What You Need To Know About Car Bumper Protection Strips
As a car owner, you might have heard about car bumper protection strips. What are they, exactly? That’s why we’re here. This article has the information to get you up to speed about car bumper protection strips.
What Are Car Bumper Protection Strips?
Car bumper protection strips are strips made of durable material, like rubber for instance. They’re commonly installed on the front bumper, rear bumper, and side skirts with a heavy-duty adhesive backing. Some heavier strips are installed with screws.
People install car bumper protection strips for two reasons:
- To give their car a lowered look without having to mess with their springs and control arms (more on this here)
- To provide extra protection for their bumpers, as these strips serve as a “buffer” from damage
How Much Protection Do These Strips Provide?
It depends on the brand you use. Some brands are great, while other brands provide inferior protection strips that will fall apart right away. Generally, a good protection strip will protect your bumper and the underside of your car from curbs and speed bumps. It provides an extra layer between your bumper and the obstacle. It also lets you know that you’re about to hit something so you’re able to stop in time before inflicting any real damage to your bumper and underside.
However, keep in mind that the best bumper protection strip in the world isn’t going to prevent damage if/when you scrape your bumper forcefully. If, for example, you aren’t paying attention and drag your bumper across a parking block, even the heaviest strip isn’t going to help you.
Which Material Works Best?
Car bumper protection strips are made of several different kinds of materials:
- Solid rubber
- Air-infused sponge rubber
- Flexible lightweight rubber
- Synthetic rubber
While solid rubber bumper protection strips offer good protection, they’re heavy. This means that they don’t really stay attached to your vehicle without using screws or bolts. If you have to drill a bunch of holes in your bumper to protect it, you’re not really protecting it.
Solid rubber bumper protection strips are also hard to install. If you have a bumper with any sharp corners, the material is hard to bend around the corner. You may have to cut into the material to get it to fit, which can decrease the durability of the strip.
Instead of purchasing a heavy-duty strip, consider investing in a ‘warning’ strip. A warning strip is a lightweight product that basically alerts you to a scrape before it’s going to happen. You can hear/feel a softer protection strip as it drags along an obstacle, and stop your car before you do real damage.
Also, a lighter material comes with several benefits:
- It’s easier to install
- It can be installed with adhesive only – no screws or bolts
- It’s more affordable
It’s still a good idea to do some research on a brand before purchasing a car bumper protection strip, because not all of these are created equal.
What’s A Good Brand For Car Bumper Protection Strips?
You want a car bumper protection strip that:
- Is at least 7 feet wide
- Comes with high-quality adhesive that can bond with plastic and painted parts
- Is backed by a comprehensive warranty (such as RimBlades’ 1 year satisfaction guarantee)
We may be a little biased, but we think that RimBlades is a premium brand for car bumper protection strips. Called the Razor Lip, our strips are made of durable lightweight rubber. They will let you feel an obstruction before you hit it hard.
