The refreshed Tesla Model Y — commonly known as the Model Y Juniper — arrives with significant changes to its exterior design, interior and overall refinement. But like most factory vehicles, there’s still room for owners who want a more aggressive stance and a more personalized appearance.
This brand-new black Model Y Juniper arrived at Speed Projects Laboratory in Richmond, BC for a comprehensive transformation involving both our SPL1 Performance & Maintenance and SPL2 Paint Protection & Care divisions.
Instead of focusing on a single modification, this project addressed several areas of the vehicle at once: ride height, wheel fitment, suspension geometry, exterior styling and window tint.
The result is a Model Y that maintains the clean character of Tesla’s refreshed design while sitting considerably more purposefully on the road.
Project Snapshot
Vehicle: Brand-New Tesla Model Y Juniper
Location: Richmond, BC
Project Type: Suspension, fitment, styling & window tint
SPL1 Performance & Maintenance:
- Unplugged Performance Perfect Flush Fitment Kit
- Unplugged Performance lowering springs
- 15mm front wheel spacers
- 20mm rear wheel spacers
- Rear camber control arm adjustment kit
- Four-wheel alignment
- Aftermarket Model Y Juniper body kit
- Carbon-fibre rear spoiler
SPL2 Paint Protection & Care:
- XPEL PRIME XR PLUS ceramic window tint
- 70% VLT front-row windows
- 70% VLT windshield
- 5% VLT rear-row windows
Customer Goal
The objective was to give the new Model Y Juniper a lower, wider and more aggressive OEM+ appearance without turning it into an impractical build.
The factory wheels would remain, making suspension height and wheel positioning particularly important. The exterior would then be complemented with aerodynamic styling pieces and a carbon-fibre rear spoiler, while ceramic window tint would finish the overall appearance and improve cabin comfort.
Why Lower a Tesla Model Y Juniper?
One of the most noticeable characteristics of a stock Model Y is the amount of clearance surrounding the wheels.
That’s understandable for a crossover designed around everyday usability, but visually it can make the factory wheels appear tucked underneath the body.
Lowering springs reduce that visual gap and bring the body closer to the wheels.
On this build, however, lowering was only one part of the equation.
Simply lowering the vehicle wouldn’t address how far inward the factory wheels sit relative to the fenders. That’s why the Unplugged Performance Perfect Flush Fitment Kit made sense as a complete package.
Why We Chose the Unplugged Performance Perfect Flush Fitment Kit
Rather than piecing together unrelated suspension and fitment components, this Model Y received Unplugged Performance’s Tesla-specific Perfect Flush Fitment Kit.
The package combines several components designed to work toward the same objective:
Performance lowering springs reduce ride height and wheel gap.
15mm front wheel spacers move the factory front wheels outward.
20mm rear wheel spacers provide additional rear track width and bring the rear wheels closer to the fender line.
Rear camber adjustment components provide additional suspension geometry adjustment after lowering.
Together, these modifications address both vertical wheel gap and horizontal wheel positioning.
That distinction is important when trying to achieve a proper stance.
SPL Tech Tip
Lowering springs and wheel spacers accomplish two different things. Springs reduce the vertical distance between the body and wheels, while properly selected spacers move the wheels outward relative to the fenders. Combining the two can create a much more complete stance than either modification alone.
Installing Unplugged Performance Lowering Springs on the Model Y Juniper
The factory suspension components were accessed and the original springs replaced with the Unplugged Performance performance lowering springs.
Your installation photos are particularly useful here because they clearly document the springs installed within the Juniper suspension rather than simply showing the finished ride height.
The lowering springs retain the vehicle’s existing dampers while changing the vehicle’s static ride height and spring characteristics.
For an owner who wants a fixed drop without moving to a height-adjustable coilover system, lowering springs provide a relatively straightforward solution.
The difference becomes especially apparent once the vehicle is back on the ground.
The large factory wheel gap is reduced, visually connecting the wheels and body much more effectively.
