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Contents
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
Origin


Areas of modification
Toggle Areas of modification subsection
o
Audio
 o
Interior

o
Engine tuning

o
Suspension tuning

o
Body tuning

o
Tires

o
Detuning


Styles of modification


Glossary


Legal requirements


Sanctioning organizations


See also


References

Car tuning
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Auto tuning" redirects here. For the principle of automatic correction, see Self-
tuning. For the audio processor, see Auto-Tune.
hideThis article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these
issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
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Nissan Silvia S14 modified for drifting

Car tuning is the modification of a car to optimise it for a different set of performance
requirements from those it was originally designed to meet. Most commonly this is
higher engine performance and dynamic handling characteristics but cars may also
be altered to provide better fuel economy, or smoother response. The goal when
tuning is the improvement of a vehicle's overall performance in response to the
user's needs. Often, tuning is done at the expense of emissions performance,
component reliability and occupant comfort.

As a culture has grown around modified cars the term tuning has grown to
encompass the cosmetic and stylistic changes owners make to personalize their
vehicles. These changes can range from functional modifications designed to
improve the performance or functionality of the car, to visual modifications which
alter the aesthetics of the car and, in the case of certain mods, sometimes be
detrimental to the performance or functionality of the car.

Origin[edit]
This article needs attention from an expert in automobiles. The specific
problem is: this section does not provide an accurate or full description of
the history of car tuning. WikiProject Automobiles may be able to help
recruit an expert. (October 2022)

Since their invention, cars have always been subject to aftermarket modification.
Both moderate and radical modification have been commemorated in the popular
songs Hot Rod Race and Hot Rod Lincoln. The names of Abarth and Cooper appear
on models styled after the cars they modified. With support from Ford, renowned
engine manufacturer Cosworth went from modifying English Flathead
engines for Lotus Sevens to dominating Formula One racing.

In the 1970s and 1980s, many Japanese performance cars were never exported
outside the Japanese domestic market. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, grey
import vehicles of Japanese performance cars, such as the Nissan Skyline,[1][2]
[3]
 began to be privately imported into Western Europe and North America. In the
United States, this was in direct contrast to domestic car production around the same
time, where there was a very small performance aftermarket for domestic compact
and economy cars; the focus was instead on sports cars or muscle cars such as
the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Corvette.

Because of their light weight and the increasing availability of inexpensive tuning
equipment,[4] tuned economy and compact cars exhibit high performance at a low
cost in comparison to dedicated sports cars. As professional sporting and racing with
such vehicles increased, so did recreational use of these vehicles. Many drivers
would modify their vehicles in an attempt to emulate versions of racing vehicles.

Areas of modification[edit]
The essence of modification of a tuner car is an attempt at a significant performance
increase—or the appearance of high performance—from a stock motor vehicle
through the addition, alteration or outright replacement of parts. Although this largely
involves modifying the engine and management systems of the vehicle to increase
power output, additional changes are often required to allow the vehicle to handle
such power, including stiffened suspension, widened tires, better brakes, and
improved steering and transmission modifications (such as the installation of a short
shifter). Although largely insignificant in terms of appearance, certain modifications
such as low-profile tires, altered suspension, and the addition of spoilers can change
the overall appearance of the car, as well as adding downforce to increase traction.

Audio[edit]
A stock audio system is one specified by the manufacturer when the vehicle was
built in the factory. A custom audio installation can involve anything from the upgrade
of the radio to a full customization based around specific audio equipment. Events
are held where entrants compete for the loudest, highest-quality audio reception or
most innovative sound systems. Some common modifications include higher quality
speakers and subwoofers, amplifiers, and better wiring.

Interior[edit]
Race cars competing in various classes must adhere to a strict set of regulations. As
in some well-known racing events, like NASCAR and NHRA, sanctioned events
often require a minimum vehicle weight. In such cases, the interior is stripped, and
the required weight is achieved by adding ballast, allowing precise control
over weight distribution. Along with weight requirements, safety requirements are
present. Requirements differ for different classes. Roll cages, fire extinguishers,
reinforced bucket seats, seat harnesses, and the like are some of the required safety
modifications. Roll cages may be difficult to install when the stock interior is present.
Some tuners will have "gutted" interiors, or omit features that many ordinary drivers
would find desirable or necessary, such as audio systems, air conditioning and
soundproofing, in order to reduce vehicle weight.

Engine tuning[edit]
Main article: Engine tuning

Engine tuning is the process of modifying the operating characteristics of an engine.

