why do people stretch tires?

THERE IS NO PERFORMANCE BENEFIT!

Performance comes from tires (and brakes and suspensions geometry, etc.), not wheels. The wider the tire, the better the grip, but obviously if you go too wide you lose some response. This is why it is so necessary to properly match your wheels and tires.

That being said, stretch is mosty always an appearance thing (maybe cost). Stretch the tire and the sidewall is no longer parallel to the wheel face, which, with negative camber, can allow you run lower offsets and wider wheels. It's also popular in drifting because some n00bs got the incorrect notion that it's required to drift the car (it's not).

Sorry for the rant but there's so much incorrect crap about this fad going around that someone's going to end up hurt. If you want the appearance go for it but do not put 17x9 +20 wheels with 205/45/R17 tires on your Protege and expect it to be a handling marvel.

thank you!!!!!!!!!
 
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