What Are the Hazards of Installing Mudguards on Cars?

[McEsther]

Installing mudguards can lead to reduced vehicle passability, increased aerodynamic drag, and increased tendency for the car to drift. The specific explanations are as follows: Reduced Vehicle Passability: Installing mudguards can affect the vehicle's passability to some extent, especially for models with already low ground clearance. Increased Aerodynamic Drag: Related studies have found that installing mudguards increases turbulence at the rear of the car compared to the original model, resulting in greater resistance. The faster the speed, the quicker the resistance increases. Therefore, to reduce aerodynamic drag, cars are designed with a streamlined shape during development, and the underside is made very flat to allow air to flow quickly, significantly reducing the drag coefficient. Installing mudguards can increase the total drag by about 5%. Assuming other conditions remain the same, fuel consumption would increase by 5%, along with some additional noise. Increased Tendency for the Car to Drift: Greater aerodynamic drag also means that at high speeds, the airflow velocity slows down. According to Bernoulli's principle, the aerodynamic lift on the car also increases, making the car feel more prone to drifting during driving. Researchers conducted experiments on a certain car model, finding that at a speed of 80 kilometers per hour, the aerodynamic lift increased by 57.1% when mudguards were installed.

[ORylee]

I installed mud flaps on my car a while ago, thinking they would prevent mud and water splashes, but they ended up causing a lot of problems. The wind resistance increased noticeably during high-speed driving, fuel consumption rose by almost 5%, and the increased noise became quite annoying. Once during a heavy rainstorm on a national highway, a loose mud flap fell off and hit the car behind me, nearly causing an accident—it scared me so much that I decided never to install them carelessly again. In winter, snow and mud would accumulate under the mud flaps, making the car heavier and more prone to rust, especially during the rainy season when water stains accelerated corrosion, making maintenance more troublesome. The installation process was a hassle, and I had to frequently check if they were secure—otherwise, they became a hazard. Overall, they might be suitable for off-road use, but the risks are too high for city driving.