Plastic protection against rock chips?

[Telemed911]

I have a 991.1 911 Turbo (15K miles) and live on a gravel road about half a mile from tarmac. Does anyone have suggestions about plastic coverings or film (front bra) and in front of rear wheels? Thank you in advance - Dr. Gerry Higgins

[WillyDaP]

I would definitely do film ( Xpel, 3M, Step, etc. ) behind the front and back wheels and likely down your doors, besides the typical front sections which will help alot on the highway. I would note where you live and some of the members here might be able to give you some suggestions of a good place who has extensive experience applying PPF ( Paint Protective Film ) I have had Xpel and 3M, but now prefer Stek , which is not as easy to find but it is ceramic infused and has a bit more gloss to it. I hope this is helpful and congrats on such a great Porsche!

[Telemed911]

WillyDaP-

Thank you! I have already contacted some Paint Protective Film installers who use Stek in my area.

Kind regards - Gerry Higgins

[WillyDaP]

Do ask them how long they have been doing installation and ask who is their best installer. Say you will wait for him if he is tied up at present. It may also be good to inquire if they have done many Porsches, Ferraris, Lambos, etc.

[Tom]

Stek is gaining in popularity it seems. A friend had his whole car done in it and says it's great. The market leaders are 3M, Suntek, and XPel. However, it's best to shop the installer, not the film. The practical differences between the major films is small compared to the difference between a great installer and a poor installer. And don't be afraid to have them double up on the high risk areas.

[WillyDaP]

Stek is gaining popularity as it supposedly has ceramic built in so it appears more glossy , but as Tom and I have mentioned a " Great Installer " is absolutely the key for your car.

[Maruscmn]

I had Clearguard Nano SX put on in 2018 and I have zero complaints- It has saved my paint countless times from rocks (ill dig up a pic) and looks about 99% as good as the paint.

IMG_3414.jpeg (2.61 MiB) Viewed 6750 times

Mike

[lhanddds]

As a temporary measure, you can use a product called Track Tape ( there are others). If it’s going to be a while before you can get it PPFd. It’s not pretty. It’s meant to be used for a road trip or a track day and then removed. You can actually place it over PPF to keep from penetrating high risk areas.

[lhanddds]

Just as an update. I used this on a 1000 mile trip about 2 weeks ago. The first half was in heavy rain and a couple of pieces came off. This material is not as flexible as PPF and with creases and so forth, does not adapt well. At the end of the trip during washing, I noticed some significant residue that was left. It was not hard to remove and it was used during a hot time of the year but only 12 hours at a time. It did seem to do its job. Maybe more expensive brands cold perform better.

[Tom]

Just as an update. I used this on a 1000 mile trip about 2 weeks ago. The first half was in heavy rain and a couple of pieces came off. This material is not as flexible as PPF and with creases and so forth, does not adapt well. At the end of the trip during washing, I noticed some significant residue that was left. It was not hard to remove and it was used during a hot time of the year but only 12 hours at a time. It did seem to do its job. Maybe more expensive brands cold perform better.

What brand did you use? I used Track Armour from Amazon and didn't have any of those issues.