Is there any risk if I tune my car?

Car customization has become a booming business in the last few years. Many car owners around the world build and customize according to their personal preferences and tastes. Consumers spend a lot of money every year on custom parts and modifications, either to enhance the aesthetics of the car or to improve its performance. Some people kit out their cars with some new alloy wheels, others would add some extra headlights, and some would go farther and tune up the engine.

Although a modification can be a great way to personalize your car and even improve its performance, there are some downsides that need to be taken into consideration. If you're thinking about customizing your car or tuning up the engine, you need to be aware of the risks involved. Here are some of the main risks if you tune your car:

Warranty and insurance risks

Will your warranty be voided if you customize your car? Not necessarily. However, an alternation that causes vehicle malfunction or damage can void warranties for related parts. For instance, oversize wheels/tires combination can cause damage to the car. In this case, the manufacturer is not responsible for the cost of repairs.

Modifying your car can also quickly bump up the cost of your car insurance. This comes from the fact that car modifications can seriously affect risk of accident and/or theft, and insurance is based upon risk after all.

Safety risks

Improper installation of poor quality parts can hurt your car. Yes, there are modifications that can improve braking and handling. However, most of the cars systems are designed an integrated system, so random modifications may disrupt it and cause reliability and safety issues.

For example, one of the popular modifications for 4WD truck is lifting the suspension to clear large tires. This modification will result in a higher center of gravity and compromised stability, even at low speeds. Another popular modification is Plus-sizing wheels and tires, which can adversely affect the suspension dynamics. Even adding seat covers can affect safety if they interfere with seat-mounted side-impact air bags.

If you modify your car in a reckless way, you are at the risk of causing dangerous collisions that produce significant destruction. So always remember that safety comes first.

Legality risks

While minor modifications and customization are considered legal, some of the minor ones are against the law. The vehicle will be denied registration renewal if an illegal part is found during inspection, regardless of whether the vehicle passes testing. Make sure to know what's legal and what's not before modifying your car.

Resale value risks

There is no doubt that a modified car will have less resale value than other cars out there. Not everyone is into customization and modifications, so if you try to sell your customized car in the future, it may not appeal to many people. And even if it did, the price could be lowered significantly. One of the examples is the custom painting, as it can be hard to touch-up and can date the car. Some alterations are not visible from the outside, and this is why pre-purchase inspections are crucial.