GT7 Tuning for Beginners: What to Tune and Why It Matters

So, you’ve conquered the Café menus, golded a few License Tests, and now you’re wondering — should I finally buy that turbo upgrade? Hold your credits, rookie. Before you dump 30,000 Cr on shiny parts, let’s talk tuning in Gran Turismo 7, the smart way.

🔧 What is Tuning in GT7?

Tuning in GT7 means modifying your car’s performance using parts (via the Tuning Shop) and adjusting the settings (via the Car Settings menu). The goal? Make your car faster, grippier, and more suited to the race — without ruining balance or wasting money.

🛒 What to Upgrade First (and Why)

✅ 1. Tires First, Always

Upgrade to Sports Tires as soon as possible (usually Sports Soft).
Grip is everything. Even a 1000-horsepower beast on Comfort Hard tires handles like a shopping cart.

💡 Tip: Your first big tuning step is usually tires, not power.

✅ 2. Weight Reduction

Reducing your car’s weight improves acceleration, cornering, and braking.
Stage 1 and 2 are affordable and effective.

Don’t overdo it early, though — some events have a minimum weight or PP cap!

✅ 3. Fully Customizable Suspension (if available)

Gives you control over ride height, dampers, toe, camber — all crucial for handling.
Paired with tires, this turns any street car into a scalpel.

✅ 4. Racing Brake Kit

Better stopping power = later braking = faster lap times.
Always buy brake balance controller too for quick track-specific adjustments.

⚠️ Parts That Look Cool But Can Be a Waste Early On

❌ Turbo Upgrade Without Exhaust = Pointless

A big turbo adds power, but without a sports/racing muffler and racing intercooler, you’re not getting the full benefit.
Worse — you’ll raise your Performance Points (PP) and be placed against stronger opponents, without actually being faster.

❌ NOS (Nitrous)

Expensive. Fun. Almost never needed in single-player. Save it for memes or drag races.

❌ Power Restrictor / Ballast (early game)

These are great for tuning your PP down, not up. Only useful when you’re entering a lower PP-limited race with a faster car.

⚙️ Car Settings You Should Learn Early

➕ Transmission Tuning

Unlock Fully Custom Transmission to adjust gear ratios.
Short gears = more acceleration.
Long gears = better for top speed circuits like Le Mans or Tokyo.

➕ Downforce (on cars with wings)

More downforce = more grip in corners but lower top speed.
Use more downforce for twisty tracks like Tsukuba or Nürburgring GP.

➕ Suspension Tweaks

Lower ride height for better cornering, but avoid scraping the road.
Add camber (1.5–2.5) to front wheels for better turn-in.
Soften rear springs a bit if the car oversteers.

🧠 Strategy: Don’t Tune to Win, Tune to Learn

The game actually rewards you for not overpowering your car:

You get more credits for closer races.
You learn how to drive, instead of just flooring it.
Winning with a clean line feels glorious. Winning with 800 hp and crashing into walls feels… well, cheap.

🛠️ Best Early Game Tuning Build

Here’s a beginner-friendly upgrade path for your average road car:

Sports Soft Tires
Weight Reduction Stage 1
Sports Suspension (or Fully Custom Suspension if available)
Racing Brake Kit
Racing Muffler + Air Filter (if you must touch power)
Racing Clutch + Flywheel

With this, you’ll have a balanced, grippy car that handles beautifully without overspending or overshooting your PP limits.

Final Thoughts: Learn First, Buy Later

GT7 is a driving simulator, not a drag race fantasy. It wants you to win by skill, not by buying the fastest part. That’s why it even punishes players who over-upgrade by making events harder (thanks, PP system).

So be smart. Learn the car. Tune to balance. Drive to improve.