Owning a car is one thing, but maintaining it is a totally different ball game.

We are all fond of certain mistakes in beautifying and maintaining our cars.

Some of them could prove costly – literally in the long run.

These are five common car maintenance mistakes to avoid:

5. Using the wrong brakes

Most people tend to replace their car engines in order to make them more powerful, but what they fail to realise is that without adding suitably sized brakes, this is actually quite dangerous. When adding extra horsepower to your ride, standard brakes will not work as effectively as they would with the default engine, which means that you may not be able to stop in time or be able to attempt 180-spins safely.

To avoid breaking every bone in your body, you should replace all of your brakes with ones that are suitable for the car’s engine size. Try speaking to a specialist – either a mechanic or a shop assistant – to find out which brakes are best suited for your vehicle. And remember — safety always comes first.

4. Carrying excess weight

Carrying unnecessary weight means that you’re not only burning more fuel, but also slowing down the car’s performance. The less weight you have in your car, the quicker it will brake and accelerate, and the less aggressive you’ll have to be on the suspension.

To improve your car’s performance and speed, remove any excess weight, which may include unnecessary items such as a heavy toolbox or a large speaker box at the back.

3. Not working on the inside

Indeed there is the need to feel towards achieving a great-looking ride, but seriously guys, what’s the point of making it look like a race car if it cannot perform like one?

You can try adding little touches to the body, such as a small rear spoiler or tinted windows, but heavy speakers and large spoilers will just add unnecessary weight onto the car, hindering its performance.

2. Using massive wheels

Sure, they look great and run smoothly on flat surfaces such as motorways and public roads, but what you’ll soon realise is that as soon as you drive along a bumpy road, you’re going to get shaken.

This is simply because thin tyres cannot absorb shock waves as well as thick ones, and will eventually cause damage the suspension.

1. Not adapting to the elements

This is the big one that most men get wrong. It’s potentially the most dangerous and can cause a great deal of damage to your car. Remember — unless you’re driving a very expensive kitted-out motor — most cars are sold with standard fixtures and fittings, which is why you will have to add the extra safety features yourself.

Always adapt your car to the varying weather conditions.