Why would you get defected for 175/50 tires? Can you legally go up to 14s, don't they allow that? The rolling radius is near stock.

I don't know how the law works regarding this - basically you can't get a roadworthy certificate with tyres that are past the guards, hence the need for flares etc. I think when you go the other way (stretch) which brings the rubber track inside the guard they want to pick on this too re: road worthiness..... If anyone knows what the go is please chim in with an answer.

The problem you might run into is about the safety 'beads' on rims - the 'ridge' or lip that keeps the tyre sidewall out against the rim. The reasoning behind that (I think it came in some time around the 1970s but don't know for sure) was that without that bead, if the tyre loses pressure, it could flop about and you'd lose all grip, possibly spin the car or roll it. With the bead on the rims, it still holds the tyre on (or at least better than with no bead at all) so you have more hope of controlling the car as you pull over and stop safely..

To that end, 'stretched' tyres end up putting the inside bead of the tyre at a bit more of an angle than if they were fitted to the 'right' sized rims, So it could compromise the tyre's ability to stay somewhat attached to the rim, in an emergency/blowout etc.

Which is part of the reason manufacturers nominate suitable (safe?) rim sizes.

I'm not saying this to preach, but rather to highlight why it could (even without specific legislation about stretched tyre combos as such) easily be grounds for the police to defect it. It'd be hard to argue the toss on it i would imagine.

On tyres in general - no experience with that brand. When I first got my coupe, to get it into my name, needed a roadworthy certificate. For the 'time being' I decided to just get some el cheapo tyres - hero brand, for hte roadworthy, and go to better tyres (and brakes, inside 13 inch mags). Anyway I thought I'd have them on there for a few weeks. What took me by surprise was how well the darn things (in 155/80 r12 size) gripped. They won't be scaring guys on mega buck street tyres, or circuit racers or anything like that, but it really surprised me. It gripped good enough that I decided to leave them on there until they were worn out (and I'm just getting to that stage, over 20,000km later). Now in the wet, they are decidedly less impressive. They don't grip well at all. Fine for a-b everyday wet weather driving, but you wouldn't want to be trying to driving sportily (is that even a word) in the wet. To be fair they are very predictable and consistent in the wet, just not that _good_ outright.

It was a few years ago, but I got them for (iirc) $55 each. That was their hr558 model. In the sizes you are discussing, they have them in a hr668, which is likely a very similar compound (tread looks similar too, just different/larger rim sizes catered to, and lower profile)

http://www.chapelcornertyres.com.au/files/DataHR668.pdf

http://www.chapelcornertyres.com.au/hero.html

I didn't actually buy them from there, but that site lists them, and their sizes. I would imagine their pricing was similar (naturally add some $$ to account for larger sizes, and a few years worth of inflation etc)

Last little tid-bit - definitely check out the tyres in person, or find pics of that specific model and size/profile on the same width rims as you have. The reason I say this is that, at least in my experience, with a few of the cheaper tyres, well their 205s (for hypothetical example) have a big radius at the edges of the tread, so they look more like the tread width of other brands of tyres in a 185 size. That'll certainly affect how 'severe' the stretched look will be for that combination

Good luck - and whichever set you end up going for - could you post back here with the brand, and how it looked/performed, or any other comments/feedback (and a pic or two as well!) ...

Thanks John for the yarn and the info! Great responses are really appreciated and I'll definitely post up a pic of the new look once done.
these are the rims that I have now swapped back to front as it looked and drove gumby anyway plus I would need rubber flares to pass blueslip later this month. Soooo much side wall! Anyways I'll be removing these and blasting/powdercoating and getting some stretch - taking all 4 rims to the shop will mean I can see them 'on' without having to drive away with them 'on' the car. I'll get them swapped if they look sh1t.




Looking for something like this possibly:


This is probably a safe look - these are 13's I'm pretty sure




The following images are taken from tyrestretch of 175/50R14 a couple are of pirelli, don't really like the Dunlop.
Don't know brand


Pirelli




Dunlop



My gut is telling me to go full stretch, but I do not really want to reduce performance/safety etc. I'll have to learn from the experience I think....

I'm 39 so the stretched tyre thing is not really my 'thing' I guess But having said that - although I get more and more on board as far as safety first, as I get older, I think I could argue the other side a little bit.

Here's my thinking - the 'worry' about stretched tyres is the low pressure/blowout risk, and running off the bead/safety lip thing.

Those ideas and laws (if applicable) are generally catered for the lowest common denominator - i.e. the complete idiots. So they go along the lines of 'well if some idiot never checked their inflation pressures, and never monitored the tread and sidewalls for damage/cracks/delamination etc - well those idiots would be a bit safer with tyres of x size on rims of y size without massive stretch.

I'd have to think that you (and most people on datsun 1200 com for that matter) are at the opposite end of the spectrum. We love our dattos, and keep and eye on tyre inflation and general condition (and a bunch of other things like that). And I think in general if you do stuff like that, the actual risk compared to non stretched tyres is probably nothing at all to worry about.

Naturally if someone doesn't want to monitor/maintain their car, stretched tyres aren't for them. (hell more to the point, let em buy some other car and leave the precious datsunx alone :) )

I must admit I like a little stretch on the Datsun - 165 65 13 on a 6 inch rim (some tyres it's max fitment others say 5 or 5.5) 175 or 185 on an 8 inch looks ok but extremes of 185 or 205 on 9 inch or 10 looks stupid IMHO. Ive seen some s15 that are driving on the side walls under cornering- and that's just dumb!

Go a mild stretch but rim and no rubber, just like sex with dirty mole going to end up with an owie

I bought a VL turbo which had 3 yr old 90% tread gemstones on it from a mate, the best wet skid tyres ever, even once i made it a non turbo VL it would skid at 100km/h if I floored it, not safe at all on the other hand :).

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Spot on jmac! I'll let you know how I go.

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Problem is it looks like the look (rim versus rubber profile) changes between brands. Do you agree on the size 175/50 on 14 or is that too much lip? Or stay safe with minimal stretch with a 185 or even 195. I don't think I'd be happy, like lowering your car for the first time and you just want to see it lower......

What about a 165 60 14 or 175 65 14???