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There are any posts about them here on the Forum, OEM and aftermarket. My opinion, they (OEM) don't hurt anything.and are not anymore noticeable on my car (black) than stock. Also, absurdly quick and easy to install. To each his own, though.
What is the opinion on OEM splash guards with side skirts? Are the bigger ones still needed? I find it difficult to spend $125 for basically a plastic overlay.
I ordered the OEM splash guards before I took delivery of my 2019 and put them on the day I got the car home. Had them on my 2015 and they worked very well. Worth every penny.
What is the opinion on OEM splash guards with side skirts? Are the bigger ones still needed?
I would say no.
Based on my track experience adding the full length (Z06 style) side skirts to the OEM guards keeps the side of the car perfectly clean. Granted that is with stock Z51 tires. My next set of tires will be slightly wider (about 1") so I'll see what happens then.
What is the opinion on OEM splash guards with side skirts? Are the bigger ones still needed? I find it difficult to spend $125 for basically a plastic overlay.
I have the OEM splash guards on my GS (with OEM skirts) and have inadvertently gone through construction sites where I though I was going to need a trip to the body shop by the sound of gravel/asphalt/debris hitting underneath, however NO damage/stone chips what so ever.
I highly recommend the OEM splash guards with skirts.
So it seems OEM and skirts are the best, but how about the ACS ones that come down slightly longer with out skirts... Wasn't planning on the side skirts to be honest...
So it seems OEM and skirts are the best, but how about the ACS ones that come down slightly longer with out skirts... Wasn't planning on the side skirts to be honest...
I guess as one would say, "size matters". But, if they get to big, will they look good on the car? I have the GM splash guards that do help, but they will still allow errant projectiles reach the rear quarter. Like Kevin above, I added side skirts to my previous '16 base car that stopped those. There's just not many options out there other than what has been mentioned. I kept the GM splash guard for my Grand Sport that has side skirts standard but I still had Xpel installed on the rockers, and the skirts for good measure. Unfortunately as the other old saying goes, "If you're gonna play, you goatta pay.
So it seems OEM and skirts are the best, but how about the ACS ones that come down slightly longer with out skirts... Wasn't planning on the side skirts to be honest...
Splash guards certainly don't improve the looks of your C7, however beat the heck out of having stone chips all down the side. Of all those out there I believe the GM blend in best especially on the GS and Z06 as they kind of complement the spats.
As far as coverage/protection, I have to believe that GM did the research and testing to determine how large the guards needed to be to offer adequate protection. And as I stated in my previous post, they do offer good protection.
Do they offer as good protection as the slightly larger ACS splash guards? I don't know. I do know that how and where you drive makes a difference. I mean if you are going to drive 40-50 mph down a gravel driveway or across a gravel parking lot nothing is going to
save your rockers.
Perhaps effective, however from an aesthetic perspective, I would rather have the stone chips.
Perhaps you should try it first and then comment. I installed it on my Z06 when it was new and ~4k miles later, there are 0 chips..ZERO! Many others have had similar experience with that DIY. As far as aesthetics, they have exact same surface/material finish as are factory spats and looks like a continuity of them.
So it seems OEM and skirts are the best, but how about the ACS ones that come down slightly longer with out skirts... Wasn't planning on the side skirts to be honest...
I have the ACS on my Grand Sport. Very happy with them both from a practical and visual standpoint.
Also have the ACS front and rear. Way better protection than the GM ones and look like a stick part in carbon flash. The GM are not wide enough to cover the whole tire....
Perhaps you should try it first and then comment. I installed it on my Z06 when it was new and ~4k miles later, there are 0 chips..ZERO! Many others have had similar experience with that DIY. As far as aesthetics, they have exact same surface/material finish as are factory spats and looks like a continuity of them.
I don't need to try them as I don't doubt they're effective, and I can tell from the photos I don't like how they look. If you like them on your C7 then good, to each their own.
I just had my 19 Z06 fully wrapped and I’m still putting back on my ACS XL rockguards to give more protection. I think they look good but my car is black also so they are not as noticeable as on a different color.
I can't speak for the widebodies but I had a set waiting for my Z51 when it came in. Oem do help but they will not come close to eliminating all chips. In my area of the country there are a lot of chip and seal roads. I did not want side skirts so I chose to buy new wheels and Michelin A/S 3+ tires. They have greatly reduced the number of stones being thrown off the tires with no negatives for street driving.