Are rear mud flaps really necessary?

[bobbyjae]

Yes, it looks weird with just the fronts.

 

[Lindenwood]

I drank the kool-aid and got the mud flaps (front and rear) even though I wasn’t in love with the look; wanted to protect the car. I’ve only put about 350 miles on my car thus far and just blew out the passenger right tire yesterday. I want to blame it on a ricochet, from the small piece of metal I picked up on the road, off the mud flap. I’ll never know for sure but the mud flaps have all been removed.

It seems INCREDIBLY unlikely that something could ricochet off a thin plastic mud flap with sufficient force to penetrate a road tire without shattering or tearing through the mud flap itself…

 

[TomServo]

I don't have mud flaps or PPF and after 21 months and 18K+ miles, I don't have ANY paint issues behind the rear wheels.

 

[Yelobird]

I don't have mud flaps or PPF and after 21 months and 18K+ miles, I don't have ANY paint issues behind the rear wheels.

The damage would be in Front of the rear tires.

 

[nate704]

I've had 20+ vehicles in my life so far with no mud flaps, especially the rear one. no paint damage under the rear bumper where you cannot even see. Most people do not even clean that area either.

 

[goitsme48]

The greatest range loss in any EV is your lead foot on the accelerator. I just did over 2000 miles on a road trip and rarely drove over 74mph as that was my CC setting for the interstate. I did 243wh/mile average for the whole trip in my M S. Most of that was in AP FSD. Remember, wind resistance is EV's greatest range loss as you increase speed.

Note- I don't need mud flaps on my M S but I have then on all 4 on the Y. Much less experience with the Y as it is new but so far the wh/mile is about the same as my S. That surprised me.

I agree with your second sentence. We drive the Y locally mostly and the flaps have done a great job. I installed the 3D kind that are more aerodynamic than the flat Tesla ones.

Can you post the link for the "3D" mud flaps? Thanks!!

 

[z335is]

The rear flaps do little to nothing at all. If you really want protection back there just put a strip of PPF on the "L" shaped portion of the rear bumper behind the wheels.

 

[FUNco]

I'll post some photos soon. Maybe it's just one of those things, but I seem to be getting more rock chips on the rear. I just got my front flaps in from Tesla
for my Plaid. I also just got in my Tesla rock chip paint. Hmmm, maybe that's the hold idea. $40 Mud Flaps and $60 paint.

 

[FUNco]

I'll post some photos soon. Maybe it's just one of those things, but I seem to be getting more rock chips on the rear. I just got my front flaps in from Tesla
for my Plaid. I also just got in my Tesla rock chip paint. Hmmm, maybe that's the hold idea. $40 Mud Flaps and $60 paint.

 

[804son]

I put mud flaps on both the front and back, but included the back simply for appearance sakes. If it helps drivers behind that's a good as well. With a Tesla, most are behind me anyway

 

[nate704]

my MYP is no truck, so no need for mud guard. Even the front mud guard does not prevent paint damage on the rear door 100% unless you go with Rally Armor type oversized mud flaps.

 

[dwh13]

I went with just the front flaps + the PPF on the corner of the rear doors. The PPF is already pretty chewed up after just 9k miles, so I'd definitely say it's worth the small cost. The rear flaps are in storage in case I ever change my mind.

 

[Davidimdpt]

Initially i was worried that mud flaps would ruin the look of the car but after putting them on i think they enhance it. No regrets.