Show me your WHEELS!
Anyone running 17" OZ Ultraleggeras on NM lower springs(33mm drop)? Looking into getting a set of black for my Eclipse Grey MCS and need advice/direction on tires. Looking for a good look but nothing too extreme since its still a DD and Boston roads suck as it is.
HAHA I totally forgot I saw this, will always remember that car because of the badge. You rubbing on 18s bad? Thats really my concern the most with the streets around here. Speed bumps, potholes, train tracks, brick....we have all the things that make driving miserable but I love those wheels.
2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
i have a 2010 mini cooper S and got a set of 215 35 18 put on them Ruff racing wheels
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Castle Rock, CO
Little help here for you Albany...nice wheels!
DOH! Didn't work for me either, from picasa when you grab the link choose large size(800) and then check the "Image only (no link)" checkbox, then grab the url from the "Embed Image" text box.
The URL should look like this...
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_N...0/DSC_2874.JPG
DOH! Didn't work for me either, from picasa when you grab the link choose large size(800) and then check the "Image only (no link)" checkbox, then grab the url from the "Embed Image" text box.
The URL should look like this...
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_N...0/DSC_2874.JPG
Last edited by schreinbo; Feb 4, 2011 at 05:22 PM.
1st Gear
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
1st Gear
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
other than just the Euro-stretch look, or this fade of HELLAFLUSH, stretch tires are a bad idea.
Positive effects of tyre stretching:
nothing
Show me a RACE car with race wheels and stretch tire going around turns.
Negative effects:
Rims left totally exposed to kerb rash damage
Tyres distorted due to being fitted to too wide a rim requiring much higher inflation pressures to prevent excessive wear on the edges of the tread surface
Rough choppy ride due to higher inflation requirements
Likelyhood of actually having the tyre coming off the bead if impacted
Higher wear rate on suspension components
Higher wear rate on wheel bearings
Poor directional stability due to wrong offset being used
now..Im not saying there is a proper way to do things..my things is.
it's your car, it's your money. do the what makes you happy.
Positive effects of tyre stretching:
nothing
Show me a RACE car with race wheels and stretch tire going around turns.
Negative effects:
Rims left totally exposed to kerb rash damage
Tyres distorted due to being fitted to too wide a rim requiring much higher inflation pressures to prevent excessive wear on the edges of the tread surface
Rough choppy ride due to higher inflation requirements
Likelyhood of actually having the tyre coming off the bead if impacted
Higher wear rate on suspension components
Higher wear rate on wheel bearings
Poor directional stability due to wrong offset being used
now..Im not saying there is a proper way to do things..my things is.
it's your car, it's your money. do the what makes you happy.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,337
Likes: 8
From: oh10
Stop driving your car into curbs then. 
"Wrong" offset
et32 on an 8.5 is hardly "wrong". That barely changes the scrub radius enough to matter on a street-driven car.
I don't know what you're talking about in terms of higher tire pressure requirements. You run normal pressures in stretched tires. I've been doing it for years now. Can't imagine why you would run higher pressures
Stretched tires have no effect on suspension wear.
Stretched tires have no effect on bearing wear.
Real pro-con list of stretched tires:
Pro:
Allows wider wheels
Avoids clearance issues and cuts down on rubbing...particularly on lowered cars.
Some feel it looks better
Cuts down on sidewall flex which decreases roll in turns. The same benefit felt from lower profile tires on bigger wheels.
Cons:
You could be using wider tires for additional traction.
Stiffens sidewall and thus stiffens the ride.
Some feel that it looks worse.
It's not ideal for your track tire setup and is more meant for street cars.
Rims aren't protected which should be a concern if you're the type of driver that drives their car into curbs often
You ought to keep your eye on the pressure to ensure that it stays in the recommended range (This is true of ALL tires, honestly).
"Wrong" offset
et32 on an 8.5 is hardly "wrong". That barely changes the scrub radius enough to matter on a street-driven car. I don't know what you're talking about in terms of higher tire pressure requirements. You run normal pressures in stretched tires. I've been doing it for years now. Can't imagine why you would run higher pressures
Stretched tires have no effect on suspension wear.
