Now purely from a geometry and clearance perspective , many times you effectively gain a bit more road to under the car clearance, if you use an angle of 30-45 degrees of approach vs perpendicular to the dip in the pavement on entering a drive way or trying to cross a speed bump AND REMEMBER too cross it at very low speed,.... obviously not always an option. but failure to anticipate and drive carefully can get rather expensive and time consuming as a result of damage inflicted to the cars lower areas
I added a deeper trans fluid pan to my corvette it was about 1.5" deeper than the stock pan, and reduced the ground clearance by about 1" I avoided issues with ground clearance by having previously swapped to larger diameter rims and tires which had previously raised my under car clearance by about a similar 1.5", but without that previous wheel and tire upgrade I think I would have been in serious trouble with the lower ground clearance under the vette!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_qhxgglcO0
viewtopic.php?f=80&t=1158&p=2361&hilit=skid+plate#p2361
IF YOU DON,T THINK OIL PANS AND FRAMES HIT SPEED BUMPS WHERE ARE ALL THE GROOVES IN THE CONCRETE FROM??





IF YOU DON,T THINK GETTING YOUR OIL PAN,TRANS PAN,HEADERS,AND FRAME UP AT LEAST 4" UP OFF from the pavement as you drive is important!

HERES A RATHER TYPICAL RAISED OBSTACLE, (its a fuel tank access port but man hole lids can be very similar)that can cause quite a bit of under car frame, and oil an damage

HERES AN UNLUCKY CORVETTE FRAME THAT HIT IT

viewtopic.php?f=80&t=10730&p=46843#p46843



just a few pictures I found posted that easily demonstrate internal tire damage can cause serious issues with stability, braking and control, and yeah, hitting a few curbs, chuck holes and speed bumps with your corvette,or muscle car,will be unlikely to help tire durability