Beware of Road Wrap
10-14-2010, 08:31 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
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Beware of Road Wrap
Beware of Road Wrap. This is the clear self-adhering 2.5 mil plastic wrap (non-permanent) that is marketed to apply directly over the front of your vehicle to protect the finish while traveling. I applied it over the front of my Vette last week for my sixty miles trip to a car show. I extended the wrap over my headlights (C-6) to protect them also.
Upon arrival to the car show, I removed the wrap and to my surprise it took a thin layer of sealant or protective coating off the surface of my right headlight’s lens cover. It did not remove the lens coating totally, but in random patches. This was very noticeable leaving the surface of the light lens splotchy. The protective coating that it removed was approximately 1 mil in thickens and could be felt with the finger nail. Where the coating was removed, it left a dull haze on the surface of the lens.
This coating that was removed was super hard and I tried a number of things (alcohol, Goop, plastic polish/clear with abrasives, rubbing compound) to remove it with no luck. I ended up having to use aluminum tape (with super strong adhesive) to stick on lens over the remaining coating to remove it. This was a lengthly process which took over and hour to remove 99 percent of the coating. Once the coating was removed, I took my Flex and started with medium cut polish and worked my way up through mild cut and finished it off with headlight lens polish/restorer. I spent a total of between 3 and 4 hours to restore my headlight lens to an acceptable finish.
I thought that I would pass this information along so others well not make the same mistake that I did. I now have serious concerns about this wrap and will never use it again as I’m not sure that it may also damage the paint finish.
Upon arrival to the car show, I removed the wrap and to my surprise it took a thin layer of sealant or protective coating off the surface of my right headlight’s lens cover. It did not remove the lens coating totally, but in random patches. This was very noticeable leaving the surface of the light lens splotchy. The protective coating that it removed was approximately 1 mil in thickens and could be felt with the finger nail. Where the coating was removed, it left a dull haze on the surface of the lens.
This coating that was removed was super hard and I tried a number of things (alcohol, Goop, plastic polish/clear with abrasives, rubbing compound) to remove it with no luck. I ended up having to use aluminum tape (with super strong adhesive) to stick on lens over the remaining coating to remove it. This was a lengthly process which took over and hour to remove 99 percent of the coating. Once the coating was removed, I took my Flex and started with medium cut polish and worked my way up through mild cut and finished it off with headlight lens polish/restorer. I spent a total of between 3 and 4 hours to restore my headlight lens to an acceptable finish.
I thought that I would pass this information along so others well not make the same mistake that I did. I now have serious concerns about this wrap and will never use it again as I’m not sure that it may also damage the paint finish.
10-14-2010, 08:35 PM
#2
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St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
horrible! from what I've read here, do you think your lenses will last with what you've done?
10-14-2010, 08:40 PM
#4
Safety Car
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FL Events Coordinator
Wow, sorry for your trouble. I was thinking of using that when I go to Florida this winter. What do the instructions say about using on Headlights? How did it work on the painted surface?
10-14-2010, 08:45 PM
#5
Safety Car
Thanks for the heads up.... I have used Road Wrap several times with great results, even on a 1800 mile trip... I never put it over the lights...
10-14-2010, 08:46 PM
#6
Le Mans Master
10-14-2010, 09:02 PM
#8
Melting Slicks
10-14-2010, 09:23 PM
#10
Racer
I Hate Road Wrap!!!
Too bad you didn't do a search before you bought it. I had posted earlier this year about how Road Wrap is crap!
I tried to use it on a trip to the Museum for the C5/C6 Bash, but within 100 miles it came loose and was beating against the car (yes I applied it correctly and overlapped it too). I stopped and reaffixed it, but within a few more miles came loose again.
I then noticed that it was actually cutting into the clearcoat so I quickly removed it.
I had to buff the car when I returned to get the abrasions out and I tried to contact the company but their web site only had ways to order and no way to call them.
I ended up sending them an e-mail and, of course, NO response.
I'd NEVER recommend using Road Wrap.
Glen
I tried to use it on a trip to the Museum for the C5/C6 Bash, but within 100 miles it came loose and was beating against the car (yes I applied it correctly and overlapped it too). I stopped and reaffixed it, but within a few more miles came loose again.
I then noticed that it was actually cutting into the clearcoat so I quickly removed it.
I had to buff the car when I returned to get the abrasions out and I tried to contact the company but their web site only had ways to order and no way to call them.
I ended up sending them an e-mail and, of course, NO response.
I'd NEVER recommend using Road Wrap.
Glen
Last edited by Glen220; 10-18-2010 at 09:38 PM. Reason: spelling
10-14-2010, 10:17 PM
#12
Burning Brakes
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AoRoads – Only time will tell. I keep My Vette under my carport with cover and drive it only on week-ends.
Luster – I had the headlights on for about for about 30 miles of the 60 mile trip. I don’t think heat was the problem since more coating was removed at the front of lens farther away from the blubs. Also, I only had this problem with one of the headlight covers not both.
