Suspension
lifts are designed to provide four wheel drive vehicles with the extra
clearance necessary top take on any offroad challenge. Steep hills,
rocks, mud and uneven terrain can be conquered with added ground clearance
and offroad tires. In recent years as the popularity of large trucks
and SUVs has increased, so has the popularity of lift kits.
These days suspension lifts are more fashionable for aesthetics than
functionality. They are often symbolic, just like the oversized vehicles
they support. Many seem to think ‘the higher the ride, the higher
the status’. Others might believe that a large, lifted ride is
overcompensation for personal shortcomings.
There are disadvantages that come with suspension lifts. The ride in
a lifted vehicle is generally not as smooth as in a standard automobile.
Fuel efficiency also suffers, especially when a truck is also equipped
with bulky, offroad tires.
Such wheels can also be quite noisy and are much more expensive than
street tires. Many cities even have laws concerning suspension lifts.