Tire/Load Rating - safety question
Tire/Load Rating - safety question
right now I'm running Toyo Proxes 4 225/35/19 in the front, the load rating is 88. - and 245/35/19 in the rear with 93 load rating.
in short, is this okay? any safetey issues here?
I've been driving on them for the past 3 months, no issues so far but as these tires age, will that lower 88 front load rating cause something really bad to happen? possible blow out?
I see some people running 215/35/19's up front for that SUPER stretch and of course the load rating on those is even lower... really tho, are we making a big mistake and is super risky?
or in all reality its just fine?
I don't know much about load ratings....
in short, is this okay? any safetey issues here?
I've been driving on them for the past 3 months, no issues so far but as these tires age, will that lower 88 front load rating cause something really bad to happen? possible blow out?
I see some people running 215/35/19's up front for that SUPER stretch and of course the load rating on those is even lower... really tho, are we making a big mistake and is super risky?
or in all reality its just fine?
I don't know much about load ratings....
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,906
Likes: 5
From: NJ
I think as long as its higher than OEM it should be okay.
But the fact that its stretched, then the fact that the tires are being rolled on its sidewalls is risky too.
But hey, gotta pay to play right?
Some times even if it means being endangered lol
But the fact that its stretched, then the fact that the tires are being rolled on its sidewalls is risky too.
But hey, gotta pay to play right?
Some times even if it means being endangered lol
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,906
Likes: 5
From: NJ
You best be on a serious diet
From an engineering stand point, usually things are designed with (what I was taught), a safety factor of 2 or more. Meaning if it says it needs 100lbs of support, in actuality it only needs 50lbs of support, 100lbs to be safe so you wont ever be dumb enough to give it less than 50lbs.
Then again it depends, some items are unable to have a large degree of safety, so I am not too sure to be honest.
From an engineering stand point, usually things are designed with (what I was taught), a safety factor of 2 or more. Meaning if it says it needs 100lbs of support, in actuality it only needs 50lbs of support, 100lbs to be safe so you wont ever be dumb enough to give it less than 50lbs.
Then again it depends, some items are unable to have a large degree of safety, so I am not too sure to be honest.
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Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 7
From: FL
The OEM Dunlops and Bridgestones are 88 front, 95 rear.
If you're stretching tires, the manufacturer's load rating is practically worthless, because you're not using them in the way they were intended. The numbers on the sidewall are the least of your worries in this instance.
By the way, load rating 88 = 1,235 pounds/tire, and 95 = 1,521 pounds/tire. Curb weight (unloaded) of the IS350 is 3,527.4 lbs, so that gives you about 1,985 pounds of people and cargo to max out the OEM tires. I can't imagine what the ride would be like with that kind of weight added...you guys could probably skip lowering the car at that point.
If you're stretching tires, the manufacturer's load rating is practically worthless, because you're not using them in the way they were intended. The numbers on the sidewall are the least of your worries in this instance.
By the way, load rating 88 = 1,235 pounds/tire, and 95 = 1,521 pounds/tire. Curb weight (unloaded) of the IS350 is 3,527.4 lbs, so that gives you about 1,985 pounds of people and cargo to max out the OEM tires. I can't imagine what the ride would be like with that kind of weight added...you guys could probably skip lowering the car at that point.
Last edited by 15951; Sep 12, 2009 at 08:33 AM.
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^ No this post actually makes sense. What do you think about the slight 'stretch' though? Actually, according to Toyo's website I can use their 225/35/19 tire on a wheel anywhere from 7.5 to 9.0 inches. I'm running it on an 8.5. So I'm not even maxing out their recommendations....
But anyway, does 'stretching' a tire decrease its load rating? I would imagine it can't help...
But anyway, does 'stretching' a tire decrease its load rating? I would imagine it can't help...
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 7
From: FL
According to other sites (and good sense), tire stretching will result in:
- decreased load ability for each tire
- decreased traction
- increased heat
- increased wear
If I ever drove a car that had this done, I sure as hell wouldn't ever take it into triple digits.
Other than doing this for appearance, I see zero benefit. Cost/benefit analysis results in "fail".
- decreased load ability for each tire
- decreased traction
- increased heat
- increased wear
If I ever drove a car that had this done, I sure as hell wouldn't ever take it into triple digits.
Other than doing this for appearance, I see zero benefit. Cost/benefit analysis results in "fail".
Pole Position
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
From: CA
european regulations created the stretched look as tire tread is supposed to "inside" the fender. so all those ridiculously wide and/or deep dish rims need stretched tires
oem 225-40-18 on the front looks rather stretched to me. anyone else notice that?
and i'm not entirely sold on the decreased traction part. there are some ppl who run slightly stretched tires to reduce flex during cornering for autox
oem 225-40-18 on the front looks rather stretched to me. anyone else notice that?
and i'm not entirely sold on the decreased traction part. there are some ppl who run slightly stretched tires to reduce flex during cornering for autox
well then we get into whats a 'stretch'? 'stretch' based on the way the tire 'LOOKS' or if its within the tire manufacturer's rim width guidlines.
according to ToyoTires, these size tires are 'approved' to fit on these rid width's:
225/35/19 - 7.5" to 9.0"
235/35/19 - 8.0" to 9.5"
255/35/19 - 8.5" to 10.0"
anyone visually looking at a 225/35/19 on a 9.0" wide rim would say 'wow, thats stretched' - but its still within mfr specs.
according to ToyoTires, these size tires are 'approved' to fit on these rid width's:
225/35/19 - 7.5" to 9.0"
235/35/19 - 8.0" to 9.5"
255/35/19 - 8.5" to 10.0"
anyone visually looking at a 225/35/19 on a 9.0" wide rim would say 'wow, thats stretched' - but its still within mfr specs.
eh, i'm fine.... my tires can handle 5,336 lbs total and the IS350 weights 3,500 so that give me 1800 lbs of fat people to put in my car before I even have to start to worry about failure....
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