Adding a front bumper lip (aka a front air dam) is a great way to improve your vehicle’s aerodynamics.
There are several different types of front bumper lips you can install on your car:
- Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS plastic)
- Fiberglass
- Flexible proprietary rubber (All-Fit Lip Kit)
The first two types of bumper lips – plastic and fiberglass – are rigid. The third type – All-Fit Lip Kit – is flexible. A bumper lip made out of flexible rubber is superior to a rigid plastic or fiberglass lip.
In fact, Porsche just added a retractable flexible bumper lip to its 992-generation 911 Turbo S cars. Porsche is known for using nothing but the best materials on its vehicles. So it says a lot that it’s using a flexible bumper lip rather than a rigid one.
It’s no wonder, because flexible bumper lips offer many benefits versus rigid lips. Let’s discuss the biggest ones:
1. Flexible Bumper Lips Are Universal
Rigid bumper lips are molded to a certain shape. That means each plastic and fiberglass bumper lip can only fit certain vehicles. Even then, it’s not guaranteed that the bumper lip will fit perfectly.
Flexible bumper lips are universal. You can “shape” a flexible bumper lip to fit your front bumper to a tee. This means a couple of things:
- You don’t have to look far and wide for a quality rigid bumper lip that will fit your vehicle.
- You’ll have a much easier time installing a flexible bumper lip on your vehicle.
You can read more about why universal bumper lips are a good thing.
2. Flexible Bumper Lips Don’t Break
Durability matters when choosing a bumper lip. A rigid plastic or fiberglass bumper lip is likely to crack or break when it’s hit. That’s why rigid bumper lips rarely last as long as flexible bumper lips.
A flexible bumper lip will be pushed inwards by the force of an impact and then return to its original shape. This is great for two reasons:
- A flexible bumper lip is very unlikely to break or get damaged in any other way.
- It can protect your front bumper from damage.
Another bonus of having a flexible bumper lip on your vehicle is the fact that they’re safer. Flexible bumper lips are much more lightweight than rigid bumper lips. They’re less likely to cause an injury (to a pedestrian, for example) should a car accident occur.
3. Flexible Bumper Lips Cost Less Than Rigid Bumper Lips
Even though flexible bumper lips last longer and perform better than rigid bumper lips, they’re the more affordable option. It’s because flexible bumper lips are much cheaper to produce. Fiberglass and ABS plastic can be pretty costly to produce and mold into certain shapes.
And then there’s the long term cost. Rigid bumper lips break much more easily, so they don’t always last that long. You may end up spending a lot of money fixing or replacing a rigid bumper lip. You’ll likely save a lot of money by buying a flexible bumper lip that will last ages without breaking.
4. Flexible Bumper Lips Are Easier To Install And Remove
Rigid bumper lips can be pretty heavy. This makes these lips difficult to install and remove. Flexible bumper lips are lightweight. It’s much easier to install and remove them.
Porsche Has The Right Idea
We commend Porsche’s decision to install flexible bumper lips on its Turbo S cars. These bumper lips will definitely last much longer than if they had been rigid.
Want a flexible bumper lip on your car, but you can’t afford a Porsche? Get an All-Fit Lip Kit instead! An All-Fit Lip Kit is made of tough, OEM-grade proprietary rubber. It’s built to protect your front bumper and sideskirts for a long time. It’s available in six different colors and 1.5″, 2.5″, and 3.5″ widths. You will not only add a custom look to your vehicle, but you’ll add a whole lot of protection to it too!
