Possible to get stone chips from own car?

[Vyse]

On roads that have had the top layer scraped off, they usually have a lot of small loose stones. Normally when I drive on this roads I drive extra slow as I think I may be doing damage to my car due to the sound of stones hitting the insides of the wheel arch. However, seeing that the stones are actually hitting the arch and not the paint work, is it actually possible to cause stone chips by your own car?

I don't see how the stones could get in contact with the paintwork. OK they may bounce of the wheel arch hit the road then bounce off at a different angle back onto the car body but chances seem low.

Edited by Vyse on Saturday 4th October 19:45

[Evil.soup]

I guess it depends on the car. Some cars have wide wings and sills that could get hit by stones thrown up but i know where you are coming from.

To be honest its the noise and thought of it that makes me slow down rather than any damage i have ever found.......

[GetCarter]

Try a Caterham.

[blank]

Definitely possible but most common on the lower sill panels and leading edge of the rear arches. Where most cars will have anti chip paint or shielding to protect it somewhat.

[jsc15]

I've had a couple of Alfa Brera's and stonechips on the front of each rear arch bulge are 100% from the car. There are protective plastic patches fitted but these don't cover the full area needed

[iva cosworth]

Definitely can.

The huge amount of tape the Concours people put all over the car that has to be driven home is eye watering.

[Evil.soup]

I guess it depends on the car. Some cars have wide wings and sills that could get hit by stones thrown up but i know where you are coming from.

To be honest its the noise and thought of it that makes me slow down rather than any damage i have ever found.......

[FRA53R]

I'd imagine it'd be quite easy to get a bit of self inflicted road rash on one of these:

[Vyse]

How though? The front arch extends out the same distance as the front wheel. I'd assume the stones would be stopped by the widened arch.

[alpha channel]

Nope, they'll be flicked up from the edges of the tyres, like the Brera (same family) my 159 has the same 'rash' on the front of the rear wheel arches, all self inflicted.

[paintman]

Self inflicted chips very common on fronts of rear arches & on the KA the bottom rear corner of the door frame.
Have a look for bits of clear plastic protective film in those areas - any car that has them as factory standard thats what its there for.

[kambites]

On the Elise it seems very common for stoned kicked up by the front tyres to hit the rear arches and chip the paint. The leading edges of my rear arches are scratched to buggery.

[ging84]

on top gear they tested some super cars in Spain on an unused runway where there was a lot of loose stuff and managed to quite badly tear up some of the body work on a couple of them

[Evil.soup]

You only have to look at the side of the car when you have driven on a muddy road to see where road debris may be impacting. I just cleaned the wifes note and all along the lower quarter of the front door and part of the rear door was covered in mud that had been thrown up by the tyres.