Can anyone explain to me...

[tyranical]

Where the idea i've seen on quite a few french car forums of having small arrows pointing to the tow eye with "tow" written above them came from?

To me, it just looks like your incredibly stupid and stating the obvious, but i'm assuming its come from some rally car or something that someones copied, it only seems to be french cars i see it on, pugs and clio's mainly.

 

[LFCJosh]

a rally thing yeh
im not a fan tbh

i like the tow eyes but not the stickers

 

[Da]

It's track day orientated isn't it, incase you have an 'off' and need towing out?

 

[ash197]

As far as i no it track day based. They say if you dont state the obvious where you want it to be towed from then they will tow it from anything they can hook to!

 

[tyranical]

As far as i no it track day based. They say if you dont state the obvious where you want it to be towed from then they will tow it from anything they can hook to!

Ah i see, if thats the case then i guess it does have a point, does make sense i guess but surely any track day stewards would look for a Tow eye to tow from rather than strapping it to the grille or something.

 

[ash197]

You would think but you get told in the briefing that they want to get you out the way as quickly as possible so easiest thing goes i think!

 

[Tucker]

sometimes touring cars have them recessed into the bumper for aerodynamics, like on regular road cars (with a cap)

the tow sticker just makes the eye easier to find on a heavily liveried car.

 

[LFCJosh]

fashion over function tbh

 

[guysy]

I can see the point when the tow hook is in the boot and its pointing out the tow hole in the bumper for ease of screwing it in a towing, But if the tow hook is already screwed in... I dont see the point.

Fine for track cars. Pointless for road cars trying to look track imo.

 

[DMS]

As previously mentioned, I was under the impression it's got something to do with the marshalls on race tracks.
If you have a crash / accident / breakdown it's unsafe for you to be out in the field, so they need to tow you to safety A.S.A.P. If the towing eye is hard to spot they will just hook onto anything that protrudes enough. That could mean damage to the bumpers, skirts, arches etc...

 

[mcphee197]

Serves a good purpose on the track, but if you stick one on your road going car for fashion then you are subject to being readily mocked im afraid.

 

[jonathanedew]

Seems to me you are expecting a tow?

 

[-Leigh-]

Useful on track, look silly off it though. Looks like it's a banger that always needs towing somewhere (which being french it probably does lol)

 

[ForceIndia]

Comes from racing. Not needed for road use or on a track day, just for show. Not a fan.

 

[Gaz_]

Looks w**k on a road car imo

 

[cat171]

If the cars standard with the sticker etc then it looks crap. If the cars modded up (lowered, different seats, cage etc) and looks like it goes round a track a lot then I think it pulls it off.