In the automotive world, floor mats are kind of a big deal, and for good reason. We’re constantly getting into our car with shoes covered in who knows what, dropping fries on the floor on our way home from the drive thru, spilling our coffee when someone slams on their brakes for no reason, and that’s not even the half of it.
While seat covers, steering wheel covers, and most other auto accessories are generally seen as optional, floor mats are more of a necessity. Even when you’re driving a new car off the lot, a dealership will usually throw in a set of standard floor mats for free.
When people shop around for floor mats, they usually only consider two options: expensive custom floor mats and generic universal floor mats they can grab at their local Walmart. They both have their pros and their cons, but there’s also a third option that many tend to overlook – trimmable floor mats.
Like the name implies, trimmable floor mats, or trim-to-fit floor mats, are manufactured with the intention to allow the buyer to trim them to fit their vehicle. They’re still designed with a generic shape, but they have trim lines that make it easy to cut them to the shape you need. Since they’re mass produced, trimmable floor mats are usually about the same price as universal floor mats, which makes them a particularly attractive option for buyers on a budget.
To some, it might sound a little too good to be true…the fit of custom floor mats for the price of universal floor mats? What’s the catch?
Well, custom floor mats are -obviously- a perfect fit for your vehicle, since they’re custom made. They also tend to have an upper lip that comes up to form around the contours of your interior, which gives you some added protection. Another plus to custom floor mats is that they come in a variety of materials and designs, ranging from rubber to plastic and even fancy quilted fabric.
However, the materials you’re “stuck” with when it comes to trimmable floor mats isn’t really much of a con at all. Rubber is arguably the best possible element for any floor mat. It’s strong, durable, and waterproof. Plus, rubber is stain-resistant and flexible – all things we look for in floor mats. Not to mention how easy they are to clean. Just shake them off, or even hose them down if things get really down and dirty. Vinyl has all the same qualities as rubber, though it isn’t quite as strong or durable; but it makes up for those shortcomings by being especially flexible.
And although trimmable floor mats don’t exactly stand up to the perfect fit custom floor mats provide, they come pretty close. Manufacturers measure multiple vehicles to determine common dimensions and shapes of the carpet areas, and then use those measurements to design trimlines on the floor mats. All the customer has to do is match up the lines to the shape they need and just snip away. After just a few minutes, you’re left with a snug fit that protects your carpet just as well as pricey custom floor mats.
Trimmable floor mats hold an edge over universal floor mats. Since they’re able to be cut fit your vehicle more accurately, they actually provide more safety than your average floor mats. Not only do they protect your carpet from heavier messes and spills, but they also tend to move around less. This prevents the scary scenario of a floor mat getting stuck beneath the brake pedal, which is more common than people would think!
So what’s the bottom line? We personally would highly recommend a set of trimmable floor mats. The price, protection, and customization all come together to make them the perfect choice for any driver.
Check out our selection of trimmable floor mats on fhgroupauto.com today to find your perfect fit!