Correcting Rear Suspension Geometry After Lowering
Changing ride height also changes suspension geometry.
On the rear suspension, lowering can introduce additional negative camber. Some negative camber is normal, but having adjustability becomes useful when setting up a lowered vehicle properly.
The Unplugged Performance rear camber control arm adjustment kit was therefore installed as part of the package.
This gives our technicians additional adjustment range when performing the final alignment rather than simply accepting whatever geometry results from the new ride height.
SPL Tech Tip
A four-wheel alignment should be considered part of the suspension installation—not an optional extra—when changing a vehicle’s ride height. Lowering can alter camber and toe, both of which can affect handling and tire wear.
15mm Front & 20mm Rear Wheel Spacers for Flush Fitment
With the new ride height established, attention turned to wheel position.
The Perfect Flush Fitment Kit uses:
Front: 15mm
Rear: 20mm
The staggered spacer thickness accounts for the relationship between the factory wheels and front/rear bodywork.
Instead of replacing the factory Tesla wheels, the spacers allow them to sit farther outward.
This is one of the biggest visual changes to the vehicle.
From the side and rear three-quarter angles, the wheels now occupy the arches more effectively instead of appearing recessed underneath the body.
Combined with the lowering springs, the result is the flush, planted stance the package is intended to achieve.
Four-Wheel Alignment After the Suspension Installation
Once all suspension components were installed and the vehicle was sitting at its new ride height, SPL performed a professional four-wheel alignment.
This is an essential final step.
Alignment allows our technicians to evaluate and adjust the vehicle’s geometry after the suspension changes, including the effects of the lowering springs and adjustable rear components.
It also completes the suspension installation as a system rather than treating the individual components as isolated upgrades.
For lowered Teslas—particularly daily-driven vehicles—proper alignment is important for maintaining predictable handling and managing tire wear.
Model Y Juniper Aftermarket Body Kit
The suspension transformation was complemented by an aftermarket exterior body kit designed for the refreshed Model Y Juniper.
The kit adds more visual definition to the vehicle without overwhelming Tesla’s minimalist design.
The most noticeable changes are around the lower portions of the vehicle, where the additional aerodynamic styling visually lowers the body even further.
This works especially well with the physical suspension drop.
A body kit on a factory-height vehicle can sometimes make the proportions feel disconnected. Here, the lower ride height, wider wheel position and exterior pieces work together as one overall design.
Carbon-Fibre Rear Spoiler
A carbon-fibre rear spoiler completes the rear of the Model Y.
Against the black paint, the carbon fibre creates a relatively subtle contrast rather than becoming an isolated styling feature.
Viewed from the rear three-quarter angle, the spoiler also works with the lower body additions and wider rear wheel position to give the Juniper a considerably more aggressive profile.
XPEL PRIME XR PLUS Ceramic Window Tint
With the SPL1 modifications completed, SPL2 addressed the glass using XPEL PRIME XR PLUS ceramic window film.
The configuration selected for this Model Y was:
Windshield: 70% VLT
Front-row windows: 70% VLT
Rear-row windows: 5% VLT
PRIME XR PLUS is XPEL’s premium ceramic window-film line, designed to provide heat and infrared rejection without relying on traditional metallic film construction.
The 70% film used on the windshield and front windows maintains a relatively light appearance while adding the benefits of ceramic film.
The much darker 5% VLT rear-row configuration creates greater privacy and gives the black Model Y a more unified appearance from the side.
SPL Tech Tip
VLT stands for Visible Light Transmission. A higher percentage allows more visible light through the glass. A 70% VLT film is therefore substantially lighter than a 5% VLT film.
The Finished Model Y Juniper Transformation
The strongest part of this build is that no single modification has to carry the entire transformation.
The lowering springs reduce the wheel gap.
The wheel spacers improve wheel position.
The adjustable rear suspension components allow the geometry to be properly addressed.
The body kit visually extends the lower profile.
The carbon-fibre spoiler adds a finishing detail.
And the ceramic window tint completes the blacked-out exterior appearance.
