Hey guys, I just got a mini a few days ago. I got it for a pretty decent price, but the tires need to be changed pretty soon. If I got tires now, would I be able to stretch them after? I've read that it's a bad idea but I've also read that it's ok. I currently have the basic 16" wheels and would like to get 17" later. thanks in advance!

 

You cannot use a 16" tire on a 17" wheel.

 

Could you clarify this a bit. Although tires are rubber, I don't understand what you mean by "stretch".

I assume that you understand that tires are not like jeans that some choose to buy too small and then stretch them over a body that they were never meant to fit.

 

The sidewalls on run flats are extremely stiff. They won't give enough to stretch much. Good luck and post pics if you get it done

 

sorry but a tire will not fit on a rim that is 1inch too big...there is a steel band called a bead that is around the edge of a tire....
trying this on truck/car rim with a 1/2 size diff is crazy....
i bet you have heard of stretching tires onto rims that are too narrow or too wide...gives a look sometimes called poke....not rims the wrong diameter.
P.S i cannot wait fot the next two posts...the i ran my car out of oil post, and my motor blew up cause i used diesel fuel......

 

You can stretch the width of the tire over the same diameter of rim (i.e. 195 - 215 over a 16" rim) just like i have. However, you can not take a 195/55/16 and make it into a 195/55/17, it just doesn't work.

 

You could try.... However, it should be videotaped and put on youtube.

 

Stretching tires is using an ultrawide wheel with a narrow tire, stretching refers to making the sidewalls of the tire that stretch to fit the rim. Sometimes owners want this stretched look, sometimes it is needed due to fender well clearance as in hellaflush. The stretched tire tread doesn't widen but the sidewalls do, using a runflat tire would be unwise since the sidewall is very stiff and unable to take the stress of stretching. Normal street tires are used and are preferred.

Here is a video of the stretchng process-
http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/2007...tretch-a-tire/

Both tire and wheel need to be of the same diameter. The taller the tire sidewall the more if can stretch. I would think that once stretched the tire diameter would be smaller than normal for that tire which can increase wheel gap with a stock suspension and lower the center of gravity for the car as well as reduce ground clearance.

Owners that do used stretched tires on the street say that the car feels OK under normal use but if you plan to do aggressive driving this setup is not ideal as you already have stressed the tire sidewalls and are using basically the middle treads not the entire tread contact patch.

 

I understand now. I guess I'll have to get the 17" inch wheels then and then get some tires! Thanks for the reply guys, I still have a lot to learn

 

Buying them together from a place like tirerack.com or discountire.com can have some discount because they give you free mounting and balancing and perhaps a little savings on shipping becuase the packaged is shipped together. That is something to consider to save a couple of bucks since you have to get everything new.

 

I think I'm gonna go with non run flat tire and keep a can of fix-a-flat and a portable compressor. I also want 17" tenzo-r concept-9's. Those things look pretty sweet

 

Skip the fix a flat... Get the compressor with some slime (slime is a backup) and a dynaplug kit.

http://www.dynaplug.com/

If you get a flat, try the dynaplug first and if that doesn't work then use the slime. Lots of tire shops hate dealing with slime filled tires for fix-a-flat.

 

That dynaplug seems very interesting... I've heard a lot of great reviews and a few "ok" ones, but it seems like a better solution than the slime and fix-a-flat! I'd probably keep a fix-a-flat just in case, especially I heard that slime is a lot messier. Many thanks!

 

It is messier, but easier to clean up.

 

Also it does not pose an explosion hazard like fix a flat cans...
I actually had a 2013 Hyundai rental a couple of weeks ago...

had a bottle of slime, and a 12v pump in the trunk in a Styrofoam tire shaped holder where the spare went....so the Slime is becoming semi universal, even with OEM's.