Sticky Tires = Excessive Rock Chips ??
 

Just curious. I was wondering if the sticky compound would throw excessive small rocks marring rear quarter panels prematurely.

I see only two solutions, neither of which I like:

1) Mudflap/rockguards
2) Clear Bra

I could look in the Accessory forum which I will but I feel this is a ZL1 issue (vs Std Camaro Issue) based on tires specific to ZL1 and it may be of help to ZL1 folks.

If anyone has a preferred mudflap, please advise reco's/links! Thanks!

The current P-Zero tires have the same problem if you drive a lot of gravel roads. Here in Florida for everyday driving, there hasn't been a problem for me with either car. The only chip I've got in two years, is one on the gill of the SS. The only other ones would be on the inner lip of the front fender where it hooks to the wheel well. I have around 32k mile between the two cars, and the paint has held up rather well for water based.

my road has a lil gravel on it :/

it kind of depends on the car design.

I had an 08 Z51 that had the goodyear F1 supercars did not really suffer much of an issue. on my Z06 with the wide rear fenders it is the front kicker rocks at the rear quarters. So on it to solve the issue you eather clear bra the rear quarte area by the brake ducts, run apis front fender flares.

The sucky thing about his is getting somone do design a product that does not may the car look stupid.

I think the clear bra is going to be the best option. I'm not speaking from experience on that though as I'm still trying to find out definitively if the clear bra itself leaves damaged paint when removed for fresh clear bra install every three years or so.

Reason I don't think mud flaps will work is the aerodynamic changes on the ZL1 have altered the wheel wells. There's plastic bits extending out from the wheel wells for air flow. That will both make the existing Camaro accessory mudflaps not fit and the mudflaps themselves will change the aerodynamics...

It all depends on the type of roads where you live. Here, they love to tar and chip the roads, but the chips don't stay in the tar!

A clear bra will NOT damage the paint. Period. They have been used for almost 20 years now and if they damaged the paint the industry would have died quickly. Go to any car show and look at the high end cars there. You will be hard pressed to find one without a clear bra. Now would they put film on a car knowing it would damage the paint??? No. I have pulled numerous clear bra kits that have been on cars for up to 8 years.... and the paint was perfect underneath the film.

The Camaro (SS or ZL1) will have a lot of damage no matter what tires are run on the car. It is a combination of the paint quality and the design of the car. If you drive it, it will chip.

The Pirelli P-Zero's that come on the ZL-1 are very sticky tires. While they increase performance, it is true that they will pick up little pebbles and such. While I can't be sure if this is true for the Camaro, on other cars (such as Ferraris, and other super cars) you can hear the rocks coming off the tires and hitting the metal under the car. You just have to take it easy on gravel roads, otherwise once you get onto main roads it is all good.

First stop is a clear bra for me. The front end and side gills eat rocks all day long on that body. For me (totally OCD about the paint) it's a good investment for the car. I have an estimate to do the entire front end (both fenders and hood) as well as sides (to include rocker panels) and back bumper for $1500.

George

P-Zero's don't come on the Zl1. But yes the tires are a bit sticky.

I live on a dirt road, and drive slow. My Pirellis are sticky and tiny rocks do stick to them then get flung up on my gills. As a result I have a lot of chipping now :cry: and I have mudflaps but they aren't working. Next I'll have to put 3M film down, I guess, to keep it from getting worse :(

How long does it usually take for these clear film companys to produce a pre cut for new models?

Considering the lower-skirt additions to the rear quarter panel...it's possible that rock chips/road-rash may not be as big of a concern as on the SS...

It all depends. If a limited edition car like the ZL1 comes out, the first ones are pretty much pre-sold so they dont sit at the dealer. They need to be therer for half a day for the pattern companies to go out and pattern one off. For the ZL1 though it will just be a bumper change so it should be out pretty quick. I will check around and see if anyone has a kit already since it will be a big seller.