The outdoor photographs really show the result.
Parked in front of SPL, the Model Y retains its recognizable Juniper design but now sits lower, wider and considerably more planted than a stock example.
Driving Characteristics
Lowering springs can change more than appearance.
Reducing ride height lowers the vehicle’s centre of gravity, while revised spring characteristics can influence how the chassis responds during acceleration, braking and cornering.
The wider effective track created by the wheel spacers also changes the vehicle’s stance relative to the factory configuration.
That doesn’t mean every owner should modify a Model Y this way. The factory suspension is designed around Tesla’s chosen balance of comfort, clearance and handling.
This package is better suited to an owner willing to trade some of that factory ride height and clearance for a more performance-oriented stance.
SPL Technician’s Insight
The important part of a project like this isn’t simply installing lowering springs.
Once ride height changes, we have to consider what happens to the rest of the vehicle.
Wheel position, rear camber, toe and overall alignment all become part of the same conversation.
That’s why we like the approach taken with this Juniper. The springs, spacers, rear adjustment components and alignment were planned together rather than treating lowering as an isolated modification.
For a street-driven Model Y using the original wheels, the end result is much more cohesive.
SPL Verdict
For Model Y Juniper owners who like their factory wheels but want a more aggressive stance, the Unplugged Performance Perfect Flush Fitment approach makes a lot of sense.
It addresses two of the most obvious visual characteristics at the same time: wheel gap and recessed factory wheel fitment.
This setup is well suited for:
- Model Y Juniper daily drivers
- Owners retaining factory wheels
- Drivers wanting a lower OEM+ stance
- Owners who prefer fixed lowering springs over coilovers
- Builds focused on appearance with complementary handling improvements
It may not be ideal for:
- Owners requiring maximum ground clearance
- Drivers wanting adjustable ride height
- Owners who prefer the factory suspension configuration
- Builds requiring extensive track-focused suspension adjustment
For this particular Juniper, combining the suspension package with the body kit, carbon-fibre spoiler and XPEL ceramic tint created a much more complete transformation than any one of those upgrades would have achieved independently.
Speed Projects Laboratory
Richmond, British Columbia
Perform. Protect. Maintain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you lower the new Tesla Model Y Juniper?
Yes. Aftermarket suspension options are available specifically for the refreshed Model Y Juniper. This vehicle was equipped with Unplugged Performance lowering springs as part of its Perfect Flush Fitment setup.
What is the Unplugged Performance Perfect Flush Fitment Kit for the Model Y?
The setup used on this project combines performance lowering springs, 15mm front wheel spacers, 20mm rear wheel spacers and rear camber adjustment components. Together, they address ride height, wheel position and suspension geometry.
Do you need an alignment after installing lowering springs on a Tesla Model Y?
A professional four-wheel alignment is strongly recommended after changing suspension ride height. Lowering can affect camber and toe, which can influence handling and tire wear.
Why install adjustable rear camber components when lowering a Model Y?
Lowering changes suspension geometry and can increase negative rear camber. Adjustable components provide additional range for correcting or optimizing the rear alignment after the vehicle has been lowered.
Can I keep the factory Model Y Juniper wheels when lowering the vehicle?
Yes. This project retained the factory wheels and used 15mm front and 20mm rear spacers to improve their position relative to the fenders.
What window tint was installed on this Tesla Model Y Juniper?
SPL installed XPEL PRIME XR PLUS ceramic window film. This project received 70% VLT film on the windshield and front-row windows, with 5% VLT on the rear-row windows.
Does SPL install Tesla suspension and styling upgrades in Vancouver?
SPL performs Tesla suspension, fitment, alignment and styling upgrades from our shop in Richmond, BC, serving customers throughout Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.
Can SPL handle both Tesla performance modifications and window tint?
Yes. Projects like this can involve both sides of SPL. SPL1 handles performance, suspension, alignment and related upgrades, while SPL2 provides services such as XPEL ceramic window tint and vehicle protection.