If you don’t look back at your ride when you park, there’s something missing. You don’t have to stick with stock suspension, wheels, or performance parts. When it comes to ride height, stance, and your overall aesthetic, you need a car that looks as good as the work you put into it. We’re going to take a deep dive into how vehicle height changes your aesthetic and what you need to get the exact look you want.
What is Wheel Gap, and Why Does it Ruin Your Build?
Wheel gap is simply the space between your fender and your tire. Manufacturers build their cars with somewhere between 1 to 3 inches of wheel gap to avoid rubbing. Enthusiasts who want a lower ride can add lowering springs, coilovers, or air suspension systems to bring down that wheel gap for a sleek, sportier look.
You can keep your car’s original wheel gap, but why would you want that? You don’t want your dream car to be ordinary. Lowering your suspension is a clear way to set yourself apart from the pack for that aggressive stance that raises eyebrows. If you’re thinking about the kind of fitment you want on your vehicle, we’ll show you the difference between popular looks and what you need to adjust your wheels to fit the aesthetic.
Slammed vs Lowered vs Flush: What You Need to Know
Slammed, lowered, and flush are common terms in the car enthusiast. They all have different meanings and have different mod journeys to reach that specific visual appeal. Let’s start with slammed cars.
Slammed is pretty much how it sounds. You have lowered your suspension so much that there’s barely any wheel gap (at least 5mm, but 10-15mm is preferred). This is ideal for enthusiasts who want that aggressive street look. An air suspension system can give you the stance you’re looking for to keep that space between your tires and fenders at a minimum while also being able to raise your vehicle height to adapt to the road ahead.
Lowered is similar to slammed but you don’t want to go too far. Using lowering springs to take 1 to 1.5 inches of wheel gap off is great for some enthusiasts who care about the look. Coilovers deliver more adjustability for lowered builds whereas traditional lowering springs are static, meaning they stay at that height for good.
However you want to lower your build, there are suspension components that can make a huge difference that fit your budget.
Flush is different from slammed and lowered because it doesn’t have to do with height. Flushed fitments are how your wheels sit inside your fender, or with your fender to be more accurate. A flush look means your fender and wheel are parallel with each other for that seamless aesthetic that makes you look like an experienced enthusiast. Wheel width, offset, and tire size all matter in developing that flush look.
You want tires that fill the wheel well without rubbing, which is especially important on lowered setups. Also, you don’t want to oversize your tires, which can lead to your gauges underreading speed and RPM. Stick within that 3% increase if you want larger than recommended tires. Your offset and backspacing are also going to be important for finding that perfect flush fit. Check out this fitment calculator to learn what you need to create this look for your build.
Read: The 4 Main Styles of Wheel Fitment
Can You Improve Stance Without Ruining Ride Quality?
Lowering your suspension can have some unintended consequences on your ride quality, but enthusiasts have done enough trial and error to learn how to avoid the tradeoffs when slamming your ride. Lowering springs are a simple suspension upgrade that gives that sporty aesthetic, but because the springs are shorter, it creates a stiffer ride. That’s why replacing the OEM shocks will be helpful to avoid that decrease in ride quality. Coilovers are also a good option to adjust your height, while also maintaining the handling and comfort quality you want out of your suspension.
How Do Wheels and Suspension Affect Resale Value?
Aftermarket parts like wheels and suspension do have an impact on your vehicle’s resale value, but like everything, it’s complicated. If you installed new wheels last year and want to sell your car, your resale value will be good. A lowered suspension however is going to narrow your pool of potential buyers since it’s impractical for most drivers. But, another enthusiast may be interested, which can help with its overall value.
How well maintained your wheels and suspension are will impact your resale value. If you’ve modded your vehicle for a specific look or performance, it may not be what everyone is looking for and can cause issues later down the road, dropping the value of the car. Maintain your vehicle, fix what’s broken, and you’ll get a good price for it.
Why Does Ride Height Change How Fast a Car Looks Even When Parked?
Ride height makes cars look faster because race cars have minimal wheel gap. Lowering the suspension allows cars to corner better on the track, so we associate lowered cars with that speed and handling ability, which is a plus for car enthusiasts who want a sporty look.
Shop Suspension Kits at Vivid Racing
Find the best suspension components for your build to give your car the look and feel you’ve been waiting for. Our inventory features the most trusted brands in aftermarket suspension to give you the best range of choices while also matching your vehicle with the ideal fit for maximum performance and fitment confidence. Check out our blog for more reviews, recommendations, and FAQs. Contact our service team to have all your questions answered about our parts and what fits your build.
