Hellaflush

A new car culture has invaded our Metro and is slowly increasing in popularity especially with the young enthusiast. Cars with ultra low ground clearances, wide wheels with extreme negative offsets, normal tires that are stretched to fit these wheels and ridiculously set negative camber settings. These are the criteria for what makes a  “Hellaflush” Car.

These cars actually look spectacularly odd mainly because of how low this machines sit on the ground. Ultra cambered Deep-lipped wheels and stretched tires that barely hit the ground look attractive to most but unknowingly, these set ups do have a number of drawbacks.

First, let’s talk about  the suspension set up.  Messing with the overall geometry of the car’s suspension by lowering it flat to the ground will up set the ride and the balance of  the car. In other words, Hellaflush will ruin your car’s  handling and riding comfort, not to mention, your suspension components and everything that is linked to it.

Second, let me talk about the wheel and tire set up. Yes, who doesn’t like fat lips and stretched tires. They looked good if  done right. But Hellaflush is extremely radical and, I would say, acid when it comes to wheel/tire fitment. The style calls for ordinary 6-inch tires fitted to 8, 9-inch rims. The tires in effect become distorted, its sidewalls too exposed to the road, curbs and other elements that can cause premature tire damage. The excessive stretch  will possibly lead to the tire jumping of the wheel bead during a regular impact.

Third, the extreme camber set up. Yes, race car do have visible negative camber settings. But emulating this look will only make you look like a confused racer. Aside from that, the extra camber will lessen the contact patches of the tires leading to significant lose of  traction. This would mean more understeer for the Frontwheel Drive Cars and more oversteer for the Rearwheel Drives.  If you drive like Captain Slow, you might just get away with traction problems but I’m pretty sure you won’t get away with frequent tire change.

Fourth, this trend being a “slammed to the ground” set up will ruin the body panels due to wheels scraping on the fenders and fender liners. Oh! Did I mention Daddy’s wallet.

Yes of course, this is good business for wheel and tire suppliers, shops and manufacturers. But nevertheless, car enthusiasts should weigh the pros and cons in getting into a set up before they engage. For me, the cons do outnumber the pros by a mile. A Hellaflush is just not worth doing.

By no way is this article meant to offend anyone. If you’re a Hellaflush enthusiast , we are in a free country where freedom of choice and expression is respected. If  you are considering this look you should know the facts before spending your hard earned cash on wheels, tires and suspension otherwise, Daddy may have to spend more than expected on a piece of  nothing.