In a typical engine set-up, there are various mechanical and electronic elements
such as the intake manifold, spark plugs, and mass air flow sensor. Modern engines
employ the use of an engine control unit to provide the best balance between
performance and emissions. Via the OBD communications protocol,[5] electronically
controlled aspects of the engine can be modified in a process known as mapping.
Mapping can either be performed by changing the software within the ECU (chip
tuning via firmware modification), or by providing false data via plug-in hardware.
Other standalone engine management systems are available; these systems replace
the factory computer with one that is user-programmable.

Mechanical components of the engine can also be added or replaced, such

as forced induction systems like turbochargers or superchargers.

Improper, incorrect and poorly executed engine modifications can have a detrimental
effect on performance and reliability. Mechanical and electrical components can
suffer or simply fail as a result. An example would be the use of an air compressor
such as a turbocharger to increase the volume of air used in the power stroke of
the Otto cycle. In a typical chemical reaction, the air–fuel ratio must be a minimum of
14:1. If higher ratios are used, higher pressures and temperatures are observed in
the cylinders,[6] which can quickly push an engine beyond its intended design limits.

Neglecting such operating parameters can lead to premature failures, such as

warped cylinder heads and walls, disintegrated piston rings, cracked or
bent connecting rods and crankshafts, total cooling system failure, engine
fire, engine detonation, engine seizing, and even blowouts. This can all lead to very
expensive repairs, as well as being very dangerous.

Suspension tuning[edit]
Suspension tuning involves modifying the springs, shock absorbers, anti-roll bars,
and other related components. Shorter springs offer greater stiffness and a lower
center of gravity at the possible cost of unwanted changes of suspension geometry.
[7]
 Stiffer shock absorbers improve 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 tires have on the surface by reducing suspension geometry changes
caused by roll; this also improves handling response due to faster weight shifting—
similar to stiffer springs.

The danger with overly stiff anti-roll bars is the lifting of the inner wheel, causing a
loss of traction. By increasing the roll resistance of one end of the car, weight
transfer is concentrated at that end, causing it to slip more than the other. This effect
is used to control the over/understeer characteristic as well as to reduce roll. Other
components that are sometimes added are strut bars, which improve body stiffness
and help better maintain proper suspension geometry during cornering. On some
cars, certain braces or anti-roll bars can be retrofitted to base model cars from sports
models.

For offroad vehicles, the emphasis is on lengthening the suspension travel and

installing larger tires. Larger tires—with or without larger wheels—increase ground
clearance, travel over rough terrain more smoothly, provide additional cushioning,
and decrease ground pressure (which is important on soft surfaces).

These suspension modifications are in contrast to lowriders, which use hydraulic or

pneumatic suspensions. Lowriders use another type of suspension tuning in which
the height of each individual wheel can be rapidly adjusted by a system of rams
which, in some cases, makes it possible to "bounce" the wheels completely off of the
ground.

Body tuning[edit]
Body tuning involves making modifications to the body of the car in order to alter the
aesthetics of the car, improve performance, or both. Body tuning can also involve
changing or replacing parts for better aerodynamic performance.
Through downforce, cornering speeds and tire adhesion can be improved, often at
the expense of increased drag. To lighten the vehicle, bodywork components such
as hoods and rearview mirrors may be replaced with lighter-weight components.
A Lamborghini Aventador equipped with a Liberty

Walk widebody kit and aftermarket wheels

Often, body modifications are done mainly to improve a vehicle's appearance, as in
the case of non-functioning scoops, wide arches or other aesthetic modification.
Aftermarket spoilers or body kits rarely improve a car's performance. The majority, in
fact, add weight and increase the drag coefficient of the vehicle, thus reducing its
overall performance.

Dating back to the 1940s, chopping and channeling was a popular method of

modifying a car's aerodynamics.

Increasing the wheel track width through spacers and wide body kits, or lowering the
center of gravity via suspension modifications, can enhance the car's cornering
ability. Often, suspension tuners unfamiliar with spring dynamics will cut stock
springs, producing a harder, bouncy ride. It is also common to stance a car, lowering
it beyond its optimal ride height purely for appearance.

Competition cars may have lightweight windows, or the windows may be completely
removed, as auto glass adds significant weight and detrimentally alters weight
distribution. Plastic windows are much more vulnerable to scratches, which reduce
service life.

Tires[edit]
Tires have large effects on a car's behavior and are replaced periodically; therefore,
tire selection is a very cost-effective way to personalize an automobile. Choices
include tires for various weather and road conditions, different sizes and various
compromises between cost, grip, service life, rolling resistance, handling and ride
comfort. Drivers also sometimes personalize tires for aesthetic reasons, for example,
by adding tire lettering.

