.5:



I'd say rears you could safely do, fronts absolutely not.

This one is okay and is exactly what I was talking about in my post. The bead is still seated against the wheel's lip. This is probably about the limit for safely and tastefully tire stretching.

225/40R18 on 18x9.5


IMHO, rides like 5hit but looks cool.

those sieze arent a crazy stretch. but different tires stretch differently. so it might look ludicrously stretched or not.

+1

Those sizes aren't super crazy but different tires are going to all stretch differently. Some run fat, some run narrow, some run tall, some run short, some have rounded shoulders, some have square shoulders, etc.