Ride height: Difference between revisions

{{RefimproveMore citations needed|date=May 2007}}

Ground clearance is a critical factor in several important characteristics of a vehicle. For all vehicles, especially cars, variations in clearance represent a trade-off between [[Automobile handling|handling]], [[ride quality]], and practicality.

A higher ride height and ground clearance means that the [[Car_suspensionCar suspension#Travel|wheels have more vertical room to travel]] and absorb road shocks. Also, the car is more capable of being driven on roads that are not level, without the scraping against surface obstacles and possibly damaging the chassis and underbody.

For a higher ride height, the [[Center_of_massCenter of mass#Center_of_gravityCenter of gravity|center of mass]] of the car is higher, which makes for less precise and more dangerous handling characteristics (most notably, the chance of [[Vehicle rollover|rollover]] is higher). Higher ride heights will typically adversely affect [[aerodynamic]] properties. This is why [[sports car]]s typically have very low clearances, while [[off-road vehicle]]s and [[SUV]]s have higher ones. Two well-known extremes of each are the [[Ferrari F40]] and the [[Hummer]].

Lowering a car's [[Suspension (vehicle)|suspension]] is a common and relatively inexpensive aftermarket modification. Many car enthusiasts prefer the more aggressive look of a lowered body{{According to whom|date=October 2017}}, and there is an easily realized [[car handling]] improvement from the lower [[center of gravity]]. Most passenger cars are produced such that one or two inches of lowering will not significantly increase the probability of damage. On most automobiles, ride height is modified by changing the length of the suspension [[Spring (device)|springs]], and is the essence of many aftermarket suspension kits supplied by manufacturers such as [[Eibach (company)|Eibach]]<ref>[https://eibach.com/us/ Eibach]</ref> and [[H&R (automotive manufacturer)|H&R]] .<ref>[http://www.hrsprings.com/ H&R]</ref>.

[[Image:MUTCD W10-5.svg|140px|thumb|right|[[Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices|MUTCD]] warning sign for a [[Level crossing|low-ground-clearance crossing]] ]]