How to Choose Car Parts to Upgrade Performance

Shopping for performance, handling and styling car parts? Choosing the right parts store is the first step in getting what you need and what works. These are packed with renowned aftermarket brands that will turn any ordinary hatch or sedan into an unassuming sleeper ready to take on full-on performance machines. And if you’re new to the tuning scene, here’s a detailed list of goodies to get the most out of your car. 

Power and Performance Additions 

Engines produce more power with a healthy dose of intake air. Production cars can be modded to push more oxygen-rich and cooler air with short ram or cold air intakes. The parts not only supply larger air volumes to produce bigger bangs during combustion cycles, but also improve engine efficiency and longevity with better filtering.

Real-world benefits are the more responsive throttle for faster get up and go, the wider powerband for power that comes earlier and lasts higher into rev ranges, and of course, higher top speeds. The deeper, throatier sound as the engine takes each breath is an added bonus that makes driving more fun.

 
Pair bespoke intakes with matching exhausts sourced from a reputable and well-stocked car parts store to reap all the benefits. More air in also implies more spent gases out, and the wider tubing in straighter layouts, combined with superior metals and production methods, prevents airflow restrictions like backpressure to help the engine get going. Like intakes, the increased efficiency in performance exhausts adds power. Combined, performance intakes and full systems boost power output by a decent 10 per cent.

 
Mods can stop here for an already rounded car, but other car parts like bigger intercoolers in turbocharged engines help with turbo spooling by cooling intake air, while blow-off valves regulate spooling efficiency by reducing compression rates and keep the engine intact. Tuned this way, cars are ready for stage 2 and 3 modifications, with bigger turbines, forged internals, and heat-treated cranks (among other mods) for even bigger power gains. 

Handling Mods 

Getting newfound power down is achieved by stiffening up the stock suspension to reduce sway, body roll and squat. Coilovers are pre-assembled springs and shocks calibrated for the right compression and rebound rates. They improve stability, increase traction and provide more steering feel for enhanced vehicle control. And they’re an easy and affordable solution to get better track times. Improved braking performance and considerably faster acceleration with tyres having more contact with the ground.

 
For even more pronounced gains, consider going with lighter and stronger flow-formed or forged wheels to handle the stresses in high-speed cornering and hard braking, and mating wider and larger wheels with grippy, performance tyres to get all the grip you need. These will also survive more frequent bouts of curbing, hitting potholes or negotiating speed bumps.

 
And the fact that custom wheel and tyre combinations, sitting on coilovers or lowering springs give the car a more aggressive look, is another reason why they’re worth the upgrade. The good news is that a dedicated car parts store will provide advice as to which parts to mix and match to get the results you expect. 

Body Kit 

Exterior body kit parts reduce drag, increase downforce and keep the car glued to the road. And they add a styling element that sorts your car out from all look-alike models. 

Kits usually consist of front spoilers and splitters that disperse head-on air over and under the car, side skirts to reduce air pooling under the vehicle (and increasing lift) and rear wings, spoilers and diffusers to deal with remnant air and keep the rear axle stable. Parts are designed to exacting dimensions to seamlessly fit the stock contours of each production model. Besides performance and aero kits, car owners can also choose wide-body and bumper kits if vehicle aesthetics is the main goal.

 
Much of the efficiency is down to the choice of materials. Cheaper options are fibreglass, ABS plastic and polyurethane. Fibreglass body kits are decently strong against scratches and dents and easy to shape and paint. ABS spoilers, skirts and wings are low-weight, resistant to heat and impact, and keep colour with better longevity against UV rays and chemicals. Polyurethane body parts balance durability with flexibility, good against impact and abrasions, but can add unwanted weight. 

The best performance, though, comes from carbon fibre. Kits sourced in this material have distinct looks, are exceptionally tough (more so than aluminium or steel), the lightest of all the options here (good for larger body parts like hoods and roofs) and impervious to chemicals, fading or cracks. Carbon fibre grades differ according to tensile strength and stiffness (or modulus), but even parts in standard modulus carbon fibre (the most affordable option) will make a huge impact on your car. 

Buying Considerations 

Brands, pricing and aftermarket car parts with fixed warranties and quality certifications make choosing what’s right easier. Many reputed manufacturers have racing affiliations, meaning many of their products have been track-tested. This ranges from wheels and tyres to suspension parts, or intake and exhaust systems. Assess your goals, set a budget, and scour dedicated and compatible car parts online or at local dealers.