While some drivers may obsess over raw horsepower and speed for their vehicle’s performance, handling and control are more important to a vehicle pushing the limits of its capability. Below, our beginner’s guide offers drivers a few easy and useful options for improving your car’s handling, from the tires to the brake pads.
Wheel Alignment
Drivers should ensure the health and stability of their vehicles with a professional wheel alignment. A car could have all the high-performance and aftermarket upgrades it needs, but the vehicle’s handling will be off if the toe, caster, and camber settings are out of alignment.
These critical vehicle alignment settings can get out of whack from the daily rigors of driving, such as hitting potholes, curbs, and bumpy roads. Experts generally recommend car drivers get wheel alignment every 5,000 or 10,000 miles. Older cars and their aged suspension components will wear down faster and require more frequent wheel alignments.
High-Performance Tires
Any driver knows that tire grip is a critical aspect of vehicle handling, and if you want to maximize your car’s grip on the road, you’ll need something better than the typical rubber set. One of the important benefits of high-performance tires is they provide improved handling and stability to high-performance cars.
High-performance tires are more expensive than typical tires, but they’re also more capable of handling intense cornering and provide greater steering response. They’re also more durable than typical tires and are less likely to blow out, which is one of the most common reasons car accidents occur.
Coilover Suspension
For beginners looking to improve their car’s handling, our guide recommends adding an aftermarket coilover suspension. Coilovers are a special type of sport suspension that allows individual adjustment of ground clearance for greater flexibility and versatility.
Coilovers offer drivers better ground clearance and a stiffer ride, making high-performance sports cars easier to drive and handle. Most coilovers are height adjustable, but some also allow drivers to adjust for stiffness to give them more opportunities to adjust their car to their liking.
Performance Brake Pads
Lastly, drivers can’t overlook their critical brakes. Those upgrading everything from the suspension to the tires should consider adding performance brake pads. While the car’s OEM brake pads are okay for normal driving, upgrading the performance should also enhance the braking.
Performance brake pads deliver better braking and performance in high-performance driving conditions and are less likely to overheat during demanding driving. If you want to push your car to its performance limit, ensure it has the necessary brake pads to stay safe throughout.
We hope our guide has provided helpful options to enhance your vehicle’s stability and handling. High-performance upgrades like tires and coilovers are useful tools, but you must also ensure your vehicle is safe with improved brake pads and wheel alignment.