Obx… - No, the instructions neither say you can use it over headlight covers nor warns you not to use it to cover them. Luckily, I did not notice any damage to the paint finish.
Gbgary – I’m not a GM rep, I’m just describing what occurred. EDinPA may have more knowledge than I on this subject.
Glen220 – I also had part of the wrap to blow off at 70 mph. Scared the $hit out of me when it started flapping against my hood. I had to stop on the interstate to completely remove that section of wrap.
Luster – I had the headlights on for about for about 30 miles of the 60 mile trip. I don’t think heat was the problem since more coating was removed at the front of lens farther away from the blubs. Also, I only had this problem with one of the headlight covers not both.
Obx… - No, the instructions neither say you can use it over headlight covers nor warns you not to use it to cover them. Luckily, I did not notice any damage to the paint finish.
Gbgary – I’m not a GM rep, I’m just describing what occurred. EDinPA may have more knowledge than I on this subject.
Glen220 – I also had part of the wrap to blow off at 70 mph. Scared the $hit out of me when it started flapping against my hood. I had to stop on the interstate to completely remove that section of wrap.
10-14-2010, 10:25 PM
#13
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St. Jude Donor '13
Aside from bugs, our C6 seems to stand up well to small hits on the front. We've got 23k miles on it, probably a couple of hundred on gravel (road construction, especially out west) and i can find exactly two very small paint chips and one small ding on a headlight lens.
The potential problems with bras, clearbras, roadwrap, etc have me thinking that the cure is worse than the disease.
The potential problems with bras, clearbras, roadwrap, etc have me thinking that the cure is worse than the disease.
10-15-2010, 10:09 AM
#16
I've been using Road Wrap this year, but only as protection from cones, stones, etc. when I Autocross. I put it on the front bumper (but not over the headlights) and the rear quarter panels in front of the rear wheels.
I haven't used it for long drives, but based on what I've seen when autocrossing with it, I would have to believe it wouldn't hold up well on a long trip. It seems to hold fine on large flat surfaces, but doesn't stay stuck as well on curved surfaces (and as we know, a C6 has a fair number of curves). The key is to get a nice clean surface and get it applied with as few wrinkles as possible (which is easier said than done).
Surprised it messed up the finish on the headlamps since it's adhesion capabilities are not that strong. I've had no problem with taking it off of the painted surfaces.
Still, for the price, I haven't been that impressed and once I use up my existing roll, I'll be looking for an alternative. A couple recommendations I've gotten are to try Collision wrap (available at suppliers to body shops), or just use clear contact/shelf paper. One of the guys I autocross with has been using it on his Z06 when he autocrosses and it seems to work fine and he says leaves no residue (as **** retentive as he is about his car's finish and appearance, it must not be affecting the finish or he wouldn't continue to use it).
-Ray
I haven't used it for long drives, but based on what I've seen when autocrossing with it, I would have to believe it wouldn't hold up well on a long trip. It seems to hold fine on large flat surfaces, but doesn't stay stuck as well on curved surfaces (and as we know, a C6 has a fair number of curves). The key is to get a nice clean surface and get it applied with as few wrinkles as possible (which is easier said than done).
Surprised it messed up the finish on the headlamps since it's adhesion capabilities are not that strong. I've had no problem with taking it off of the painted surfaces.
Still, for the price, I haven't been that impressed and once I use up my existing roll, I'll be looking for an alternative. A couple recommendations I've gotten are to try Collision wrap (available at suppliers to body shops), or just use clear contact/shelf paper. One of the guys I autocross with has been using it on his Z06 when he autocrosses and it seems to work fine and he says leaves no residue (as **** retentive as he is about his car's finish and appearance, it must not be affecting the finish or he wouldn't continue to use it).
-Ray
10-15-2010, 12:35 PM
#19
Le Mans Master
http://www.invisiblemask.com/cgi-bin...nd+Grand+Sport
I have it on my Z06 lamps for about a year now. So far so good, and it saved one the lens from a rock.
Some people fear this type of protection on the headlamps, but I've seen far more damaged head lamps that had zero protection, including crazing damage.
I have it on my Z06 lamps for about a year now. So far so good, and it saved one the lens from a rock.
Some people fear this type of protection on the headlamps, but I've seen far more damaged head lamps that had zero protection, including crazing damage.
10-15-2010, 02:13 PM
#20
Our lenses are made from polycarbonate. Although it is tuff and can take impact well. It is soft, scratches easily, and has weak UV resistance.
A clearcoat is applied to provide improved UV resistance, and more specifically, better scratch resistance.
You should not be able to pull the clearcoat off with what is basically tape. Sounds like an adhesion issue of the clear.
A clearcoat is applied to provide improved UV resistance, and more specifically, better scratch resistance.
You should not be able to pull the clearcoat off with what is basically tape. Sounds like an adhesion issue of the clear.