Do these flaps serve any purpose?

Do these little flaps in front of the front tires serve any practical purpose? Ever since replacing my LCAs I am now rubbing on them when reversing with the wheels fully turned. Pic is not my truck, just grabbed it online to illustrate.

 

yes, they deflect water

 

From in front of the tire? Could you please explain? I am having trouble visualizing it.

 

imagine big puddles

 

That's what the mud flaps are for no? I can't see this little lip in front doing much in that scenario. I am most likely going to remove it to alleviate the rubbing issues. I guess we'll see if I notice any other side effects.

 

When I upsized to 265/75/16 I had the exact same issue. I removed those tabs and cut off about an inch from the end with a utility knife and a straight edge. Problem solved. Why not just remove them? I wanted to keep the screws in place so I wouldn’t lose track of them. OCD that way.

 

When I drove on mine roads all the time - and light mine service vehicles have to deal with serious everyday MUD - front flaps helped keep crap off the lights and out of the radiator. For whatever the reason, you could reach a critical speed where wheel speed, vehicle forward speed and wind resistance would take the splatter and artfully fling it out and up the front. In certain conditions puddles and rain water off the road will do the same thing. On the mine trucks we put rubber belting hanging down all across the front bumper (this when trucks had real bumpers).

 

Y'know when you're driving along, you hit a big puddle and water cascades over your hood and windshield? Those lessen the cascade.

 

I’m 100% positive I gained .00000001mpg when I removed mine. I’ve never looked back.

 

Don't like the looks? Take them off, suffer the consequences, accept your decision and sleep knowing you can always put them back on! (They're there to keep crap off your paint)