If you want to preserve your car’s paint for as long as possible, applying a protective film around the body should be at the top of your priority list.
This was emphasized by mechanic Matthew Jones from Harker Heights Ceramic Coatings in Texas, USA. In a video posted on TikTok, he showed a BMW X5 built just two months ago but, due to frequent highway use, already had several marks on its paint.
“People don’t believe us when we tell them that you need paint protection film immediately. Look at this,” Jones said in the video before showing that the paint already had numerous scratches caused by small stones flying up while driving at high speed.
“See all this? These are all stone chips,” the mechanic added, demonstrating how they can look like white dust on dark paint. “These are all stone chips. Look at this one. All these little things you see, which are not dust. These are real stone chips.”
Jones also noted that if you live in a very dry city, like in Texas, this can make the situation worse, since rain reduces the likelihood of stones being dislodged and hitting vehicle bodies on the road.
“The reason you get more stone chips in Texas than in many places, and people don’t believe us, is because we have less rain in Texas. The road doesn’t get washed, so dirt and debris just stay there,” the expert explained.
In rainier areas, precipitation naturally cleans loose gravel and debris from the roads. In Texas, this debris remains, accumulating and waiting to be kicked up by the car in front of you directly onto your paint.
So, what can you do? The best solution to keep your paint looking good longer is to wrap your car’s body with a paint protection film (PPF), a transparent urethane film that is 6 to 8 mils thick and physically absorbs impacts. PPF can last 7 to 10 years and costs $2,000 or more, depending on the coverage.
Other solutions include a ceramic coating, a 1 to 2-micron thick layer that offers UV protection and easier cleaning, but according to Ceramic Pro, this type of coating is not designed to stop stone chips and works best as a complement to PPF, not a replacement.
Finally, driving habits are also very effective. Maintain a 3-second following distance, reduce speed on gravel roads, change lanes to stay away from trucks when possible, and avoid the highway shoulder, where debris tends to accumulate.
Photo and video: TikTok @hhceramiccoatings. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
@hhceramiccoatingsThis is what happens to your car on Texas roads in less than two months – find out why this happens 👇 Harker Heights Ceramic Coatings 103 S. Main St Nolanville, TX 76559 254.550.4142
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