Anything that comes from the official manufacturer in the car world is deemed the most fitting way to keep your car as original as possible. However, when that’s not on your list of priorities, the aftermarket is what can help make your car more identifiable with your wants and needs.
Take floor mats, for instance. They may not be a big deal as you mostly step on them; however, they affect comfort levels, cleanliness and how the interior looks. Together with car carpets, aftermarket floor mats help keep the floor safe from spills, unwanted damage and everyday wear and tear, but not without getting the right mats for cars first.
What Matters in a Floor Mat
Fit
The first and most important factor to consider before you get to make up your choice on anything else is the compatibility of the mats. How they fit matters if you want to buy car rubber floor mats that do their job properly. Make sure to look for mats made for the exact make and model car you have, otherwise, you won’t have as smooth an experience installing and using them.
Backside
The back of a floor mat matters as much as the front side, as it should be made to provide enough grip to keep the mat in place when your footwear is wet. This is especially important on rubber car floor mats.
Channels/ Grooves
Aftermarket rubber car floor mats should also have enough grooves or channels on the front side so that when you do have any fluid on them, it stays there. This way, you protect the carpet beneath from soaking it all up. While the liquid stays on the mat, it doesn’t necessarily come in contact with your shoes, meaning you can get rid of it once you take out the mat and give it a good wipe down or by shaking it off.
Universal vs Custom
There are two ways you can go about it when it comes to the mats you can have in your car, which affects installation and fitment. Universal mats are more affordable and fit a wider range of models, while custom ones are made exactly for your car, thus cost more but are easier to install and live with.
Colours
Like with almost any car-related component, floor mats come in different colours. The colour you get can be either matching the rest of the interior or spark some interest towards the footwell, if that’s what you want from your mats.
Benefits of Aftermarket Rubber Floor Mats
Price
The biggest reason why you should consider getting rubber floor mats is the fact that they are one of, if not the most, affordable ones. This makes them easily attainable for many car owners, which means it’s easier to get what you need without paying a fortune for it.
Maintenance
Rubber mats are the easiest to clean, as all you need to do is use a damp cloth over their surface. If they have dried-up mud or grime stuck to them, you can hose them down and then wipe them dry without needing to wait for them to dry on their own.
Availability
Unlike OEM mats, aftermarket mats for cars are available at different automotive shops, both online and out in the real world. You can get a set that suits your wants and needs much more easily, as you don’t need to contact a dealership and pay more to get the same or sometimes less.
Durability
The fact that they’re so tough and strong, car rubber mats are equally as durable, which means you don’t need to worry about them perishing any time soon. This way, you can count on the mats to do their job no matter what they’re subjected to on a daily basis, that is, as long as you clean them both properly and regularly.
Protection
As a material, rubber is quite heat-resistant and tough, which is exactly what rubber mats are. No matter if it’s sharp objects, crumbs, hot liquids or even acids, your carpeting and floor will stay safe and clean. Rubber is also quite light despite being such a hard-wearing material.
Convenient
With rubber car floor mats, you can not only maintain a clean footwell easily, but you can also keep your original mats in good condition. They are easy to take out and put in your vehicle as they are quite light and flexible. This makes them ideal when you want to do a more thorough cleaning of the interior.
Versatile
Being flexible and light also means that it’s easy to make rubber mats in any shape and form as long as they fit in your vehicle. This way, you can get better coverage, especially if you go for mats that cover the side of the transmission tunnel. Rubber mats are also easy to set up as they either clip on the attachment points in your footwell or stick to the carpeting, thanks to Velcro patches at the back.
