Best Car Tunes and Chase Builds
Your progression in Ghost Driver is gated by how efficiently you tune your car. The upgrade tree unlocks Engine, Brakes, Tires, and Handling — each compounds the value of every chase reward.
9 min readIntermediateUpdated 2026-09-17
Quick Tip: Aim for Engine level 3 before you start chasing Limited-tier cars — a Limited car alone dies too fast without Engine to back it up.
Table of Contents
Tune Preset Priority
Upgrade Priority
| Upgrade | Value | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Highest | Always upgrade first — Engine multiplies every chase reward |
| Brakes | High | Always upgrade second — tighter cornering = longer chases |
| Tires | Medium | Upgrade third — better grip compounds with Brakes |
| Handling | Medium | Only worth it after Engine + Brakes are maxed |
| Heat Management | Conditional | Best left until you are actively grinding chase loops |
Build Order
- Engine (priority 1) — get to level 3 ASAP
- Brakes (priority 2) — clears tight chases faster
- Tires (priority 3) — multiplies chase duration per session
- Handling (priority 4) — more chase-escape options per minute
- Heat Management (priority 5) — only worth it after Engine max
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I upgrade Engine or Brakes first?
Engine first if you are still on the starter car — the chase reward multiplier compounds immediately. Brakes first if you already have Engine level 3 and are losing chases to cornering.