SUV Upgrades

Ever check out those surprising "Before and After" pictures in muscle magazines? The Charles Atlas transformation is invariably startling, almost unbelievable. Now imagine that degree of change for your stock SUV, giving it a stronger physique. Installing bolt-on parts is not that difficult nor necessarily expensive, but the resulting change can be astonishing. "It's all about putting personality back into your personal transportation—it's not a toaster after all," points out Larry Weiner of Performance West Group, a company that specializes in creating trend-setting show cars and trucks.


The great thing about personalizing your SUV with bolt-on parts is that it can be done in stages, just a little bit at a time, so you can pay as you go. "We encourage people to buy complete packages, a design concept, so the vehicle has the right result," says Alex Cates of Team Stillen, a company that offers a wide range of SUV body-styling upgrades. "But you don't have to do it all at once, as long as you keep the goal in mind."

Wheels/Tires
So what's the best way to begin? "The most dramatic enhancement you can make is in the wheel and tire package," says Weiner. "It requires no modifications, and can be done in an hour or so for that 'immediate gratification factor.' No matter what else you do to your SUV, your eye goes straight to those custom wheels."


What are the latest styles in wheels? "Chrome has made a huge resurgence in the custom wheel market," Weiner adds. "There's also a lot more detail, depth and edging for multiple light reflections that draw your eye. And you don't always have to pay a lot more for custom wheels, because once a new design comes out, a lot of lower price imitations usually follow."


A taller rim often is more noticeable and more dramatic. If you opt for taller rims, you can fit them with lower-profile tires to retain the same overall tire diameter as stock. This is known as plus sizing, and it means you won't have to recalibrate your speedometer or worry about any computer issues. (Some vehicle's computers need to be reprogrammed to accept a tire that isn't stock size.)