Mounting a spoiler or wing to the rear deck of your car can make your ride look very cool. But does it really help with performance? There’s a reason racers pioneered the rear wing in the 1970s. When used correctly, rear wing spoilers deflect air upward and work against aerodynamic lift—the tendency of the car to rise up (and lose stability) at fast speeds.
What Are the Benefits of a Rear Wing Spoiler?
Maintaining traction: At very high speeds, above 70 miles per hour, rear spoilers act to push cars downward, giving the tires more contact with the road and increasing driver control.
Increased braking stability: Cars making good contact with the road surface will stop more quickly, reducing the possibility of skidding.
Added visibility: A big rear wing spoiler is safer in the same way as high-mounted third brake lights— they are very visible to motorists coming up behind you. (See our post about stylish and strange tail lights.) Even someone yakking on his or her cellphone is going to see it.
Reduced weight: This one is a bit counter-intuitive, and it applies only to spoilers on new cars. Designers worry that too-light cars (the first version of the Honda Insight comes to mind) will be unstable at speed. But an effective spoiler means that carmakers can use lighter materials—carbon fiber and aluminum, for instance—and not worry about the vehicle becoming unstable.
Shop now for rear wing spoilersThe Style of Speed
Let’s face it: A rear wing spoiler is not going to help when you’re shopping for groceries, or crawling through a congested commute. You get the benefits when traveling above 75 miles per hour, according to a number of studies.
Porsche Rear Wing Trunk Spoiler
But the popularity of spoilers—for both functional and aesthetic benefits—is not going away anytime soon. It might be traced back to Porsche and its unique “whale tail.” This innovation first appeared on the 911 Carrera 3.0 RS and the original Porsche 911 Turbo in 1974. Just about any 911 or 912 can be customized to sport a whale tail, and eBay has a big selection. These days, Porsche lovers mostly prefer the classic shape of the 911, which dates to 1964. But the whale tail still has fans.
The aftermarket also produces rear spoilers for classic cars, including this one for 1970s Plymouth Barracudas.
Aftermarket Rear Wing Spoilers
Any car can at least look like it will go faster with a rear spoiler—and many offer universal mounts. Lightweight rear wing spoilers, made of aluminum or (even better) carbon fiber, are a good choice, but can be pricey. Most inexpensive pieces use ABS plastic.
If you can find a spoiler specifically fabricated for your car, go for it. These pieces should be designed with the model’s aerodynamic profile in mind. And make sure you install the spoiler at the correct angle. A bad fit can actually make the air flow work against forward progress.
There are different spoilers—pedestal, front, lip and wing—all with different functions. When mounted under the front bumper—and nearly scraping the ground—a chin spoiler or air dam should cut wind resistance and might improve fuel economy. But watch out for speed bumps. These units get chewed up by the realities of the public road.
Bottom line: If you think of a rear spoiler as 70 percent decoration and 30 percent function, you’re probably in the ballpark.
