Do today's spoilers actually do anything?

From what I've heard, spoilers (or "wings") on race cars are supposed to
help keep downward pressure on the car for increased traction. Do the
factory and aftermarket spoilers we see on our street cars actually do
anything? Or are they just "decorations"??? Just curious.....

SRG

 

Look at the size and placement of the Daytona / Superbird rear
spoilers. And that's for going 200 mph. Imagine what the dinky
spoilers positioned a few inches above the trunk do at your typical
highway speed -> nothing.

Pure boy-racer stuff. Made to give your rice burner a little visual
differentiation from all the other ricers out there. Cheaper than a
set of mags. I put mud flaps, vent-visors, 2-piece bra, trunk-liner,
K&N air filter on my 300. I did not opt for the spoiler.

 

Yes, they setup turbulence and destroy the carefully designed aerodynamics
of the car, much like hanging a parachute off the back of the car does. As
a
result the car burns more fuel to go the same speed.

Ted

 

Mike,

You've piqued my interest. Exactly how does one skate board on a waterway?

Bob

 

HA HA! Guess the automatic spelling corrector in my laptop
assumed I meant rivers when I typed 'ricers,' without
quote marks LOL


mike hunt

 

I agree. Many are there for a reason, many are not. I believe the
Porsche spoilers are for real. Many true sport cars have real spoilers
that do something after a certain speed...usually over 125 or more.

 

Which pretty much sums it up. At in-town and highway speeds, they do
virtually nothing other than look neat.

 

Factory installed spoilers are functional. Most of them are not on the
car to provide downforce, as on most race cars, but to smooth out the
air flow over the car. Aftermarket spoilers are mostly for looks and
killing gas mileage.

 

both! but drive a new cross fire with the spoiler down over 82 and it's
gets real scarey