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Otto · 09-29-2010, 01:51 PM

Seems like many vehicles have bigger outside mirrors than needed, and poorly shaped ones (from an aerodynamic efficiency standpoint) at that.

For example, my Ford E-150 van has outside mirrors about 12"W X 10"H, mounted on stalks about 3.5" wide. The mirror housings are, however, somewhat rounded, so that's a start.

But, how big do outside mirrors really need to be? My motorcycles and cars have mirrors about the same distance from the driver's eyes and with adequate rear view vision, but do just fine with a fraction of the frontal area. Even those smaller mirrors have bigger housings and frontal area than needed for the mirrors they enclose, adding ~20% needlessly to frontal area. And, they are not very well shaped from an aerodynamic standpoint, being too blunt and/or angular.

So, I've been looking on eBay and elsewhere for aerodynamically shaped motorcycle mirrors to adapt and install on the van or car. I've seen such for ~$10-30/pair on eBay. Even so, they could stand some improvement, such as streamlined mount stems rather than round ones. How fat does the mount stem need to be, anyway?

Questions: Anybody else here looking at this? What have you found? Sources?

09-29-2010, 01:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
Otto Master EcoModder Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: USA Posts: 568 Thanks: 1 Thanked 73 Times in 58 Posts	aerodynamically efficient mirrors Seems like many vehicles have bigger outside mirrors than needed, and poorly shaped ones (from an aerodynamic efficiency standpoint) at that. For example, my Ford E-150 van has outside mirrors about 12"W X 10"H, mounted on stalks about 3.5" wide. The mirror housings are, however, somewhat rounded, so that's a start. But, how big do outside mirrors really need to be? My motorcycles and cars have mirrors about the same distance from the driver's eyes and with adequate rear view vision, but do just fine with a fraction of the frontal area. Even those smaller mirrors have bigger housings and frontal area than needed for the mirrors they enclose, adding ~20% needlessly to frontal area. And, they are not very well shaped from an aerodynamic standpoint, being too blunt and/or angular. So, I've been looking on eBay and elsewhere for aerodynamically shaped motorcycle mirrors to adapt and install on the van or car. I've seen such for ~$10-30/pair on eBay. Even so, they could stand some improvement, such as streamlined mount stems rather than round ones. How fat does the mount stem need to be, anyway? Questions: Anybody else here looking at this? What have you found? Sources?