Detuning[edit]
Detuning is the process returning a modified car to its original factory status, or
reducing its performance in a particular area of tuning. For example, a car may be
"detuned" to allow increased traction when the track grip is not sufficient to handle
the increased power of the tuned engine.

Styles of modification[edit]
An example of a Rat rod style car

1962 Chevrolet Impala lowrider

A stanced Nissan 350Z with aftermarket air

suspension and Work Emitz wheels Ford

Escort modified for drag racing

Modified cars can be significantly different from their stock counterparts. A common
factor among owners/modifiers is to emulate the visual and/or performance
characteristics of established styles and design principles. These similarities may be
unintentional. Some of the many different styles and visual influences to car
modification are:

 Cal look: A modified classic Volkswagen intended to evoke

California through the use of bright colours, trim, and accessories.
 Drag car: Cars modified for drag racing
 Drift car: Cars modified for drifting.
 Dub or donk or Hi-Riser: Characterized by extremely large,
ostentatious wheels with low-profile tires, loud speaker setups, and
abnormally high ride height.
 Euro style: Stanced with one-off paint and small wheels, with
shaved features to define car body lines.
 German look: A Volkswagen Type 1, Type 3, or Karmann
Ghia lowered and fitted with late model Porsche mag wheels and touring
car-influenced styling. Heavily modified suspension and drivetrain with
emphasis on handling and cornering.
 Hot rod: Style largely consisting of period-specific vehicles,
components, and finishes to reproduce characteristics of early drag cars
from the 1930s and 1940s.
 Import or JDM: tuned Japanese vehicles.
 Itasha: cars decorated with images of characters
from anime, manga, or video games
 Kaido Racer: Japanese style of cars typically with lowered
suspension, bright paintjobs, extreme bodykits and extended exhausts,
sometimes inspired by Japanese Group 5 "Super Silhouette" racecars.
Commonly associated with the Bōsōzoku.
 Kustom: Style largely consisting of American cars built from the
1930s to 1960s customized in the styles of that period.
 Lowrider: Hydraulic or airbag suspension setups, custom paint,
pinstriping, custom interior, and, typically, small diameter wire wheels.
Others may look like straight restorations, aside from a low stance.
  Military/service style: Cars designed to look like certain service
vehicles.
 Outlaw: A modified with more powerful engines and
brakes Porsches 356, 911 and Karmann Ghia with more aggressive
appearance. This movement took place in Southern California in 1960s.
 Rally car: Cars built to compete in rallies.
 Rat rod: Style of hot rod and custom cars, imitating the "unfinished"
appearance of some hot rods in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. "Rat style"
also defines a car that is kept on the road despite visible heavy wear.
 Restomod: Classic cars that combine original exterior styling with
modern applied technologies (such as new suspension, wheels,
transmission) or modern interior features (multimedia etc.) for comfortable
everyday use.
 Siren kings: A New Zealand Pasifika subculture where cars or
bicycles are modified with loudspeakers or public address systems for use
in competitive battles.
 South London look: Subtly modified 50's-70's British Fords that
are lowered, with pastel paint and 13 inch Lotus Cortina steel wheels or
RS, Minilite, or Revolution mag wheels. These cars often use a tuned Ford
Kent or Pinto engine.
 Slab: Originated in the Houston area since the mid-1980s—usually,
a full-size American luxury car is fitted with custom "elbows", a type of
extended wire wheels which protrude out from the fenders, loud speaker
setups, and neon signage inside the trunk panel. Other "slab"
modifications include hydraulic-actuated trunk panels (a "pop trunk"),
candy paint, vertical stainless steel trim on the trunk panel (known as "belt
buckles"), aftermarket grille, and the use of a Cadillac front-end sheet
metal conversion. The interiors of slabs are usually clad in beige or tan (in
what is called a "peanut butter interior"). Usually associated with Houston
hip hop music.
 Sleeper: Stock-looking cars with performance upgrades.
 Stanced: This style is mostly associated with sports and passenger
cars with lowered suspension setups. Custom wheels with low-profile tires
play a large role in this style and often feature aggressive sizes, offsets,
and camber.
 VIP style: A Japanese style of customizing luxury cars that evolved
from Bōsōzoku.
 Volvo Raggare: A Swedish style of customizing old Volvos and
epa tractors that evolved from a cultural obsession with 1950s Americana.

