Significance of Fender Flares When Upgrading Wheels and Tires
Pickup truck and SUV owners often prioritize upgrades that improve their vehicles’ performance and appearance. Common enhancements include improving suspension systems, adding protective accessories, and upgrading exterior features. One popular modification is replacing old wheels and tires with larger, wider alternatives, which can significantly enhance the vehicle’s appearance and off-road capabilities. However, this upgrade often necessitates the addition of fender flares. These accessories are not only about aesthetics but also vital in ensuring the vehicle’s legal compliance, protection, and overall performance.
The Need for Fender Flares
Many SUV and pickup truck owners are unaware of the need for fender flares when upgrading their wheels and tires. While some may view fender flares as a stylistic choice, their function extends beyond aesthetics.
Increased Tire Coverage
Mounting large and wide tires may extend beyond the stock fenders, leading to tire protrusion. Due to the wide profiles and aggressive treads of mud-terrain tires, they can fling considerable debris while driving at speed. Fender flares provide the necessary coverage to contain this debris, preventing damage to your vehicle and other road users. Installing fender flares helps mitigate these issues by providing additional coverage to protect the parts. They also help comply with regulations that mandate tire coverage.
Off-Road Protection
The vehicle’s body panels are susceptible to scratches and dents when navigating challenging off-road terrain. Installing fender flares made of durable materials is an effective way to protect not just the exterior but also the wheel wells and other suspension components.
Paint Protection
Larger tires, especially those with aggressive tread patterns, may kick up mud, rocks, and road salt. When this happens, the body panels are vulnerable to these hazards, which can chip or scratch your vehicle’s paintwork. Fender flares help to reduce the amount of road debris thrown up by the tires, as they act as a barrier. They shield the vehicle’s body panels from damage, ensuring no scuff on the paintwork. They also prevent excessive wear and tear while preventing the road rocks from hitting other nearby cars.
Prevent Suspension Issues
Fender flares are essential when upsizing the rims or changing the wheel type to all-terrain or chunky mud tires. The aggressive tread patterns of mud tires or the wider surface of all-terrain tires may be the culprit of the fender rubbing issue. Without proper fender coverage, the tires can kick up significant amounts of gravel, debris, and mud, damaging the underbody and sides, including other nearby vehicles. It is essential when you frequently drive your truck or SUV on unpaved roads or in harsh weather conditions.
Enhanced Aesthetic Appeal
Fender flares add a rugged, aggressive look to your truck or SUV. Whether you prefer a factory-style appearance or a bold off-road stance, there are fender flare designs to match your style preferences.
Prevents Rust and Corrosion
By preventing mud and dirt from accumulating around wheel wells, fender flares help reduce the risk of rust and corrosion. They can also minimize exposure to road salt and moisture. These accessories are crucial for off-road vehicles frequently exposed to mud, water, and harsh environmental conditions.
Legal Compliance
The legal requirements for fender flares depend on your state. While enforcement varies widely, most states require that the fender flare covers the full tire or at least the tire tread. If the tires are not fully covered, your truck or SUV can easily kick up rocks, mud, and other particles at other cars on the road. It increases the likelihood of accidents; no one likes a cracked windshield or dinged-up hood. Installing fender flares helps you comply with regulations that prevent potential fines and ensure road safety. Brands like Aries Automotive, Bushwacker, G2, and more offer various options to help resolve the issue with legal compliance.
Increased Resale Value
Properly fitted fender flares in pickup trucks or SUVs command a higher resale value since a well-maintained vehicle retains its value over time. Fender flares protect the body panels from corrosion, dings, and scratches. If you replace the damaged factory fender flares with new ones, the vehicle will look more attractive to potential buyers when you decide to sell or trade-in.
Types of Fender Flares
There are various types of fender flares available, each catering to different needs and preferences. Below are the main categories:
OE Style
Due to its factory-installed look, the OE style can replace your damaged stock fender flares. They give a low-profile OEM look, which retains the original appearance of the vehicle. They are ideal for those who want a clean, understated upgrade, so you can use them to hide rust, dents, and other damage over the wheel well. They provide a subtle yet effective style improvement to replace damaged parts, especially if the factory fender flares have been broken or rusted. They also add up to 1.25 inches of tire coverage.
Street Style
Street-style fender flares are the perfect accessory to elevate the vehicle’s look, offering a touch of flair that prioritizes aesthetics over heavy-duty protection. Also called slim fender flares, they are crafted for those who crave a sleek, urban look. They can be easily attached to the inner wheel wells, giving a sleek and seamless appearance. They work well for pickup trucks and SUVs with slightly wider tires that do not extend excessively beyond the fender.
Bolt-On (Pocket-Style)
This style of fender flares is the most popular and has been called by different names such as bolt-on, riveted, or pocket style. These fender flares feature a rugged, bolted-on appearance, adding up to 2.5 inches of tire coverage. They give an off-road-ready look, especially when chunky tires are mounted on the wheels. Despite the riveted design, drilling is not required for installation.
Extended
The extended flares provide the most tire coverage if you need to extend the flares to adjust the space in the wheel well. They are available in different styles and finishes to match the look of your vehicle. They effectively prevent rocks, debris, and mud splashes kicked by the tires from damaging the vehicle’s body, offering maximum protection. They are usually seen on heavy-duty vehicles, providing additional coverage for oversized wheels and tires.
Cut-Out
Cut-out style fender flares provide more tire coverage and fender clearance, which is crucial for some off-roaders who mount aggressive wheels and tires on their vehicles. They are best suited for rock crawlers and lifted trucks. They can significantly increase the clearance for maximum articulation on the trail. They can also prevent unnecessary tire slings, rubbing, and other issues. Moreover, cut-out flares provide flexibility to resist abrasions and impact resistance. However, major modification is required to the fenders to install this fender flare type. Cutting a part of the fender is necessary to make them fit.
You can maximize the benefits of your wheel and tire upgrade while ensuring the protection of your investment by carefully selecting the right type of fender flares. Aside from addressing a critical issue that arises when installing bigger wheels and tires, they help make your vehicle off-road-worthy. They may seem like simple accessories, but they significantly shield your vehicle against damage, ensure legal compliance, and elevate your vehicle’s overall appearance.
