If you're off-roading with spash guards installed and make contact with a solid object, which breaks first... the splash guards themselves, or the points they're mounted to?
The splash guards themselves will get gnarled, but probably wouldn't "break". What would likely break is the screws, clips, plastic rivets, and fender liner/plastic upon which they mount. Also possible is that the mounting hardware just pulls through the mount holes on the splash guard.
I made light contact with mine recently, which was what got me thinking.
I don't mind if mine get beat up. Just don't want to do expensive damage to what they attatch to. I read one poster was planning on a mod to his splash guards to make them break away on impact. I wonder how that worked out.
Busted my right mud flap on an ice rut last winter. Cold may have contributed. It's cracked it half way across just below the body line. I drilled some holes in it and secured it with zip ties. One thing I did notice is that they rub the black wheel well molding a bit and you'll always know they were on if you ever take them off.