Anyone have experience with "Hipari Style" or tire stretching? Im trying to figure out what sized tires i need. I have 18x8.5 and 18x9.5 wheels. I heard the general rule of thumb is that 205/35/18 are the prefered size to stretch for 8 inch and 215/40/18 are prefered for 9 inch. Anyone have any input? And also what brand of tire is good for stretching, and does the side wall height realy mater a lot in the stretching process?

 

no one?????

 

This may be totally naive of me, but what do you want to do that for? Are you just trying to lose traction for drifting?

 

I've never done it "Hipari" style. I've put alot of 215/75's on 15x8's for S10's and I hate the look of it. Your tire changer will cuss you because it is a BITCH to get the tire to hold air, let alone bead up. Also you run a higher risk of rolling the tire off the bead if you let your air pressure drop. I'd check the air once a week and probably run max pressure in the tires for safety. This will make them balloon up and you'll wear the centers out of them fast.

I guess thats the price you'll pay to have "Hipari"


Can you say curb rash waiting to happen??

 

Mexican style! YES!

 

13" gold Daytons on the Cutlass...

 

I guess I'm just practical, I'd just buy narrower wheels.

 

It reduces side wall flex for purposes such as drifting, making the slide more predictable and easier to comense. Hipari style also increases handling. And according To REVspeed magazine which is definately one of the best technical magazines. a test was done on this concept. And it was proven that Hipari style gives the drivers better track times. I dont undertand why people have such a negative outlook on this, when it only improves yur drivabilty and performance of the vehicle.

Just for reference....

ReVspeeds findings.

The first set they used would be what you would recomend. 235/40-18 on a 18x7.5 wheel.
The track times came out to be 1'03.369

2nd set 235/40-18 on a 18x8.5 wheel.
The track times 1' 03.103

3rd and final set was 235/40-18 on a 18x9.5 wheel.
The track times 1'02.680

 

Yes, so it reduces traction. Sounds like a bad idea for a daily driver.. The car in the picture isn't going to have any appreciable sidewall flex anyway, but setting the sidewall at such a strange angle will definately curve the carcass and make the contact patch smaller. Great. Have fun in the rain and snow.

 

A little bit of stretching goes a long way. Don't over do it.