Stretched tires / 'hella flush' look can get you killed!! PLEASE READ!! (Pics inside)
 

So I recently purchased a set of HRE 547 wheels in 19 inch staggered sizes for my E63, and the previous owner of the wheels had tires mounted that had that 'stretched' look, or what some may call 'hella flush'. These are both just different ways of saying that you are putting improperly sized tires that are too narrow on wheels that are too wide for the fitment to be correct. I don't care how 'cool' people think they look, that is what you are doing. I spent several of my early years doing wheel and tire fitments and track testing for The Tire Rack, and have never understood why people don't understand how dangerous it is to run tires that are too small on rims that stretch out the sidewalls and put undue load and stress on them.

I fitted the wheels to the car to get some pictures of what my new wheels looked like on the car, and to get a size reference to see how the tire size fit so that I could order new ones in more proper sizes, and then promptly removed them from the car. There was no way I was driving at high speed with the wrong tires, and I figured that with a good amount of tread left I could sell these to offset my cost of replacements.

So how can running stretched tires get you killed? I am getting to that. I went to my tire shop today to have the tires removed from the wheels and inspected since a local buyer wanted to pick them up tonight. Much to my shock, my tire guy came in and said, 'You are damn lucky you have not been driving on these. You could have been killed, or sure as hell had a serious accident,' which I was a bit surprised to hear. 'Come look at these,' he said. Then he showed me the tires.....OH *****, you have to be kidding me. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE READY TO BLOW!! Yep, each and every tire had between 2 and 5 DEEP cracks on the INSIDE that ranged in length from between 3 inches long to 8 inches long. The cracks were so deep and long, that it was just a matter of time before 1 or more of them exploded just from supporting the weight of the E63, and sure as hell would have exploded from the next jarring bump or other disturbance. Since all of the cracks were on the INSIDE, normal tire inspections would not have revealed any of this until it was too late if I did not have them removed because of my own paranoia / refusal to run 'stretched' look tires on my car.

I drive this car daily with my pre-school age daughter, and my wife. This is also the car that we take on our 1,200 + mile trips to Canada and back. Much of that time is spent at 'brisk' highway speeds. Blowing a tire at those speeds, and in heavy highway traffic can quickly turn deadly, or at least result in some serious accident incidents.

I am posting this because I do not want to see any of you get hurt. Yeah, you may think the 'stretched' or 'hella flush' look looks 'cool'. But no matter how trendy it is, the look and fitment is VERY wrong. It is only a matter of time until you have an incident, and your desire to look cool may get you killed. Period.

Here are a couple of the pictures of my tires. Keep in mind, these are only a few pictures. EVERY tire had multiple cracks like this, and really did not have much mileage on them. So this damage happened purely because they were the WRONG size for the wheels and car application. I hope you consider this when you buy wheels and tires. Don't get yourself hurt, or destroy your car, just for some stupid look.

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Looks Scary!!!:eek::eek: Are those Bridgestones? What are the DOT codes on the tires. I have seen similar cracks on Bridgestones before that were not stretched. Now I'm not saying that stretching a tire is safe and I agree it should not be done. Some tires, even with normal use, are more prone to this kind of issue though. Good thing tires have cords inside them or they would have ripped apart for sure!!

Yeh I had a set of mickey Thompson et streets do that. It actually looked worse and they were only a year old. But stretched tires is just dumb and pointless regardless.

I had Nitto tires and they crack like that.

Stretched tires with poking wheels looks dumb as hell if you ask me. Those VW guys who then got some of the Audi guys doing it and a handful of other car manufactures also have no clue. It is funny how sweet they think that is when in reality it is just the opposite.

It's a defect in the tire, I have seen many properly sized OEM tires split like that.
I've ran many variations of stretched tires in the past and it's never given me ANY problems despite potholes and aggressive driving. Mind you that was in my VW/Audi days and although I can appreciate a nicely executed poke/stretch, it is not the look I would go for on an AMG, especially given the traction issues we have to deal with on properly sized tires.

It has always looked unbelievably stupid to me, and I agree very dangerous. I've stuffed slightly wider tires on rims that should have been maybe an inch wider, but I feel flexing the sidewalls out the other way, and usually WAY more is just asking for serious problems.

I deal with a lot of people who have stretched tires and this is an extreme case....I've never seen anything like that before...

I have stretched tires on the back of my 911 to keep them from rubbing not the look. That car regularly sees north of 155 and I have seen no cracking.

