Tire Flaps?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2018
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From: GA
Those little flaps are spats, they’re engineered to push water away from in front of the tires at highway speeds to assist with watershed of the tires. This is done by diverting the air to the ground. Although you may not notice much of a difference, aside from aesthetics in fair weather and/or lower speeds, you could in the wet at higher speeds.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 6,260
Likes: 1,752
From: Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
The official part name is Fender Liner Extension.
What does it do? Hard to say for sure. Two things I could see it possibly doing is helping to divert water away from the front tire in situations where you are in heavy rainfall or deep water.
Secondly it could help to divert debris on the road that would just slam into the tire.
What does it do? Hard to say for sure. Two things I could see it possibly doing is helping to divert water away from the front tire in situations where you are in heavy rainfall or deep water.
Secondly it could help to divert debris on the road that would just slam into the tire.
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,626
Likes: 459
From: GA
The official part name is Fender Liner Extension.
What does it do? Hard to say for sure. Two things I could see it possibly doing is helping to divert water away from the front tire in situations where you are in heavy rainfall or deep water.
Secondly it could help to divert debris on the road that would just slam into the tire.
What does it do? Hard to say for sure. Two things I could see it possibly doing is helping to divert water away from the front tire in situations where you are in heavy rainfall or deep water.
Secondly it could help to divert debris on the road that would just slam into the tire.
The official part name is Fender Liner Extension.
What does it do? Hard to say for sure. Two things I could see it possibly doing is helping to divert water away from the front tire in situations where you are in heavy rainfall or deep water.
Secondly it could help to divert debris on the road that would just slam into the tire.
What does it do? Hard to say for sure. Two things I could see it possibly doing is helping to divert water away from the front tire in situations where you are in heavy rainfall or deep water.
Secondly it could help to divert debris on the road that would just slam into the tire.
Both valid (@Sasnuke) points, found a scientific(?) study:
http://www.autospeed.com/cms/article.html?&title=Modifying-UnderCar-Airflow-Part-2&A=2456
Updated link (since redirect doesn't work for some reason):
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:z2-EQJ3SKNEJ:www.autospeed.com/cms/article.html%3F%26title%3DModifying-UnderCar-Airflow-Part-2%26A%3D113182+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
Not sure how they are measuring this but here is their data:
Conclusion of study:
- A large deflector positioned well ahead of the wheel stops air getting to the wheel (good) but probably deflects air sideways, increasing the size of the wake (bad). Lift is low because there’s no underbody surface parallel with the ground against which the air can develop an upwards pressure.
- A large deflector positioned just ahead of the tyre deflects air sideways (bad for drag) and with the horizontal undercar body surface ahead of it, provides an area for air pressure to build-up, creating lift.
- A small deflector positioned just ahead of the tyre stops air getting to the wheel (good for drag) and isn’t so big that this benefit is more than outweighed by the sideways flows. However, it still causes a pressure build-up ahead of it which bears on the underbody and so causes lift.
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren - underbody
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren - front deflectors
Initial Prius front deflectors
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren inspired 1Gen Prius fender liner extensions with front diffuser.
Look at the size of that thing, ABSOLUTE UNIT!
I WANT A SEIBON CARBON VERSION, NOW!
https://www.sae.org/publications/tec.../2004-01-1307/
Associated SAE paper says it can reduce drag up to 4%.
While if incorrectly designed can create lift on the front of the vehicle.
Equivalent thread in a dogde dart forum asking about them:
https://www.dodge-dart.org/forum/dod...ont-tires.html
Same thread quoted Subaru owners think its to reduce the dirt from entering the engine bay while reversing.
Infiniti owners think they are curb feelers:
http://www.infinitiq50.org/forum/q50...sh-guards.html
Personal conclusion:
Car community has various conclusions, some pretty creative lol. It's almost like deciding what is spork is used for.
The “fender liner extension” is used to decrease drag and promote areo.
But in the graph, it looks the effect is very minor through the various designs they used.
I guess its time to install a carbon fiber front diffuser now that I've removed them lol.
Realistically, I'm going to keep them off and see if i notice anything MPG-wise or during wet driving.
Also, the forum posting engine is pretty beast being able to handle this!
Last edited by nan88; Jul 8, 2018 at 03:08 PM. Reason: Do you want Mercedes SLR McLaren inspired Prius front deflectors, ClubLexus?
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2018
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From: GA
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 9,507
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I was going to reply without reading any of the above, but yes keep them on. Not only do they deflect water away from the tires, they also serve as to reduce turbulent air in and around the suspension. Also from hitting the tires directly. BMW has done this for decades as I'm sure other automakers.
I'd keep them on it's a win/win/win. I actually think they look good. Makes the car look dynamic/engineered. Like some thought went into it.
You can get ridiculous mpg gains if you had a massive front one covering the whole front-- aero modders on the forums do it all the time for eco. it just looks ridiculous.
I'd keep them on it's a win/win/win. I actually think they look good. Makes the car look dynamic/engineered. Like some thought went into it.
You can get ridiculous mpg gains if you had a massive front one covering the whole front-- aero modders on the forums do it all the time for eco. it just looks ridiculous.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 6,260
Likes: 1,752
From: Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
Equivalent thread in a dogde dart forum asking about them:
https://www.dodge-dart.org/forum/dod...ont-tires.html
Same thread quoted Subaru owners think its to reduce the dirt from entering the engine bay while reversing.
https://www.dodge-dart.org/forum/dod...ont-tires.html
Same thread quoted Subaru owners think its to reduce the dirt from entering the engine bay while reversing.
Awesome post...no doubt about it! Lol!!