I installed mud guards on all four wheels of my 2001 Accord, but I am curious to know if they do anything other than preventing splashing when driving on wet/muddy roads to other vehicles, pedestrians, and the front sides on your car.

Do you guys have evidence or believe that they prevent rusts in the long term on the sides of your car especially driving in salty roads in the winter? Common sense would dictate that since salt pepples and salty mud (wet snow with salt) hitting the sides of the car would increase the chance of a car getting rusted in the long run....

Anyway, what are your ideas and opinions?