Still scary though. Thanks for posting. Gives me something to think about.

That look is a sure way to let everyone else know that you're a little "special". This world however is peppered with countless other "specials" that will jerk each other off in affirmation.
1oV3 th0sE wH33lZzZ!! sTaN€3d fTw!!!

Reminds me of the "Temple of Boom" style mini truck low riders from the early 90s with the reverse offset 13" Daytons and 195 tires. ROFL

With that being said, those tires failing was probably more coincidence than circumstance.

This look was the $hi* (the "stanced specials" were probably concieved in these cars)back in the day!!!
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Wow that looks crazy bad

Here's more of what the hella flush ancestors thought looked good 20 years ago...
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The most stupid look to hit the car scene! Keep that crap in Mexico.

These clowns will feel just as stupid looking back when these pics are old-
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And here's an extra special crew, I had to save this one
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I like good fitments, but not that super stretched tire crap... that stuff may be fine on 4cylinder volkswagens, but when you're putting down AMG power, it's just counter-productive. I actually had pretty good fitment on my old Lexus and one time I hit a curb with my back wheel... let's just say a lot more damage happened then it should have because of the whole "flush fitment". My rear quarterpanel got destroyed along with the wheel.

so what about going the other direction?my tires are oem sizes and have the exact same cracks on the inside wall as the pics. it may be a defect in the tires a those are also bridgestones.

Let me clear the air here. I'm not promoting nor protesting the whole stance movement... Just want to state a few things.

There are tires that are better for stretching than others. Tires that don't stretch well will sometimes fail like in the pic posted above. A mild stretch (225/35/19 on a 19x9.5) is not an issue at all, as long as you have correct tire pressure and your camber isn't -4 or more (give or take a little). The style of stretching tires to get a more aggressive look isn't for everyone as well all know. Germans were among the first groups to be doing it along side the Japanese! There will always be people who love it and people who hate it. Get over it and move on lol. It's not the end of the world. There will always be a style or mod selection that will never please the masses. It gives a variety for everyone.

OP, glad to see that you didn't encounter any issues with the ***** tires that were sold to you! Should be a reminder to everyone that whenever you're buying wheels that have tires mounted to check the INSIDE & outside of the tires to check their condition.

225 on a 9.5 is about 2 inches less tire than the wheel. That's a mild stretch?

Also calling that a more "aggressive" look is subjective as well. Since the car will behave worse in every aspect of performance compared to a tire than is square with the wheel, "limp" might be a more fitting description.

I said aggressive look, not more aggressive handling. Please don't lump the two together as it doesn't work that way. And yes, a 225 on a 9.5 is considered a mild stretch these days. Like I said before, it's not for everyone and it never will be. People who stretch tires don't do it for performance. It's strictly for aesthetics.

Thanks for sharing.

That style is STILL "in" today man. It's called the "mexiflush"....take a walk around LA and you'll see those ugly things EVERYWHERE.

There is some guy on this board that has the hella flush look on his Lexus LS. Freakin idiot thinks it's cool, when it looks like he cant afford larger tires.

And we remember what happened the last time those two hooked up for some fun.

You are correct that tire stretch look is subjective, but so are 20" wheels on a W211 chassis...just a thought. To each his own :naughty:

I considered defect, but the odds of ALL FOUR tires having multiple defects is pretty remote. Either way, I am just glad they are not on my car anymore.

In the defense of the gentlemen that sold me the wheels and tires, the cracks were all but hidden because the stretching of the tires compressed the cracks to where they were almost invisible, which is even more scary. I picked them up in person, and we both looked at them and neither one of us noticed. My tire guy had better eyes than me and saw some cracking which he alerted me to before the removal of the tires from the wheels, and when the tires were removed and 'relaxed', that is when the cracks all showed and were blatantly obvious.

I had a bridgestone blow out out of nowhere and the inner sidewall/tread area was where it failed. Couple weeks later I found another splitting like in these pictures as well. I was done at that point and moved to the Michelin PSS's. Hankook and Bridgestone are on my never buy again list.

Couldn't agree more with this post. I dumped the Hankook Ventus V12s because it felt like I was driving on ice. So I stepped into the Bridgestone Potenzas only to have the right rear tire rip apart on me while driving on the 91 at about 70mph. The tire had less than 5,000 miles on it. The tear was along on the inside of the tire all the way around. Not only that but the Bridgestones are LOUD. I will never buy again.