Glossary[edit]
30 roll
A two-car straight-line race, often between tuned cars, starting from a steady
30 mph speed where the two drivers stand side-by-side, before one of them
 signals the rolling start by honking 3 times. The acceleration test ends at a
pre-defined speed, e.g. 60 mph or 80 mph.
Backfire
Combustion of fuel in the intake or exhaust system instead of the combustion
chamber, resulting in a distinctive popping sound and occasional flames. For
clarity, the term "afterfire" is sometimes used to refer to ignition within the
exhaust, with "backfire" referring to intake fuel ignition.
BOV (blow-off valve)
A valve that releases pressure in turbocharged engines when the throttle is
closed, to avoid damage to the intake system and improve reliability. A BOV
can vent either to the intake system prior to the turbocharger (this type of BOV
is essentially silent and known as "recirculating"). Other BOVs vent to the
atmosphere, resulting in an easily identifiable hissing sound upon release of
the throttle.
CAI (cold air intake)
A modified replacement intake system, often bypassing the stock airbox,
meant to supply the engine with cold air from outside of the car (as opposed
to hot air from under the bonnet). On most modern cars, the stock inlet ducts
have been developed for peak performance and efficiency using advanced
flow simulations, making aftermarket intake performance gain negligible. CAIs
are instead mostly associated with their increased induction noise; coupled
with an atmosphere-venting BOV on turbocharged cars and a non-resonated
and sometimes "decat" exhaust, such a setup is preferred by owners
interested primarily in increasing the noise level of their cars, resulting in
modifications with little to no performance benefit.
Catback
The portion of the exhaust system downstream from the catalytic converter.
Custom tune
A tune that has been customized for a particular car, often modified in specific
ways that require adjustments to the stock calibration.
Decat
A straight exhaust pipe without a catalytic converter. On some vehicles, decat
pipes allow flames to be visible at the exhaust tips upon throttle closure.
Dig
A race beginning from a standing start, e.g. from a traffic light.
Dyno
Slang for dynamometer.
E-tuner
A tuner working remotely to provide custom tunes over the internet, usually
after the customer sends data logs of performance tests in the form of pulls
(see below).
FENG (fake engine noise generator)
Often called a "syntonizer", a system, either acoustic or electronic, that
diffuses engine noise into the cockpit to enhance the driving experience. On
some cars, like the 2015-18 Ford Focus RS, the noise is synthesized by a
computer and bears no real relation to the noise generated by the engine. On
other cars, the noise is conveyed by an acoustic pipe from the engine bay to
the cockpit.
FMIC (front-mounted intercooler)
The term comes from the Subaru Impreza, which has its intercooler mounted
in an unusual location just behind its engine. Beyond a certain threshold of
power-increasing modifications, the small and ill-placed intercooler becomes
ineffective, and a popular modification to overcome this limitation is to install
an aftermarket intercooler in the conventional position behind the front
bumper, giving rise to the term FMIC.
Forging
Replacing some of the engine's bottom-end internal elements with forged
ones. The most common forged parts include connecting rods and pistons.
Stage 3 cars can sometimes include a forged crankshaft. Forged parts are
usually lighter and stronger than stock cast parts.
Fully bolted
Used to describe a car which has the maximum range of bolted-on engine
upgrades without extensive modifications. These include aftermarket intakes,
intercoolers, exhaust pipes, and mufflers.
Hub dyno
A chassis dynamometer with brakes that are connected directly to the driven
wheel hubs after the wheels have been removed. They are more accurate
than rolling road dynos, as they eliminate one significant source of slippage—
the tires. Hub dynos are also more compact, the hub brakes being the size of
small washing machines.
Log
A recording of the car or engine operating parameters (e.g. RPM, boost
pressure, various temperatures) made when the car is being driven.
Map
A calibration for the engine management system, an electronic system known
interchangeably as PCM (Powertrain Control System) or ECU (Engine Control
Unit). A map is essentially a data file that gives the PCM the elements it
needs to operate the engine according to the standards set by the
manufacturer. The data is mostly organized in lookup tables known as
"maps", and the set of tables and other parameters is referred to as a "map"
or "calibration".
Methanol injection
A water injection system where a mixture of deionized water and a certain
proportion of methanol is injected in the intake air stream as an anti-knock,
usually using a dedicated pump and reservoir, and where the unmetered
injection is triggered by a pressure switch activated once a certain boost level
is reached on forced-induction engines. In some cases, the windscreen
washer fluid reservoir is used as a tank for the water injection system (and still
functions as usual). Water injection is believed to have appeared shortly
before WWII on aero engines; notably, the Rolls-Royce Merlin and
the Junkers Jumo 210 engines following the pre-WWII work of Sir Harry
Ricardo. The methanol in the mixture injected in aero engines was present
strictly as an anti-freeze, as it reduces the effectiveness of water as an anti-
knock adjuvant.
OTS (off-the-
shelf) map
A readily available tune sold with the accessory used to flash tunes to a car's
engine control unit. OTS maps typically offer modest performance
improvements and are often used as bases for further modifications.
Pull
A full-throttle RPM sweep in a straight line on a level road or a rolling road
dynamometer, usually in 3rd or 4th gear and from low RPMs all the way to the
engine rev limiter. Pulls are made to record logs or to measure engine output
on a chassis dynamometer.
Resonator
A noise-reduction device that the exhaust pipe usually runs straight through,
which dampens sound waves by the means of sound absorption material
placed around a perforated tube section. Exhaust systems equipped with
resonators are said to be "resonated", as opposed to "non-resonated" for
those without such devices.
Rolling
road
A chassis dynamometer which includes a metered brake that allows torque
measurements, as well as speed measurements, which measure the torque
and power produced at the wheels. Together with the inferred transmission
ratio and a number of corrections related to atmospheric conditions and
friction and losses, the software associated with the dyno can produce
estimates of the flywheel power and torque figures.
Stag
e0
The state of a car with no performance modifications.
S
t
a
g
e
1
The state of a car after simple modification, which can be just a tune, or a
tune with simple supporting modifications such as an aftermarket air filter or
intake. Stage 1 implies a modest power/torque increase over stock.
S
t
a
g
e
2
The state of a car after another round of modifications. Typically, stage 2 cars
are fully bolted with a tune targeting higher torque and power, plus optional
forging.
Stag
e3
The state of a car with extensive mechanical modifications made to the
powertrain, including (but not limited to) a bigger forced induction system,
forged internals, retooling of cylinder heads, and fuel system modifications.
Sometimes an aftermarket or motorsport ECU calibrated specifically for the
car in question will be fitted. The power and torque outputs at this stage are
significantly higher than stock, often prompting supporting modifications to the
transmission and drivetrain.
Stock
map
The OEM engine map.
TMIC (top-
mounted
intercooler)
An intercooler located above or just behind the engine, which benefits from a
slight decrease in turbo lag but suffers from a maximum power threshold.
Tune
A modified map, most often aimed at increasing the engine torque and power
output. A tune is "flashed" to the PCM or ECU either by the tune vendor or the
end-user itself, often using a stand-alone accessory connected to the car's
OBDII connector or through a portable computer. A tune typically voids the
powertrain warranty unless sanctioned by the car manufacturer (which is a
rare occurrence). Typical changes include ignition timing, fuel flow, wastegate
control for turbo engines, and modified limits such as those for RPM and
boost.
Tuner
An individual or company creating tunes, usually for profit, and often selling
supporting elements such as intakes and exhausts.
Turboback
The entire exhaust system downstream from the turbocharger turbine,
composed of the downpipe (including the catalytic converter) and the catback
portion.
Turbo lag
The delay between the initial throttle opening and the moment the
turbocharger has spooled up sufficiently to deliver significant boost pressure
and the associated torque and power increase. On stock modern turbos, lag
is usually below one second, while some large aftermarket turbos exhibit lags
of two seconds or more.

