Aftermarket performance parts of a car refer to those components that were not originally installed at the time of manufacture but were added later to upgrade the car’s performance. These parts can significantly boost the car’s horsepower, fuel efficiency, and speed to enhance the driving experience. Plus, more than just improving the performance, these aftermarket performance accessories offer an opportunity for car enthusiasts to customize their vehicles as per their specific driving preferences.
1. Wheels and tires
Factory tires—originally provided by car manufacturers—are decent for regular usage. But, if one wants to see a significant upgrade in their vehicle’s performance, one can consider getting high-performance tires. These tires are specifically designed to offer increased traction and a better grip on the road. This makes each drive a lot safer. Along with this, high-performance tires also offer better stability, even at higher speeds. So, upon installing these, one can experience improved car handling, acceleration, cornering, and braking.
Alongside tires, another top aftermarket car performance part to consider is wheels—especially alloy wheels. Because of their design, alloy wheels are much lighter than traditional cast metal wheels manufacturers offer. Together with a high-performance tire, alloy wheels can improve the overall driving dynamics.
2. Suspensions
A car’s stability on the road, especially when passing through bumps or uneven surfaces, depends on the quality of its suspensions. Manufacturers, again, provide decent suspensions that can work well for regular, city driving. But, if one is looking for high-performance driving, one can consider tuning their car’s functioning with aftermarket suspension parts. For better performance, along with new parts, it is also recommended to slightly lower the suspension and install lowering springs. This will also reduce the car’s center of gravity, making it much more stable when taking sharp turns and cornering. Along with that, the car will also experience lesser compression at the time of acceleration or braking. As a bonus, lowering the suspensions—only slightly—will also enhance the look of the car.
3. Cold air intake
Car engines require a constant flow of air to function. This function can be substantially improved by letting cold airflow into the engine. This is because cold air is denser and contains more oxygen. Engines require this oxygen to burn fuel and produce the power required for the car to run. So, with more oxygen influx, the performance of an engine can be boosted. For this purpose, many individuals prefer installing cold air intake kits, which only allow cold, dense air to reach the engine. It is among the most popular upgrades to improve the car’s horsepower and speed.
Along with a cold air intake kit, one can also consider installing an intercooler. This aftermarket part is especially useful for turbocharged and supercharged engines since they tend to compress and heat the air before it enters the engine. But intercoolers cool this air down, improving the volume of oxygen in it and providing the same benefits as a cold air intake kit.
4. Performance brakes and brake pads
For regular driving conditions, like on city roads, the standard, factory-installed brakes work just fine. But, installing high-performance brakes or brake pads can prove to be a great performance upgrade for the car, especially in terms of safety. These brakes can also be beneficial when driving on dirt, off-roading, or towing heavy objects. Plus, with aftermarket brakes and brake pads, one will notice a clear improvement in their car’s stopping distance. Unlike brakes installed by the manufacturer, aftermarket alternatives will also not experience as much brake fade—or a reduction in braking power due to extended use.
5. Air filters
Changing the air filters of a car is among the most important maintenance tasks that car owners need to perform every once in a while. The filters must be changed routinely because they experience a lot of dirt and debris build-up since it is their function to keep those from entering the engine. When changing the filters, one may also notice that most of the cars have air filters made from paper. While they function just fine, one’s car can do better with aftermarket air filters. These are usually made from oiled foam or cotton, both of which make it much easier for the engine to suck in air. Eventually, these will prove to be ideal performance-enhancement components for the vehicle.
6. Exhausts
Custom exhaust systems are among the most popular aftermarket car mods installed for better performance. These exhausts are made with stainless steel or similar materials, which are highly resistant to corrosion and rusting. Along with that, these exhausts have much longer pipes, which are attached to the engines. This means they can cool down the system more efficiently. By letting the exhaust air flow out more quickly, these systems then allow the engines to suck in fresh air quickly, too. This then helps improve the engine’s performance, thereby improving the car’s horsepower and speed.
7. Anti-roll bars
Also one of the popular aftermarket parts for cars, anti-roll bars help reduce the vehicle’s body roll during hard turns by connecting one side of the suspension to another. This eventually helps improve the stability and handling of the car. This aftermarket tune-up can especially help with high-performance driving by making it safer to navigate sharp corners.
