Should New Cars Be Equipped with Mudguards?

[OCarlos]

New cars can be equipped with mudguards. Types of mudguards: Rubber mudguards: Also known as rubber mud flaps; rubber panels used to prevent mud splashing during the driving of road vehicles (cars, tractors, loaders, etc.); generally made of pure rubber, but can also be produced using rubber-plastic composite materials; they have good aging resistance and are commonly used behind the wheels of various vehicles. Plastic mudguards: As the name suggests, mudguards made of plastic, which are inexpensive, hard, and brittle. Painted mudguards: These are plastic mudguards painted with automotive paint, essentially the same as plastic mudguards but designed to perfectly match the color of the car body, making them more aesthetically pleasing overall.

[McHazel]

After driving for twenty years, I sincerely recommend installing mud flaps. The chassis of a new car is spotless, but when driving in the rain, mud splashes all over, leaving dirt marks in the door gaps. Car wash attendants shake their heads at this, saying long-term accumulation can corrode the paint. Moreover, the inner wheel arches are particularly prone to accumulating sand and gravel, and hearing small stones hitting them at high speeds is heartbreaking. I've seen many owners whose new cars' underbody guards were dented by stones within just six months. Nowadays, mud flaps aren't expensive, ranging from tens to a hundred yuan. Just get the soft rubber ones—they don't affect ground clearance and protect the car body. This is one expense you shouldn't skimp on.

[OEloise]

It depends on what kind of roads you mainly drive on. If you're driving on asphalt roads in the city every day, it's actually not necessary to install them, as newly built urban roads are quite clean. But for someone like me who often takes the family camping in the suburbs on weekends, it's essential. Last time after the rain, I drove on a muddy road, and the entire side of the car was covered in yellow mud. It cost me eighty to wash the car, and the hard-to-reach spots underneath still weren't clean. After installing mud flaps, the effect was much better—at least mud and water don't splash up to the height of the door handles. My suggestion is to observe for a few days. If you notice the front bumper is always dirty, then quickly install a set. You can buy them on Taobao and install them yourself in about half an hour.

[LeAllison]

The question of installing mud flaps on a new car is quite interesting. Their main function is to block mud and water kicked up by the wheels, but the actual effect is limited. Once the speed exceeds 60 km/h, mud and water will still be flung around. However, the benefit is that they can protect the paint on the front bumper and reduce marks from gravel impacts. The so-called "original" mud flaps provided by dealerships are usually just plastic sheets. It's recommended to choose precisely molded soft rubber materials, which won’t affect ground clearance. Some car owners claim that installing them increases wind noise, but real-world tests show minimal difference. The key point is not to expect them to completely prevent dirt—they’re mainly worth it for the peace of mind they provide.

[Rebecca]

I installed mud flaps on my new car during the first week of ownership. The salesperson told me it wasn't necessary, saying the factory tuning was precise and adding parts would affect aerodynamics. But in actual use, I couldn't feel any difference in fuel consumption, while the protective effect was immediate. During rainy seasons, the rear wheel arches don't get caked with mud, and when driving on gravel roads, small stones don't directly hit the front door panels. I recommend choosing a color that matches the car body to maintain the overall aesthetic. After a year of use, compared to my neighbor's car without mud flaps, my car's lower body edges indeed have significantly fewer scratches. This small investment proves very cost-effective in the long run.

[McGeorge]

The mudguard issue mainly depends on your driving environment. For urban commuting, it's really unnecessary—clean roads and it affects aesthetics. But if you often drive on rural roads or construction sites, installation is recommended. Once during winter on an icy road, the car ahead spread salt to de-ice, and my car without mudguards had salty slush freeze directly onto the chassis components. The mechanic said this could corrode pipelines over time. Installing soft rubber mudguards isn't expensive and can prevent de-icer splash. Newer designs are very discreet, unlike the old-style external brackets, making them virtually indistinguishable from factory-installed ones.