The car you drive to work and the grocery store doesn’t have to be a boring ride. There are plenty of performance upgrades you can make that will have a noticeable impact on your driving experience, without too much expense or hassle.
If you’re looking to get a bit more enjoyment out of your commutes and errand runs, here are some helpful tips.
Tires
Changing your tires is the easiest upgrade you can make. It will also make a noticeable difference in your car’s handling and driving performance. When a non-sports car rolls out of the factory, the tires are acceptable, but they aren’t high performance. Usually, they are all-season tires meant to perform acceptably in a wide range of conditions.
Installing season-specific tires will give you better traction and handling,
and can also improve your gas mileage. Thanks to technological advancements in manufacturing and materials, tires have seen a real advancement in recent years. These days, you can get a tire specifically made for nearly any condition.
When changing tires, remember that the vehicle’s suspension and speedometer are set up for the stock tire circumference. Keeping with this circumference will keep your car handling the way it’s meant to.
Wheels
If you upgrade to wider tires, you’ll likely need to upgrade your wheels as well. Upgrading to better wheels will also allow you to fit larger brakes while reducing weight. With your new lighter, wider wheels you’ll notice an improvement in braking, acceleration, and handling.
Upgrading your wheels is also a great way to improve the look of your car when compared to stock wheels. You can choose from chrome or black, and a multitude of spoke styles. You could even opt for a wire-spoke wheel if that’s your style.
Brake Lines
Changing your brake lines from the standard rubber to a stainless steel braided line will give you better braking performance. Rubber brake lines are used because the line needs to move with the vehicle’s suspension. The problem is that rubber absorbs some of the pressure when you press on the brakes, which reduces the effectiveness of the brakes. Braided lines are still flexible, but they don’t absorb pressure the way that rubber does. This is a relatively inexpensive upgrade that will give you a noticeable improvement in the way your brakes feel and respond.
Suspension Upgrades
Changing your suspension to a coilover spring and strut will allow you to lower the ride height of your vehicle. A lowered car will have reduced drag, and improved mileage, while also giving you that performance look.
When lowering your car, take into consideration the condition of the roads that you normally drive on. You’ll need enough ground clearance to get over any bumps or rough patches without bottoming out. Also, be aware of your tire clearance, as lowering your car could lead to tire rub issues when cornering or hitting large bumps.
There are plenty of other performance upgrades you can make, including exhaust, engine upgrades, and even changing out the seats. When it’s time to upgrade your daily driver or project car, contact the experienced performance vehicle professionals at McKinney Motor Company.
