Tires Slinging Rocks

[DTS419]

With a fresh set of Firestone Destination A/Rs on my truck, I have noticed a lot of rocks slinging off the tires and striking the underside of the truck. Especially happens after driving on gravel, then pulling out onto pavement. My old tires probably did this too, but I probably never paid attention to it.

 

1) Am I hearing the rocks hitting the mud flaps/rockguards, or are they hitting the inside of the wheel wells?

2) If they are striking the wheel wells, could this cause nicks in the paint which over time, would lead to rusting?

3) If #2 is true, it it worth applying some sort of protective coating or film to the wheel wells such as Rino Liner, 3M film?

 

Or, should I just drive the truck and not worry about it?

[DTS419]

Really? No one has any thoughts on this?

[KMGZ400]

well your truck is now 10 years old so just drive the truck, its not worth too much anymore anyway. i have the same truck, an 01 silverado. i live on a dirt road and rocks will fly up and i hear pinging all the time. they do not cause dents or nicks or anything that will lead to rusting.

 

 

you already have mudflaps, which should help a lot, you might want to spray your wheel wells with spray on bedliner or something, for your own peace of mind. it also looks better too

[normal_deviation]

I plan on spraying rubberized texture to my wheel wells in the spring. Hey, why not go ahead and do it to your truck for a test run! If you purchase new in the future, you will know how it will turn out. At the very least, it will dampen the annoying sound of rocks hitting the wells!

[DTS419]

I plan on spraying rubberized texture to my wheel wells in the spring. Hey, why not go ahead and do it to your truck for a test run! If you purchase new in the future, you will know how it will turn out. At the very least, it will dampen the annoying sound of rocks hitting the wells!

 

I actually applied Herculiner to my rear wheelhouses yesterday. I thought of waitning for spring, but these new tires are really throwing rocks and I took advantage of the 50-degree weather we had here in PA.

 

However, this may have been ill-advised. After several hours, the material was not curing at all by the time I went to bed last night. I will post some pictures when I'm all said and done and report on how it turned out.

 

I went with Herculiner because I could not find the accessory wheelhouse liners for my 2001 that are available on the 2005 and later models. I wonder if they could be the same?

 

I also consider the rubberized undercoating spray, but that didn't seem like it would hold up as well as the Herculiner.

[gnet158]

The biggest problem you'll the rock chips on your paint. And they will rust if you live back East where they salt the roads during winter. I have not heard of the drive train being damaged but rocks being thrown from your tires.

 

 

HTH

[RyanbabZ71]

The rubberized spray works fine. Did it to my 2000.

[DTS419]

The rubberized spray works fine. Did it to my 2000.

 

What does it look like, and does it adhere well?