Car tuning is both an industry and a
hobby, in which an automobile, motor
bike, scooter or moped is modified in
order to improve its performance,
handling and presentation and
improve the owner's driving style. As
most vehicles leave the factory set up
for average driver expectations and
average conditions, tuning has become
a way to personalize the
characteristics of the vehicle to the
owner's preference. For example, they
may be altered to provide better fuel
economy, produce more power at high
RPM or the ride comfort may be
sacrificed to provide better handling.
Car tuning is related to auto racing,
although most performance cars never
compete. Rather they are built for the
pleasure of owning and driving such a
vehicle. Another major facet of tuning
includes performance modification to
the car exterior. This includes changing
the aerodynamic characteristics of the
vehicle via side skirts, front and rear
bumpers, adding spoilers, splitters, air
vents and light weight wheels.
Areas of modification
Audio
Is a term used to describe the sound
or video system fitted in the vehicle. A
stock audio system refers to one that
was specified by the manufacturer
when the vehicle was built. A custom
audio installation can involve anything
from the upgrade of the radio to a full-
blown customization based around the
audio equipment. Events are held
where entrants compete for the
loudest, highest quality reception or
most innovative sound systems.
Interior tuning
Interior tuning is a term used for
modifying of the interior of a car. for
example; removing the back seats to
make room for a sound system, or
taking out the front seats and
replacing them with racing seats -
commonly known as bucket seats.
Another recent form of interior tuning
is the replacement of the OEM Shift
Knob with an aftermarket version such
as a weighted shift knob for cosmetic
and/or for performance purposes.
Engine tuning
Main article: Engine tuning
Engine tuning as of lately has been
marketed as the replacement of basic
engine components with aftermarket
versions that perform the same
functions as those replaced while
promising an increase in power output.
Car tuners usually install new
turbochargers, modify the car's engine
cooling unit, and replace the air filters;
but they could also install a more
powerful engine on the cars they
modify.
For example a tuner could modify the
engine control unit to gain more
power. Another example is the
modification and/or replacement of the
OEM manual transmission stick shift
(also known as a gear stick) with an
optimized aftermarket design known
as a short shifter. For further "fine"
tuning, the driver could fit a Weighted
Gear Knob.
Suspension tuning
Suspension tuning involves modifying
the springs, shock absorbers,
swaybars, and other related
components of a vehicle. Shorter
springs offer greater stiffness, a lower
center of gravity, and a lowered look.
Stiffer shock absorbers improve the
dynamic weight shifting during
cornering and normally have shorter
internals to stop them from bottoming
out when shorter springs are used.
Stiffer sway bars reduce body roll
during cornering, thus improving the
grip that the inside tires have on the
surface; this improves handling
response. Other components that are
sometimes added are strut bars, which
improve the body stiffness and help
better maintain the proper suspension
geometry during cornering. On some
cars certain braces, anti-roll bars, etc.,
can be retrofitted to lower-spec cars
from sports models.
For offroad vehicles, the emphasis is
on lengthening the suspension travel
and larger tires to increase ground
clearance.
Lowriders with hydraulic/pneumatic
suspensions use another unique kind of
suspension tuning in which the height
of each individual wheel can be rapidly
adjusted by system of rams, even to
the extent that it is possible to
"bounce" the wheels completely clear
of the ground.
Body tuning
Body tuning involves adding or
modifying spoilers and a body kit.
Sometimes this is done to improve the
aerodynamic performance of a vehicle,
as in the case of some wings or
bumper canards, or, to lighten the
vehicle through replacing bodywork
components such as hoods and rear
view mirrors with components made
from lighter composites such as CFRP.
Cornering speeds and adhesion can be
improved through the generation of
downforce.
More often however, these
modifications are done mainly to
improve a vehicle's appearance, as in
the case of non-functioning scoops,
spoilers, wide arches or any aesthetic
modification which offers no benefit to
performance. Very rarely does an after
market spoiler or body kit improve
performance, the majority add weight
and increase the drag coefficient of the
vehicle and thus reduce its overall
performance.
Increasing the wheel track width
through spacers and wide body kits
enhance the cars cornering ability.
Lowering the center of gravity is
another aim of body tuning dealt with
via suspension modifications. However,
similar to the addition of non-
functioning body kits and spoilers,
oftentimes suspension tuners
unfamiliar with spring dynamics will cut
stock springs, producing a soft, bouncy
ride. It is also common to lower the
car too far, past the optimal center of
gravity, purely for appearance.
Detuning
Detuning involves returning a modified
car to its original factory status. It is
akin to automotive restoration. The
term detuning can also refer to the
reduction or decrease of performance
in a particular area of tuning. An
example of this could be where the
engine is "detuned" to allow increased
traction on a day where the track grip
is not sufficient to handle the increased
power of the tuned engine.
Terms
"Streeted" or "Tuner Cars" are
Japanese vehicles, such as a Honda
Integra DC5, Toyota Supra, Nissan
Skyline, Mazda RX-7, Subaru Impreza,
and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
series. These cars are most commonly
modified with the more expensive
mods available. The most popular
modifications include suspension
upgrades, exhaust systems, and
turbos.
Legal requirements
Many countries have legal
requirements in regard to what car
owners can and can't do in relation to
vehicle modifications. For example, all
vehicles in Victoria, Australia, must
conform to construction standards to
ensure vehicles provide drivers and
passengers with a maximum level of
safety.[1] There are also restrictions
for P Plate drivers which can prevent
young drivers from driving modified
vehicles.[2]
In the United Kingdom and the
Netherlands it is illegal for any car to
have blue lights as they are used by
the emergency vehicles.
In Scotland and Denmark, it is illegal
for any car to have neon underlights
on a car as it distracts other drivers.
In the Netherlands neon is allowed
under the car but only when the car is
on display, if the car is on a public road
the lights have to be switched off.
Many police officers in the U.K are
unsure on the exact legislation with
regards to under body neons. Most say
as long as the bulb is not visible itself
then this is legal.
Recently, Belgium issued a new law
which describes that bodykit parts
need to be approved for safety issues.
Sanctioning organizations
Many organizations involved in
competitive motorsports establish
safety guidelines that far exceed legal
requirements placed on civilian street
legal vehicles. The NHRA, IHRA and
SOLO programs all require that
vehicles pass inspection to ensure that
all regulations are being complied with.
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