Stretched tires have no effect on bearing wear.
Real pro-con list of stretched tires:
Pro:
Allows wider wheels
Avoids clearance issues and cuts down on rubbing...particularly on lowered cars.
Some feel it looks better
Cuts down on sidewall flex which decreases roll in turns. The same benefit felt from lower profile tires on bigger wheels.
Cons:
You could be using wider tires for additional traction.
Stiffens sidewall and thus stiffens the ride.
Some feel that it looks worse.
It's not ideal for your track tire setup and is more meant for street cars.
Rims aren't protected which should be a concern if you're the type of driver that drives their car into curbs often
You ought to keep your eye on the pressure to ensure that it stays in the recommended range (This is true of ALL tires, honestly).
other than just the Euro-stretch look, or this fade of HELLAFLUSH, stretch tires are a bad idea.
Positive effects of tyre stretching:
nothing
Show me a RACE car with race wheels and stretch tire going around turns.
Negative effects:
Rims left totally exposed to kerb rash damage
Tyres distorted due to being fitted to too wide a rim requiring much higher inflation pressures to prevent excessive wear on the edges of the tread surface
Rough choppy ride due to higher inflation requirements
Likelyhood of actually having the tyre coming off the bead if impacted
Higher wear rate on suspension components
Higher wear rate on wheel bearings
Poor directional stability due to wrong offset being used
now..Im not saying there is a proper way to do things..my things is.
it's your car, it's your money. do the what makes you happy.
Positive effects of tyre stretching:
nothing
Show me a RACE car with race wheels and stretch tire going around turns.
Negative effects:
Rims left totally exposed to kerb rash damage
Tyres distorted due to being fitted to too wide a rim requiring much higher inflation pressures to prevent excessive wear on the edges of the tread surface
Rough choppy ride due to higher inflation requirements
Likelyhood of actually having the tyre coming off the bead if impacted
Higher wear rate on suspension components
Higher wear rate on wheel bearings
Poor directional stability due to wrong offset being used
now..Im not saying there is a proper way to do things..my things is.
it's your car, it's your money. do the what makes you happy.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,337
Likes: 8
From: oh10
A 225 isn't gonna fit when the fitment and stance is this close. You'd be rubbing and hitting the arches over every bump.
1st Gear
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Houston
HAHA I totally forgot I saw this, will always remember that car because of the badge. You rubbing on 18s bad? Thats really my concern the most with the streets around here. Speed bumps, potholes, train tracks, brick....we have all the things that make driving miserable but I love those wheels.
Never rub
Though ride can be very rough cause the roads around Houston are full of potholes. Im actually considering getting an extra pair of wheels , those x-d9's are very nice. 18"s please
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
/sigh
Look at F1 cars. Those wheels are wider than the tires. The slight sidewall bulge is to allow centrifugal force to make the tire stand up taller effectively increasing the final drive ratio as the speeds increase.
And on a side note: in a several hundred page thread in which people are (hopefully) striving for a proper stance on their car, do you really think anyone cares about this particular opinion?
Look at F1 cars. Those wheels are wider than the tires. The slight sidewall bulge is to allow centrifugal force to make the tire stand up taller effectively increasing the final drive ratio as the speeds increase.
And on a side note: in a several hundred page thread in which people are (hopefully) striving for a proper stance on their car, do you really think anyone cares about this particular opinion?
from my experience in the canyons and twisties... the stretched tire guys are always in the back of the pack, complaining about the handling characteristics of their car. it goes without saying we have never seen a track setup or race MINI with stretched tires.
i think the stretched tires look cool, but i prefer performance. especially in a car made for handling those curves!
i think the stretched tires look cool, but i prefer performance. especially in a car made for handling those curves!
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,337
Likes: 8
From: oh10
Same reason you don't see track cars winning car shows or looking particularly good. Different strokes for different folks.