Our Street Talker gets down and dirty with one of today’s hottest car trends. While I’m a fan of modified imports, drifting, and car culture in general, I have to admit, that I didn’t know much about this thing called “Hellaflush” when I got my first tweet on it a while back. But I’ve been a quick study, and one of the best places to check it out is on the buzz-worthy site Fatlace.
Ask anyone what Hellaflush means and you’re bound to get different answers. What’s it mean to you? In general, it entails the tire and wheel being flush against the fender. Flush being something that’s even with or level with something else – sharing the same plane – or having direct contact with. While one online description of Hellaflush says the tire has to be flush with the fender, another goes further and states that that the top part of the tire also has to be up inside the wheel well so that the tire sidewall actually contacts the fender when a bump is encountered, making for a very unique and noticeable car display, not to mention driving experience.
I’ve seen the term’s origination credited to both Fatlace, where it’s now one of their brands, and also to a San Francisco neighborhood where it was used as local slang to describe something that was “very” or “crazy,” in terms of an amount. Loosely translated, Hellaflush just means your tires are very flush with your fenders. For a great visual example, check out this BMW 328i with wheels that are a mere millimeter from the fenders! Hellaflush is also a form of stance – how a vehicle sits – and this type of car display is achieved, generally, with rims that are wider than seven inches, stretched tires, and an aggressive amount of negative camber.
It’s common to see Hellaflush associated and discussed along with JJDM Car Culture and VIP styled. JDM refers to Japan Domestic Market while VIP Style refers to the practice of taking large, usually Japanese, luxury vehicles and altering their stance through modifications. But let's be honest, even though Hellaflush is popular right now, it's neither practical nor inexpensive to pull off...but since when does that matter? Being that low to the ground and having tires so close to the fender doesn’t make for easy driving—especially where potholes or inclined driveways are concerned. And it also holds the potential for a lot of wear and damage to the vehicle. But, it does look killer.
Taking Hellaflush to another level is the practice of making everything on the vehicle flush, not just the tires. In these instances, it’s as low as it can go, and anything that keeps the body from being completely flush, such as door handles, key holes, etc., are shaved down until they are flush with the rest of the body. That's commitment. (And one that I personally don't see making anytime soon.)
Do you know any Hellaflushers? Or, are you planning on going there yourself? If so, share some pics that show just how Hellaflush you are, and let us know how you got there, and more importantly, how it's working out!
Editor’s note: Visit Advance Auto Parts for the best in parts and tools for any ride. Buy online, pick up in store.—in 30 minutes. Graphics courtesy of Fatlace.
