Tuning by chip primarily serves to increase the performance of your engine. Modern vehicles have long since become rolling computers on four wheels, in which numerous functions are controlled by software via a control unit. In this context, a lot is promised by the suppliers, but not everything is kept. In addition, increased performance can have a negative effect on mechanical components on the vehicle if the chip tuning is not carried out professionally. This is mainly the case with cheap offers. Use the following guide to get all the information you need on the subject.
It is often said that car manufacturers have a power reserve in their engines due to different conditions around the world. This relates, for example, to climatic conditions, pollutant emissions and fuel consumption.
Chip tuning via the engine control unit comes into play to call up additional power. It works equally well for petrol and diesel vehicles with a common rail injection system, although the individual measures may differ from one another. The following options are available for customised tuning:
Which type of tuning is right for you depends on the type of vehicle and how much money you want to spend.
It is possible to install a box yourself, but you should definitely leave the reprogramming of the software to experienced specialists.
There are various characteristic maps that are accessed by the installed engine control unit, both by the manufacturer and for technical reasons. The common ones include those listed below:
There are many adjustment screws that can be accessed for engine tuning. Which maps are suitable for optimisation or modification depends on the type of engine and whether, for example, a supercharger or turbocharger is used.
The cost of increasing the performance of your car with chip tuning depends on the type of vehicle. Luxury class vehicles are significantly more expensive than small and mid-range vehicles. A complete reprogramming of the software can quickly reach 850 £ and more. Optimised chip tuning is even cheaper, depending on the provider and the car in question.
If you decide in favour of a tuning box, the starting prices are around 130 £, high-quality models are available for between 250 and 450 £. As is occasionally reported, vehicle manufacturers are taking steps to make it more difficult to use the boxes. The main concern is the legal aspect and liability in the event of damage to the engine, transmission and other components. Power pedal devices cost from 180 £ upwards and are always designed for specific model ranges.
Although tuning increases driving pleasure with the associated increase in performance via the engine control unit, you have to accept some disadvantages:
It is important that you have the chip tuning to increase performance carried out professionally in order to avoid serious damage to the engine. In addition, the modifications must be registered, otherwise the operating licence for your vehicle will expire. The manufacturer's warranty for all components affected by the tuning will also be invalidated, and in the event of damage there may be serious problems with your insurance company.
Reputable tuners provide a guarantee on their work, including insurance cover, even if this is more expensive. To put it bluntly: Cheap can be extremely expensive when it comes to tuning.
After chip tuning, you may need new tyres based on the speed index. Other reasons include worn tread patterns and the natural ageing process of the rubber compounds. If you also want to enhance the exterior of your vehicle, then aluminium rims are ideal for visual tuning. Use our tyre and rim configurators at mytyres.co.uk.
Use our easy-to-understand tyre search function to find the perfect new tyres for your car:
Customer Service
Ratings
Quantity: %entry-quantity%
Price per unit: %entry-formattedTotalPrice%
