Upgrading a car provides many benefits. It enhances the performance of your ride, prevents its value from decreasing, and offers many opportunities for personalization.
However, with a variety of car modification options out there, it may be difficult for you to choose the right ones.
Here is a brief guide that may help you.
Choosing the Right Tires
With the proper tires, you will boost your fuel economy, handling, braking, accelerating, and the vehicle?s overall safety.
However, is there really a difference between summer and winter tires?
Summer tires are made from a softer rubber and have larger tread blocks. They enable better cornering and contact with the road. Summer tires are perfect for dry months and temperatures above 45 degrees Fahrenheit. At low temperatures, the rubber hardens, which may compromise the performance of the vehicle.
Snow and winter tires, on the other hand, have a deeper tread pattern. Their rubber is the ticker, meaning it does not crack at cold temperatures. They also improve traction and safety during the winter.
Changing Tire Size
Changing tire size is one of the most popular methods of boosting vehicle performance.
For example, purchasing 17-inch tires for your 19-inch wheels can help you reduce expenses. That particularly applies to installing winter tires.
On the other hand, larger tires can boost your cornering, braking performance, and grip. However, upsizing can harm your fuel economy and acceleration.
No matter if you are upsizing or downsizing, do that strategically. Tire failures are a common cause of car accidents.
Make sure tire circumferences are not more than 3 percent apart. While you can calculate the perfect tire size manually, you can also use an online tire size calculator.
Boosting the Exhaust System
A newer exhaust system gives a better sound from your engine, reduces backpressure, boosts performance, and offers better fuel economy.
There are many different types of aftermarket exhaust systems, such as:
- Cat-back exhaust systems consist of a muffler, a resonator, and a rear tailpipe. They are perfect for you if you do not want to replace the catalytic converter.
- Single-side exhaust systems use a single exhaust pipe that transfers gasses. It attaches to one side of the vehicle.
- Turbo-back systems require the replacement of your entire exhaust system with its upgraded alternative with better-flowing pipework.
Upgrading your Car?s Firewall
Your car?s firewall is made from a sheet of pressed steel. It is a vital part of your vehicle since it separates the engine from the passenger compartment. It offers many opportunities for car upgrades and personalization.
For starters, if your car?s old firewall panel is damaged, consider replacing it. However, if you own an older car model, such as a GMC Chevy truck from 1987, finding maintained aftermarket panels can be challenging. If you are mechanically inclined, you can find a tutorial online and build a firewall panel on your own. To save time and effort, you can always purchase prefabricated custom GMC truck parts.
Another way to upgrade your firewall is to insulate it. Firewall heat insulation maintains the optimal temperature, reduces noise, increases cabin comfort, and improves the performance of your car?s stereo.
Replacing a Cold Air Intake
A cold air intake is an inexpensive and effective car engine modification. Its role is to take the air filter outside of the engine compartment and cool it. That way, the engine intakes cooler and denser air for combustion.
It brings more oxygen into the combustion chamber, engaging the engine to produce more power. A cold air intake also reduces the need for a box of surrounding air filters and lets you use intake tubes, thus providing the engine with uninterrupted airflow.
Now, you can either assemble a cold air intake or purchase it in a kit. Before you purchase it, pay attention to the engine warranty. Namely, car manufacturers do not accept liabilities on modified engines.
If you are no experience in repairing and modifying your car, consider consulting a professional mechanic to avoid safety risks. For example, installing a cold air intake that routes into the bumper is never a good idea as it can let floodwater into the engine.
Over to You
With such a wide range of car mods, it is vital to determine your priorities and stick to them. If you are not sure how to start upgrading your car without compromising its safety, consider consulting a professional to help you.
How do you improve your car?s performance?
Eve Anderson is a marketing specialist turned blogger. Interested in sports and exciting travel destinations. Love to share content that can inform people.
