What Does a Spoiler Do?

For the purposes of our discussion today, a spoiler is designed to actually spoil the airflow coming over the top of a vehicle. Like a wing, a spoiler redirects airflow up and away from the vehicle, but for a different reason.

Do spoilers actually do anything?

"Usually, spoilers are intended to increase downforce – they deflect air upward, which creates a downward force on the car," says Dr. ... "This helps stick the tires to the road to give the car better grip and therefore better handling in cornering." Spoilers can also reduce drag, Agelin-Chaab says.

Do spoilers make your car faster?

Spoilers are supposed to change airflow above, around and underneath vehicles to reduce wind resistance (or drag) or use the air to create more downforce and enable more grip at high speeds. As a vehicle travels faster, aerodynamic drag increases, making the engine work harder to maintain speed. ...