How can you lower your car as much as possible?

Jul 31, 2026

🔧 Air Ride Technical Guide

How to lower your car
as low as possible?

The tips you need to lay your car on the ground without hassle or damage

✦ Made by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts ✦

Air Ride Wheels & Tires Clearance points Double wishbone suspension

Slammed car sitting on the ground with an air ride kit

Laying your car on the ground requires preparation

There's a fairly widespread misconception that once the air ride kit is installed, the car should be able to touch the ground without any issues. In reality, some vehicles require serious preparation work to go as low as possible.

Between wheel choice, mechanical clearance points, and suspension geometry, several factors limit your ground clearance once the air bags are completely deflated. We'll go over the points to check before and after installation.

⚠️ Important: Any structural modification (cutting, shortening control arms) must be carried out by an experienced professional specializing in air ride preparation.

🛞 Choose the right wheels and tires

Tip #1

The starting point for going as low as possible

Choosing your wheels and tires is key if you want to lay your car on the ground with your air ride kit. Many installers underestimate the impact of tire dimensions on ground clearance once the air bags are completely deflated.

A tire with too much sidewall height will mechanically raise your car, even with the air completely deflated. Conversely, a stretched fitment (a tire narrower than the wheel) lets you gain a few extra centimeters and achieve the famous "tuck" effect sought after in the stance scene.

What to check before installing any air suspension:
▸ The wheel width-to-tire width ratio (stretched fitment or not)
▸ The tire's overall diameter in relation to your wheel arch
▸ Whether your wheels are compatible with your air suspension kit

Checking wheel and tire fitment for maximum lowering

🔍 Check the clearance points

Tip #2

What's really stopping you from going lower

Inspecting clearance points on a lowered vehicle

Once your air ride kit is installed, it's common for some suspension components to hit the chassis or other parts before even reaching the ground. This is one of the most common reasons that prevent you from going as low as you want.

The most common contact points to check:
▸ The suspension arms (wishbones, links) touching the chassis
▸ The air springs bottoming out against the bodywork
▸ The wheels rubbing against the wheel arches or brake components
▸ The driveshafts against the frame rails

💡 Prefer slim driveshafts available in our shop, or have the frame rails cut by a professional.

Take the time to inspect every suspension component as you gradually lower your air springs, to precisely identify where the obstruction occurs. This diagnosis often determines whether additional modifications (cutting, reinforcement, or specific parts) are needed to go lower.

⚙️ Double-wishbone suspension

Tip #3

The modifications required to go lower

If your vehicle has a double-wishbone suspension, you will probably encounter a common problem: the original arms are too long and hit the top of the front strut tower before your car is fully laid out. (common on Audi, Porsche, etc.)

There are two solutions for correcting this obstruction:
1. Shorten the original arms to gain travel and prevent contact at the end of the drop.
2. Cut an opening in the suspension tower to allow the steering knuckle to pass through without bottoming out.

Upper control arms on a double-wishbone setup

⚠️ These two procedures affect structural vehicle components. We strongly recommend consulting an experienced professional in air ride builds for this type of modification; an incorrect cut or inadequate reinforcement can compromise the strength of your suspension.