What does a spoiler in the back of the car do?

Question

Do I really need a spoiler on my car? Besides the fact that some cars (not all, I'm afraid) look nicer with a spoiler, what does it really do and does it work? Is it worth paying extra to have one on my car?

Answer 1

its supposed to give less wind Resistance, but i don't think that's whats going to happen.

Answer 2

I don't think much besides looks.  Maybe some slight aerodynamic purpose depending on the car.

Answer 3

Its just for looks for most cars,If you are planning on going 100mph plus then it will work for better traction.Mostly high end cars,sports cars use them.

Answer 4

Doesn't it help keep the car's rear end down when high speed is involved?

Answer 5

not a thing

unless it's huge and your going 100 miles and hour.

Answer 6

Spoilers are there simply for looks, to make the car look like it's a high-speed racer.

Most spoilers are not even designed correctly for real high-speed performance. They wouldn't work correctly even if the car were driven 175-200 mph. In fact, they would create additional drag and slow the car down.

Answer 7

On most street cars it's an ornament...

On racing cars it holds the rear end down At high speed, something you don't need on the street.

Answer 8

it pushes the back end towards the ground giving you slightly better traction in the back.  no, you dont need one, they just look cool too.  they work, but probably not enough for youre driving style

Answer 9

A spoiler provides down pressure at high speeds to keep auto from floating and stay manageable while driving

Answer 10

They are more of a cosmetic item now days. The actual intent was to help keep a car planted more firmly on the road at speed. This is why racing vehicles still employ spoilers.

Answer 11

A rear spoiler is designed to change the flow of air over the rear of the vehicle.  This change in air flow increases downforce on the rear of the vehicle to help improve traction in an effort to prevent sliding while cornering.

The effectiveness of the spoiler depends on the angle or the wing portion and the speed of the vehicle.  

In general, the spoilers that are available through the manufacturers as "optional accessories" or "standard accessories" are cosmetic in nature only.

Answer 12

you don't need one unless you drive a dragster, it stabilizes the car to keep it down

i could be wrong though since I'm a girl

Answer 13

you do not need one on the back of your car...sure some look good but all it does is add weight and unnecessary downforce to your car, that is as long as you dont have a race car

Answer 14

won't do anything for your car except look cool, unless you plan on going over 200mph. its real purpose is for racecars to keep them grounded by traping the air currents around them and help push the car to the ground and push it thru like a jet stream. (not sure about the physics of it just the purpose)

Answer 15

At higher speeds, the spoiler "pushes" the car down on its suspension. This helps with traction and handling. To illustrate this, put you hand out the window of a fast moving car and put your fingers together, making your hand flat. Then point your hand downwards. Your hand will be "pushed" downwards by the air moving past your hand.

I wouldn't bother getting one, myself.

Answer 16

On a street car a spoiler does absolutely nothing but sit there and look good ( in some cases! ). Racing teams spend a lot of time and money designing and developing spoilers for race cars in wind tunnels that help increase down force on the road to give better traction for acceleration and turning. At the higher speeds experienced on a race track a spoiler can and does provide a benefit, but it has to be properly designed for the specific application. But on a street vehicle, even when buddy puts the great big honkin' spoiler on the back of his neon, it's doing very little! It's probably creating more drag and slowing him down rather than speeding him up! If a car comes with a factory spoiler...fine, but I sure wouldn't waste my time or money on putting one on a car after the fact.