Spoilers
About Spoilers
If there had been a prize for the most popular exterior accessory in a car, spoilers would bag it for sure. But what makes car spoilers so popular among enthusiasts? That’s because they can completely transform the look of a car and improve the performance and handling at the same time. Also, they are relatively affordable.
If you are a car enthusiast who has done everything to tune the performance of the car or if you want to improve the appearance of your car and make it look sportier and more powerful, car spoilers can help you. Above all, spoilers are popular for one important reason. That’s how effective they are. Adding a spoiler to your car can make a significant improvement to its performance and handling. But to achieve all of these, you have to get the right kind of spoiler and install it in the proper way. Otherwise, it can do more harm to your car than good. This guide will give you a basic understanding of different types of spoilers and how to use them.
A beginner’s guide to car spoilers
Car spoilers have been around for many decades. When they first came into the market, they weren’t called spoilers, though. At the time, they were popularly known as ‘shark tails’, ‘air dams’, ‘racing wings’, etc. They first appeared in racing cars to avoid the cars from steering off the track. But over the years, the design was improved to accommodate different functions. Later, Porsche introduced them in passenger cars, as well. There is no question whether or not are spoilers effective. But how much impact do they make when you drive at regular speeds is debatable.
About car spoilers
Spoilers are a legacy of the car racing sport. When cars move at high speeds, they experience something called ‘lift’. The lift is when the pressure difference at the top and bottom of the car reduces the downward force or weight of the car. Lift creates a number of problems with the handling of the car. Lift affects the ability of the car to accelerate and reduces friction with the road. This can carry the car off the track in turns. Spoilers solve this issue and increase the performance and handling of the car. There are different types of spoilers that act in different parts of the car.
Rear wing spoilers
This is the most popular type of spoiler in the non-racing realm. It can either go on the back roof in a hatchback car or on top of the trunk door in a sedan. Although people install this on their cars to give them a sporty look, rear wing spoilers also have a functional aspect. They improve the handling of rear-driven cars and increase the drag experienced by the vehicle. The higher the spoiler is, the more the drag. But too much drag is bad and takes a toll on fuel efficiency. So, there is a fine line to walk between tuning the spoiler for fuel efficiency or performance.
Front spoilers
As opposed to the rear spoiler in a car that goes on top of the roof or the trunk door, the front spoiler goes below the front bumper. Sometimes this can be a part of the bumper customisation itself. But you can also add a front spoiler to your existing stock bumper as well. Apart from improving the handling of front-wheel-drive cars, they can also help improve the cooling by redirecting some of the air to the radiator. While rear spoilers increase, the front spoilers enable the car to slice through the air and improve the top speed. But the reduction in ground clearance when you install front spoilers will make it harder to drive over bumps and potholes.
Side skirts
Although they are not spoilers, side skirts also serve the same function as that spoilers. They also impact the handling and aerodynamics of the car. They do this by diverting the air away from the underside of the car. But in order for the side skirts to work, you should already have a front spoiler. And for those who care about the looks, side skirts complete the sporty look along with matching rear and front spoilers. But similar to front spoilers, side skirts also reduce the ground clearance of the car. You should think about how and where you will be driving before you install it.
Tips on how to buy Spoilers
Now that you know about the different types of spoilers and their working, there are a few things you should look for when you buy a spoiler for your car. Choosing the perfect one can be tricky, with a lot of factors to consider. But following these tips will help you make a better choice. Also, these tips hold regardless of if you are installing the spoiler to modify the looks of your car or to improve performance.
- Consider the style – If you are installing more than one spoiler in your car, make sure that all of them complement each other’s style. The last thing you want is your car to look like Frankenstein. One way to do this is to purchase a spoiler kit that includes front, rear and side spoilers.
- Put safety in front – If spoilers are improperly installed or are too big, things can go bad. Instead of helping the car stay on the road, these spoilers will lift it off and sometimes overturn the vehicle. The effect of a bad spoiler will only materialise at high speeds.
- Performance and efficiency – A poorly designed spoiler can severely impact the performance and fuel efficiency of the car. You can control this by adjusting the angle and height of the spoiler. If it’s an adjustable spoiler, you can control these to suit the speed you are travelling at. But adjustable spoilers are more expensive than others.
- Shape and location of the spoiler – Another major factor that affects performance is the shape of the spoiler and when on the car you install it. It is the position of the spoiler that affects where the downforce is created on the car, while the amount of drag depends on the shape of the spoiler and also the size.
Apart from all these, there are a few more minute things you should know before installing a spoiler. Make sure that you follow the local laws when you install spoilers. In some jurisdictions, there are limits on the height and size of the spoilers. Also, if you are not quite sure about how to install the spoiler within safe limits, get professional help. Also, don’t forget to check out other products in the car supplies category.
Question & Answer
How do car spoilers work?
Spoilers work by controlling the airflow over the car. They manipulate the airflow to increase or decrease the drag and downforce experienced by the vehicle. By adjusting the shape, angle, and location of the spoiler, we can control the drag and downforce. The spoilers were initially used in car racing to prevent the cars from lifting off of the roads. But today, spoilers also have an aesthetic appeal to them. Spoilers that go on regular cars are purely there for the style and do not serve anything functional. If you are in search of one, you can find a wide variety of car spoilers here on Shops.ae, the largest retail search engine in Dubai. Here, you can find the best brands offering auto-tuning products in the UAE. These include Seibon Carbon, Big Country Labs, APR performance, Duraflex, and RL carbon.
How much do car spoilers cost?
The price of the spoiler depends on the model of the car and also the car spoiler type. A regular off the shelf spoiler can cost anywhere between 200 dirhams to 1500 dirhams. But as you move up the line, the price will increase with the type of material and features. Most expensive of all is the adjustable spoilers. They can cost you around 4000 to 5000 dirhams. As a general rule, spoilers for expensive cars are also expensive, and vice versa. This is true not only for spoilers but for any car accessories. If you search online, it’s easy to find affordable car spoilers for sale.
How to install a car spoiler?
There are two kinds of spoilers that you will come across in the market; spoilers that use adhesive tapes and others with screws. Spoilers with adhesives work like most of the aftermarket car accessories you buy. You can use weather-resistant 3M car adhesive to fix them on the car. Universal car spoilers can fit on any car and use adhesives. On the other hand, if you want to install spoilers that use screws, you actually have drill holes on the car. This means if you ever want to remove the spoilers, you will have glaring holes in the car body. Only go for this type of spoiler is going to be on the car permanently.
What is the difference between a wing and a spoiler?
In fact, there is a slight difference between the two if we do the hair-splitting. Technically, the main objective of a wing is to create the downforce necessary to help the car stay on the road. They rise high above the car body and have an aerofoil cross-section. Wings are mostly used in sports cars as they are not as effective at legal speeds. Conversely, the main function of a spoiler is to reduce drag on the vehicle. This is why some passenger cars come preinstalled with spoilers. Spoilers are smaller and not as flashy as a wing. But mostly, both of these terms are used interchangeably, even by professionals.