The first car modification that most owners usually carry out is upgrading their wheels and tyres. Replacing your stock rims with a larger (usually by one or two inches in diameter) set of alloy wheels not only improves a car’s look, but can help enhance its roadholding, too, since larger wheels offer a wider contact patch that increases grip.
Another reason for upgrading ones wheels is so that a big brake kit can also be fitted in the future. Even if you’re not planning to mod your engine to boost its power, a big brake kit is a worthwhile investment.
Aesthetically, a big brake kit complements larger wheels. Now, I’m not suggesting that one should attempt to match the size of the ginormous brake discs on the Bentley Continental GT Speed. But big rims make stock brakes look weedy. And a properly modified car should have beefy, not weedy brakes.
The best reason to install a big brake kit is to reduce your braking distances. Even if you drive at moderate speeds, you can feel more confident knowing that you have a better chance of stopping in time to avoid a collision.
Drilled or slotted rotors also reduce the likelihood of brake fade, which occurs when the brakes have become too hot. When brake fade occurs, the brakes lose their effectiveness. If you’re planning to modify bigger and heavier vehicles, such as an SUV or MPV, the brakes should be at the top of your list. A big brake kit would be a big help in reducing the braking distances of these vehicles – especially when they’re fully loaded.
For performance car owners, a big brake kit makes track day excursions more fun, too. When you add steel-braided brake lines and race-spec brake fluid (which have higher boiling points), you get to do more laps before needing to give your car a rest. Indeed, big brakes look great, but they work even better!
