[QUOTE]Originally posted by geppetto

 

They are for high speed stability (keeping turbulent wind from making your wheels want to wander).

Personally, I use them to see how my driving is. If I can't get the front ones to scrape the ground in a turn, I'm not turning hard enough (yes, they scrape ALOT)

 

They were designed for the sole purpose of us making us wonder what they are made for.

 

Mine are almost gone also.

 

They are ment to take the impact of small furry animals. This way if you are about to run over say a small furry white rabbit, these flaps would deflect the animal in question away from your tire.
This concept came to be when people were tired of their HIDs driving out rabbits into the middle of the street.

 

 

Since they are located in front of the tire, I believe they are called Spats.


Strakes are located on the lower side of the car. As in the picture below.

 

When I picked up my car in July 2002, they were not installed on the car. I've had them in a bag in the garage until I installed them 2 weeks ago. The installation instructions referred to them as front and rear strakes (not to be confused with the side strakes, as others have mentioned). The purported purpose is to deflect air around the tires to increase stability at high speeds. I have noticed absolutely no difference in feel since putting them on the car. Then again, my car is rarely on the highway, so I haven't been driving at any high speeds lately.