Interesting, I too had serious issues with Potenzas. I took off my wheels to sell them after a season and as it turns out one of my rear tires had a HUGE 10" bulge on the inside sidewall. I did not hit any potholes and it had absolutely no telltale signs it was there, had I started another season with them I would've definetely lost the tire within a week.:smash:

Depending on the intensity of the stretch, it can also improve on handling. When a car takes a hard fast turn the tire can actually roll, this can either cause lots of sidewall damage, or even pop the bead. With stretched tires the sidewall is tight enough to prevent roll thus keeping more tire on the road. Yes the camber and the stress over time will eventually kill the tire, but even with normal wear the tire will go eventually anyways.

Thanks for bumping a thread over a year old. You were very helpful!

Did stretching the tires on the short bus you rode make it handle as good as your 02 Civic?

Hella Flush looks, and is, Hella Stupid.

Take the context of brain power of the individuals who do this. Not much functionality there I think....

Can't say I have even known anyone who has ever done this type. We are dealing with low brain power and honestly something that really doesn't or shouldn't apply to anyone with a MB, especially a AMG version. I think the intent of the op "1 YEAR AGO" is notable, but who does this. I think the issue of tires splitting vertically is a good subject to discuss, because it does happen for various reasons, but please different thread please........

I agree with you some cars are over doing the stretch look and it plays a huge hazard. There is a correct way to do this however and its been proven for years to last, some guys dont take into consideration that when you do run stretch tires you need to chexk your tires very often ( at least once a day) you also have to take weight of the car into consideration and make sure there is enough sidewall and thickness to support this.

So much misinformation in this thread it makes my head spin.

People, don't believe everything you read on the internet.

Hella Flush it down the toilet.

Pretty incredible how misinformed MB owners are about stretching tires.

You bumped a 5 month old thread to tell us that? :confused:

The amount of necro bumps on this forum are astonishing....

Let us not forget how much negative camber "helps us turn-in" also. :crazy:


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...a4273cf5ee.jpg

Fitting that it was a VW driver, too.

What do you guys think? 20 inch Rohanas
 

235/30/20 & 255/30/20... what psi should i have. running 39 psi all around right now

Wheels are decent, but the tires need to be wider. Also, why are you posing with shoes?

P.S. You're in the wrong forum.

right
 

just a random picture before my soccer game..

as for tires..
 

if i go wider, im worried i will rub.. what tire size should i consider if im running 235/30/20 and 255/30/20 right now? to go wider.. by just a bit?

Am I in the deep part of this forum? Crazy shoes..hella flush rims, what next am I going to hear about...

lol

What are the specs on those wheels first?

really?
 

thats hella flush? i'll have to disagree :/.. stretched, yes. i wanted the wheels and wanted to avoid rubbing at the same time. the ride is actually neither soft nor hard. can't complain about that.. although i did switch from an SLK 230 into a Z4 into this C250.. so the switch alone has been drastic enough (c250 is much more comfortable) to deter from me being able to tell.

HSG08
 

Its 20x9 and 20x10 in the rear..i believe 30 offset

Really

How old are you?

Putting ANY tire on a rim that the manufacturer says is too big is JUST PLAIN STUPID.

There is a reason they list suggested max and min rim widths. You will be working a part of the sidewall, ON ANY TIRE, that was NOT designed for that load.

Before you shoot me, have any of you really achieved ANYTHING by this ridiculous look?

I guess if your 16 thinking it might get you a lady have it.

WOW, LOL

:)
 

Shocking :) not. Didn't expect more than what I received. Yes it looks amazing imo and thats why I did it you airhead.

Hey, too each his own:nix:

If you like it, enjoy it.

Just remember for every thumbs up, there will be a dozen laughing.:rolf:

lol...just lol...

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ml#post6399136

^Oh dear lord. Did you see the C320 with the giant AMG windshield logo and the V8 Kompressor badges just a few posts down from that beauty? Time to feed the poser thread.

Looks more like V6 Kompressor badging, but still....:crazy:

I like the huge picture of the blanked out license plate :rolf:

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ml#post6393750

D'oh!

I defer to you to their age, LOL

Yes. Approximately 500 IG followers.

:rolf::rolf::rolf:

I was hoping you would catch this thread.

:naughty:

I haven't died yet. I mean, I will some day, but more than likely it won't be because I have a 235 on a 10.

That certainly would help get you on that path, keep up the good work:y

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Arguing the stance thing is so 2009. Find something else to worry about.