Ride height

The ground clearance of vehicles referred to the distance to the floor, for cars in general, the distance between the lowest point of the vehicle body and the road surface. In some cases it is useful to specify, was measured at which point the vehicle. The term is also used in other vehicles (eg, tanks, amphibious vehicle, tractor ).

When SUVs are typically the ground clearance under the axles and the ground clearance between the axles of interest. It gives the following definition: " The ground clearance beneath one axle is determined by the peak height of a circular arc passing through the center of the contact area of ​​the tires on one axle and touching the lowest fixed point of the vehicle between the wheels. " The ground clearance between the axles is colloquially referred to as abdominal freedom and is tightly connected to the ramp angle. Definition of Directive 92/53/EEC: " The ground clearance between the axles is the smallest distance between the ground plane and the lowest fixed point of the vehicle. "

For cars with a lowered suspension (usually a lowering improves handling but reduces ride comfort ) consists partly the problem is that the low ground clearance leads to limitations in everyday use because natural or artificial obstacles ( bumps ) on drive no longer without damage can be.

Minimum ground clearance

In Germany there is no legally binding minimum height of a ground clearance. Nevertheless, the provisions of § 30 paragraph 1 and 2 traffic regulations establish a general limitation of certifiable ground clearance.

In the main study of motor vehicles, the auditor is based mainly on the recommendation " VdTÜV 751 ". This leaflet is available in Annex II, paragraph 5.1.9, that

This regulation ( such as spoilers made ​​of plastic) remain unaffected attachments made ​​of elastic materials. Ultimately, it is left to the auditor how much room it leaves for the authorization, however, the TÜV recommendation has prevailed when evaluating a vehicle situation as a rule base.

In Austria, the Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology Commission Regulation 190500/8-II/B/5/00 of 3 August 2000, an identical set admission determining binding in force.

Minimum distances

Regardless of the ride height of the vehicle floor, there are minimum distances to the road surface for a number of attachments. In Germany, - generally in the traffic regulations - following restrictions binding:

Many of these paragraphs have been adapted and comply with regulation ECE -R 48 of the European Union to "technical prescriptions for wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted and / or be used on wheeled vehicles (s) - regulation 48 Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles regards the installation of Beleutungs and light-signaling devices "