
It's fairly common for car owners to modify their cars' suspensions to make their car ride lower. Usually, aesthetics is one of the main reasons for lowering the ride height – many people prefer the look of a lower car – but in theory, there are other benefits:
- Handling can be improved by lowering the vehicle's center of gravity, which reduces the tilt of the car.
- Lowering the vehicle usually reduces aerodynamic drag, which increases fuel economy and sometimes reduces high-speed lift, which makes the vehicle safer. (These effects are usually quite small for realistic amounts of reduction).)
- A lower vehicle can present a lower rollover risk. (Most cars are extremely difficult to roll under normal conditions, so this is a minor consideration at best).
Some aftermarket suspensions improve handling in ways other than lowering the car, so lowering can only be considered an added benefit. This is the theory. But what about in practice: is lowering a car a good idea, and is it safe?