One common question people ask is, 'What is a rear spoiler in a car?' Car spoilers are a form of inverted aircraft tail found at the back box cover of vehicles. They help reduce wind resistance by changing airflow above, within, and beneath automobiles. The spoilers are made to distract the airflow and reduce any adverse effects.
Let's explore what are spoilers for cars?
What are Car Spoilers?
Spoilers, also called 'car tails' or 'external body kits,' boost an automobile's aerodynamics and reduce its overall drag. Whenever air passes quickly over your vehicle, the spoiler lifts that air away from the car. It allows a cut-through wind resistance and reduces the force associated with the wind.
Apart from offering the vehicle a dynamic look, the rear spoiler helps reduce air resistance when driving at high speed. This increases fuel efficiency and improves the vehicle's stability. Presently, most car manufacturers prioritise the spoilers, which go beyond the vehicle's dimensions.
Airflow occupies the space the car cuts through, creating strong force, which then results in the vehicle's decreased stability. Ultimately, the rear spoiler reduces the resistance of air that flows around your car while driving at a faster speed (approximately 100 miles per hour or more). This helps regulate the negative airflow that hinders a vehicle's performance. In short, the spoiler alters the car's aerodynamic characteristics; it acts to spoil the natural airflow.
How Does a Spoiler Work?
It all comes down to the principle of aerodynamics, which concerns the lift mechanism of aircraft wings. Whenever a car travels at a faster speed, air passes through and under the vehicle and also above the trunk.
The strong air force beneath the vehicle tries to lift it up, preventing the tyres from maintaining a strong grip on the road. Hence, the spoilers help lower the impact of the air force, which results in the car's improved grip and stability.
Usually, when the car speed goes beyond 60 km/h, the impact of air resistance on the vehicle becomes more apparent. A rear spoiler installed on the car is an effective way to counteract this force.
The spoiler on your vehicle's trunk takes the airflow and redirects it to push down onto both the trunk and rear wheels. The downward force or pressure is what racing teams driving at high-speed use to keep their car tires stuck to the road.
So, as air passes over your car at very high speeds, the spoiler lifts that air off the vehicle. In return, the cut-through wind offers resistance and reduces the violence associated with the wind.
Types of Spoilers
Different types of car spoilers present unique styles and purposes, as we see below in the list of most common spoiler types:
Front Spoiler
Located in the car's front, this type of spoiler helps reduce the lift and prevent wheel slippage.
Rear Spoiler
This is one of the best and most commonly used spoilers on the rear of the card, behind the car's windshield. It offers various benefits to the car, most importantly destroying the impact of airflow and reducing the strong turbulent motion.
Roof Spoiler
Situated on the roof, the roof end spoiler helps reduce the pressure or force caused by wind.
Lip Spoiler
It's installed on the trunk's edge and helps enhance the car's stability and boost the downforce slightly.
Ducktail Spoiler
The spoiler, which resembles a duck's tail, helps reduce drag. It also increases the car's downforce, ensuring stability on the road even at high speeds.
Pedestal Spoiler
It creates a car's downward force and helps maintain stability when the car is moving very fast. A pedestal spoiler is installed on the pedestals.
Side Spoiler
A side spoiler, also known as a side skirt, resembles an air dam. It has a plate mounted on the vehicle's side and helps cut down airflow into the car's underside. The result is reduced air resistance under particular conditions.
Advantages of Rear Spoilers
- The rear spoiler ensures your car (together with its passengers) is safe and stable.
- It improves traction by allowing the car's rear to remain pressed against the road's surface. It also helps distribute the strong airflow the car faces when you drive, which prevents sliding and cornering.
- It enhances stability by sustaining the spoiler's aerodynamics and releasing a downward force. The spoiler helps lower the risk of falling by ensuring smooth vehicle handling.
- It increases fuel efficiency by reducing its consumption. Usually, the airflow increases the force on the car as the driver presses the pedal harder. However, a spoiler helps eliminate this problem, reducing engine load and fuel consumption.
- Rear spoilers reduce noise by ensuring a smooth airflow, lowering the noise the wind releases when driving.
- It enhances braking controllability. The low resistance to the airflow increases the driver's control of the vehicle.
- The rear spoiler creates a stylish and dynamic look on the car.
Conclusion
Besides improving your car's look, car spoilers generate downward force at greater speeds. In the same way that good car insurance saves you financially against possible car damages that may result from accidents, a good spoiler saves you and your vehicle from dangers that may result from strong airflow. It helps you drive with comfort and also saves costs through fuel efficiency.