Car modification has had a reputation associated with boy racers for a long time. However there are a number of different techniques you can use to modify your car which can improve overall performance as well as the look and feel of the car. The word modification can cover anything from changing the seats in a car to the engine or even just changing the wheels.
Tyres And Alloys
The tyres and alloy wheels on your are probably one of the most important parts of your car. The tyres and wheels ensure grip and traction on the road and should be taken care of. Alloy wheels come in a number of different shapes and sizes and car enthusiasts often change their alloys to improve the overall look of their car. Whilst there are some lighter alloys few changes in performance or likely to be seen if alloys are changed. Tyres however do have a significant effect on the performance and feel of a car. If modifying your car by changing tyres its best to go for a brand and type of tyre that suits your environment. E.g a summer tyre for a warm tropical environment or all season tyre if you live somewhere with a mixture of weather. Changing the width of your tyres also improves grip and overall suspension.
Suspension Modification
Modifying Suspension is very popular amongst people in the car scene. Lower suspension can improve the look of a car and its presence on the road. It can also marginally increase performance. However suspension modification can be costly depending on your budget. At the entry level basic suspension mods such as coil overs or bushes can help to lower and improve the comfort of your car. This typically costs a few hundred pounds. Whereas at the other end of the scale air suspension which is remote controlled can cost several thousand pounds to fit and install. If modifying suspension you should be wary of the impact it can have on ride comfort as the lower suspension is the firmer the overall ride of the car is likely to be.
Engine Upgrades
Engine upgrades and performance changes can be gained by doing a number of different modifications to a cars engine or other parts of the car. One of the biggest challenges facing the car modification scene is insurers. insurers charge much higher rates to those who have had modifications done to their engine to make it more powerful. One way in which engine performance can be improved is remapping. Remapping re programmes an engine to create additional horsepower and is popular in the car scene. An additional way to increase performance is to buy a custom air intake or car air filter. Having a custom intake can slightly improve performance as more air is channelled into the engine.
Overall Conclusions
Overall there are a number of different conclusions which can be drawn from this article. Car modification can be expensive but it can also be done on a budget and can do a lot to improve a cars overall look and performance. However most modifications should be thoroughly considered before going ahead as they could affect your insurance premium overall.