Legal
requirem
Many countrie
municipalities
requirements
vehicle modific
example, all v
Victoria, Austr
conform to con
standards to e
safety.[8] There
restrictions for
which can pre
drivers from d
vehicles.[9]

Many develop
have smog reg
generally forbi
modifications
related compo
modifications
certified, like p
models. Such
even if they do
result in increa
prevent legal u
roads.[10]

Sanctioni
organizat
Various organ
in competitive
such as the FI
and IHRA, am
as sanctioning
establish safe
racing events,
vehicles, and
the largest inte
motorsports g
with FIA certifi
required for a
particularly sa
in FIA sanction
well as in man
events.

See also[e

ustom car

utomotive afte

utomotive rest

uto racing

irtual tuning

EMA

Reference

Wikimedia Commo
to Customized ve

1.
 Chang, Richard  (
60 Magazine
2.
 LeftlaneNews R3
3.
 LASD Inmate Info
Details Archived D
Machine
4.
 Miller, Tim (Nove
and Adapters".  O
on 2020-08-05.
5.
 Miller, Tim (Nove
Protocols".  OBD A
2018-01-03.
6.
 "What Is a Cylind
Dominica. Retriev
7.
 "Suspension Geo
Topics". www.scie
8.
 Vehicle Standard
Bulletins Archived
Machine
9.
 High Powered Ve
14, 2007, at the W
10.
 an old issue of H

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