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Hi all,
In the last 3 weeks or so, 3 of my flappers have torn off while driving. This has occurred unexpectedly with no changes to my FB. It doesn't really bother me as work is commencing tomorrow to modify my car to get my American racing rims on, but just out of curiosity was hoping for an explanation.

Haven't used them but there was some talk either on this forum or one of the other forums about the tyre size that the flappers are fitted to.

Too big a tyre to rim size and they'll flap around and eventually tear and again same with too small a tyre to rim size or something like that.

They'll be some flapper users that may be able to give you a more definate answer.

Andrew,
Haven't fitted mine yet, But if you run low profile tyres, like 185/60/13 they don't have enough wall for the flapper to sit properly. California speed supply reccomend use of 75 profile tyres for all their flappers whether 3' or 2' or 1 1/2'. Also you need to keep your tyre pressure up, as if they have any movement due to lack of pressure then they'll just tear out. Plenty more will have better explanations and experience.
Cheers Theo Z...............

I've had my portawalls on for 2 years now, with around 20500ks clocked up on my car and I am very suprised to how long they have lasted.
After fitting them, my wife just scraped the gutter, literally consatineering the flapper and dislodging from the bead seat. I just used a heat gun to straighten back into shape and buffed the damage marks out and refitted them back onto the rim.
I think the main problem for failure on flappers is they actually build up a fair bit of heat, and causes the rubber to dry out and go hard. This in turn will cause cracking, then total disintergration.

I have just recently had one let go, whilst I was driving but still was quarter secured to the rim, just near hitting the ground. The main reasons for this to let go, was all my own fault. The main problem with portawalls, flappers are they squeak, when the wheels are rotating. I used silcon spray to lubricate the tyre and portawall to prevent this squeak. It in fact did work (stopped the squeaking) but the silicon worked its way to the bead causing the portawall to slip out and let go.
Heat gun was used again to repair and this time the tyres were cleaned with prepwash to prevent ease of removal whilst vehicle is in motion.

The 3" flappers are fitted to Toyo 205/65/15 tyres and the rears are 215/65/15, there is some clearance between the tyre and flappers, and they do make a noise from 80k on.
But all in all if you want the look on a budget there the go.
I will be experimenting with certain flex paints in the future, once these finally give up the ghost, cause I hate squeaks.
Finally my flappers are the Petes Rubber Co brand from John's Rod and Custom.

Regards John

As an extra to all this John of John's rod and custom have been trying different compounds for the flappers to give them a longer life. Also I think he bought all the molds off his supplier, so now they can make there own. Not sure how he has gone with this, but the ones on his roadster are holding up well......

If you have been doing hard cornering you could have moved/rolled the beads Andrew. Can't really complain about our flappers (3 inch on 185 75 14s, about 8 months use ). apart from kerbs (her not him) they perform pretty good for $110 . They have rubbed the side wall a bit, but no squeaks or flapping noticed at high speeds. At the end of day you get what you pay for , and on the very odd occasion you get a bit of suprise

This may sound like a dumb question, but what is a flapper?
Is it some sort of stick on whitewall as I think it might be?

Paroharo, A flapper or portawall as commonly called is a piece of rubber that is generally white, or red and black and, or white and black as I have seen recently, actually covers the outer face of the original tyre close to rim and is secured by the rim and bead of the tyre itself. Made from rubber themselves is a cheaper alternative to the factory whitewall tyre, at around $130 a set, there pretty good.

hey andrew

SCK, has flappers on his sweeeeeeet van...

his tyres are running 60 & 65 profiles...
ask him his secrects... as hihs is a daily driver too....




matty martin

Mine were all good for years, I think they just reached their expiry date. They were old, and beginning to perish and go chalky.

I've had no tearing off problems.


Anyone got any tips for keeping them from going brown or cleaning?

ajax!

To stop the browning effect don't use tyre shine/armour all type products.

As for cleaning I've found the easiest way to maintain them is cheap cans of spray degreaser.