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Acura TSX 2004-2014: Wheel and Tire Modifications

There are several tire and wheel upgrades you can make to your Acura TSX. They vary in price, skill required, and effect on the vehicle. The following are some of the more popular projects.

By Jeffrey Bausch - May 13, 2016

This article applies to the Acura TSX (2004-2014).

The Acura TSX is a great car in its own right, but that hasn’t stopped owners from performing various upgrades and modifications to it. Reasons vary from improving the car’s performances to giving a whole new aesthetic. Fortunately, there are several different modifications to consider, and they all vary by skill level, total cost, and overall impact on the car.

Figure 1. Acura TSX with some exterior mods.

Starter Mods

Upgraded Shocks

DIY Cost – $125

Pro Cost – $300 (parts plus labor)

Skill Level –Moderate; This job is complex and might require specialized tools or more than one person.

Upgrading your shocks will improve the overall driving experience. They work within the TSX’s suspension system, along with springs and other components, to lessen vibration, noise, and overall impact that the car’s wheels experience while in transition. They also make sure the tires are always in contact with the ground.

Lowering Springs

DIY Cost – $150

Pro Cost – $400 (parts plus labor)

Skill Level – Moderate; This job is complex and might require specialized tools or more than one person.

Lowering springs are physically shorter than their OEM counterparts. This allows the car to sit closer to the ground which, in turn, leads to a couple of benefits, most notably better handling in corners and a whole new look to the vehicle.

Intermediate Mods

Sway Bars

DIY Cost – $350

Pro Cost – $500 (parts plus labor)

Skill Level –Moderate; This job is complex and might require specialized tools or more than one person.

If you’re a bit more of an aggressive driver, then a sway bar makes for a nice addition. It is responsible for coupling the suspensions on each side of the vehicle to one another and relative to the chassis. Ultimately, if you take a tight turn, the vehicle will feel even as it distributes spring compression evenly.

A-Spec Kit

DIY Cost – $650

Pro Cost – $1,000+ (parts plus labor)

Skill Level – Moderate; This job is complex and might require specialized tools or more than one person.

The A-spec kit includes a variety of components specifically designed to improve the performance of the Acura TSX. This includes track-tuned springs and shocks, lightweight wheels, tires, performance brake pads, and more. It’s an all-in-one option to improving the overall performance of your TSX, without the need to shop on a million websites.

Advanced Mods

Coilovers

DIY Cost – $500

Pro Cost – $800 (parts plus labor)

Skill Level – The job requires a solid understanding of cars. Previous experience maintaining and repairing cars highly suggested.

While lowering springs allow you to quickly and cheaply lower the vehicle to the ground, coilovers allow you to more precisely lower the car to a specific height based on adjustments made to each corner of the car. You can also adjust the damper rating with coilovers as well as rebound settings.

Air Bags

DIY Cost – $400

Pro Cost – $3,000

Skill Level – The job requires a solid understanding of cars. Previous experience maintaining and repairing cars highly suggested.

The purpose of the air bag is pretty straightforward—it’s meant to inflate rapidly to prevent a person inside the car from being injured when the vehicle is involved in a collision. If you’ve been in an accident and the airbags have been deployed, you likely need to replace them. It can be a costly venture, and time-consuming too. If you’re not absolutely familiar with this particular component and system, and how to install it properly, you’d be best served to have it done by a professional.

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