A brand-new car has just arrived at the dealership when the customer asks for three things: thicker tires, a steel skid plate under the engine, and a few extra centimeters of ride height. It all sounds like sensible preparation for gravel roads — but the trouble only starts to surface once the car is up on the lift. Tires change the rolling and load conditions, the area around the skid plate holds the radiator, drain points and service positions, and the suspension touches on alignment, braking and body stability.
When an order like this comes in, the dealer first has to ask which country the vehicle is headed to, what kind of roads it will run on and how heavy the usual load is — only then can the modification plan be set. A route that occasionally crosses a well-maintained gravel side road calls for a very different package than year-round running on mine sites, farms or mountain roads. If the requirements are not pinned down, a so-called "reinforcement kit" can easily turn into a collection of parts that cannot be written into the handover documents. The references below cite Argentine and Peruvian rules to illustrate where responsibility lies; other South American markets still need to be re-confirmed against the destination country.
Start With the Numbers on the Tire Sidewall
Choosing a tire for gravel roads is about more than the tread pattern. The dealer should begin with the originally approved specifications, checking size, load index, speed rating, rim width and offset, and then verify clearance at full steering lock, full load and suspension compression once the tire is fitted. If the vehicle has tire pressure monitoring, the sensors and system re-learning also need to be confirmed.
UN Regulation No. 30 is the UNECE rule on pneumatic tires for passenger cars and their trailers, and UN Regulation No. 124 covers replacement wheels for passenger cars. The dealer can use these two catalogue entries as an index when requesting approval documentation from tire and wheel suppliers — but they cannot replace a check of adoption status in the destination country, the original vehicle specifications, or fitment on the actual vehicle.
Argentina's Decree No. 196 of 2025 puts it even more directly: the tire combination fitted to a vehicle must comply with the manufacturer's recommendations and satisfy the load, size and speed conditions. If the dealer keeps only the trade name "AT tire" without recording the specific specification and the manufacturer's basis for it, later technical inspections and warranty judgments lose their starting point.
After Fitting the Skid Plate, Put the Car Back on the Lift
The common problems with skid plates usually show up before strength is even in question. Whether the mounting holes use the original attachment points, whether the plate presses against the oil pan, electric motor or traction battery housing, and whether it blocks cooling airflow, drain holes, lift points or service openings — all of this has to be verified on the actual vehicle. Once the car is back on the ground, turn the steering to full lock and check the tires, steering tie rods and suspension travel.
If the installation requires drilling, welding or altering the original structure, the nature of the work changes. The dealer should first obtain a written opinion from the supplier or the brand and confirm whether the destination country requires proof of modification. A skid plate maker's claim that a part is "vehicle-specific" is only a product fitment statement; the vehicle manufacturer and the local authority each still have to confirm it separately.
Once the Suspension Is Touched, the Line of Responsibility Moves Too
Lift springs, spacers or dampers with different characteristics all change the vehicle's original technical state. Argentina's rules on vehicle modifications and workshops classify suspension work that alters the manufacturer's model specification as a vehicle modification, and the workshop performing it must issue a certificate signed by a qualified professional. Fitting original-specification parts during a repair and modifying the specification carry different responsibilities.
After the work is done, a four-wheel alignment and road test are required, along with checks of steering return, braking, body stability system warnings and full-load condition. Argentina's Decree No. 196 of 2025 requires technical inspection workshops to be equipped with gap detectors, tire tread depth gauges and shock absorber testing equipment. Peru's D.S. 025-2008-MTC regulation on technical vehicle inspections explicitly requires a check for loss of the frame or main beams due to corrosion or fatigue. When the dealer does the final re-verification before handover, these items can serve as the starting point for the inspection.
Sort Out the Warranty Before the Wrench Drops
Passing the local inspection does not mean the manufacturer will cover faults caused by the modification. The dealer needs a written warranty boundary for the brand, sales market, specific version and VIN. Which parts the supplier agrees to install, who warrants the modified parts, and how consequential damage is attributed all have to be set out separately.
The handover file should retain at least the original part numbers, replacement part specifications, installation plan, installer, before-and-after photos, alignment or re-verification results, and the manufacturer's reply. If noise, uneven wear or underbody damage shows up later, the after-sales team can then judge whether the cause lies with the original vehicle, a part, or the installation.
Modification evidence table
| Modification | Confirm before ordering | Re-verify before handover |
|---|---|---|
| Tires and wheels | Factory-approved specifications, load, speed, local regulations | Interference, tire pressure, alignment and warnings |
| Skid plate | Attachment points, material, cooling and service clearance | Fluid leaks, drainage, noise and bolt torque |
| Suspension | Geometry changes, part responsibility, warranty boundary | Four-wheel alignment, braking, stability system and full-load condition |
| All modifications | VIN-level plan and written supplier reply | Photos, part numbers, installer and re-verification results archived |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the same gravel-road package be fitted to a whole batch of vehicles?
First complete the installation and re-verification on one pilot vehicle whose software and hardware state matches the production batch. Every subsequent vehicle still needs its VIN, key part numbers and installation state checked, with re-confirmation whenever the supplier changes a part mid-stream.
Is a tire with an outside diameter close to the factory spec acceptable?
The load index, speed rating, wheel matching, tire pressure monitoring and body clearance all still need to be checked. Outside diameter is only one of the items.
If the dealer does the installation itself, is the factory warranty guaranteed to hold?
That is not how it works. The installer, the source of the parts and the manufacturer's authorization all affect responsibility; the written warranty terms and confirmation letter for the market in question are the final word.
Does the skid plate need to be installed in the destination country?
It depends on the shipping method, local certification requirements and installation capability. Whether the work is done in China or in the destination country, the same part numbers, procedures and acceptance records have to be locked in.
When you are ready to verify a model and its modification boundaries for the South American gravel-road market, contact Starvia Automotive via WhatsApp: +1 669 292 8680, or visit the Starvia Automotive website to submit the destination country, model version, road conditions and expected load.
This article is compiled from official Argentine and Peruvian road and technical inspection materials, together with UNECE regulations on tires and wheels. The applicability of modifications, the factory warranty and export conditions are subject to the destination country's requirements, the specific VIN and the actual purchase order. Information verified on: 2026-08-18.