A
lowrider (sometimes
low rider) is an automobile or other vehicle modified so that its
ground clearance is less than its design specification. This can be accomplished by substituting
tires with a smaller outer diameter or through more extensive modifications based on desired aesthetics or performance, such as altering the vehicle's
aerodynamics, lowering its
center of gravity, or changing the effective
gear ratios of the
drivetrain. The term "lowrider" can refer to both the vehicle and its owner or operator; the verb form "lowriding" can likewise refer to the process of modifying a vehicle in this manner, or to its operation.