Fender Flares
Adding aftermarket fender flares to your vehicle is an easy way to gain tire clearance and staying road legal while driving with larger tires.
In this article:
High Clearance Fender Flare
High clearance fender flares are designed to design improve tire clearance on vehicles with stock or modified suspension. Adding high clearance fender flares improves tire clearance by allowing the vehicles suspension to travel without the tire making contact with the fender or inner fender well. This style fender flare does require the vehicles body panels to be cut. Cutting the body panels relocates the fender flare higher on the fender. With the gain in tire clearance the flare sits higher and typically further out from the tire than the original location. Keep in mind when trimming the body to file ruff edges and paint the cut edge to prevent rust.
Companies like AEV Conversions have done extensive research to learn vehicles like the Chevy Colorado's ZR2 Dynamic Suspensions with additional dampening and suspension travel is limited by the amount of clearance the vehicle allows from the factory. AEV provides templates where to trim the body to allow the Colorado clearance for suspension travel but also allow for an upgrade in tire size. AEV's high clearance flares makes room for 35in tall tires without making contact with the fender, while allowing the driver to use the suspension to it's full potential.
The amount of tire clearance gained with high clearance fender flares is massive, but the process can be scary and very permanent, and it is! But, the amount of space gained allows the addition of larger offroad tires without having to invest in a suspension lift when your stock suspension is just as capable, or in the case of the ZR2 more capable, making room could be the right answer.
AEV Conversions also stands out from the crowd when it come to their manufacturing process compared to their competitors. While most aftermarket flares are simply a thin single sheet of vacuum formed plastic, AEV chose to use rotomolded polyethylene, similar to a whitewater kayak, for the ultimate in strength. Other companies use a flexible 2000 ABS material that also provides some UV protection to keep the fenders from turning gray over time.
Pocket Style Fender Flares
Pocket style fender flares are bolt on flares constructed of a UV protected Dura-Flex material. These flares use the factory mounting locations of OE flares making for simple installation.
These flares are a great addition for vehicles for an aggressive look. Pocket flares also add protection from debris coming off the tires and hitting the body. These flares can also be painted adding another touch of personality and individuality to the vehicle.
Tire Coverage
Both style fender flares extend out from the fender and wheel well to cover wider tires so to not throw up debris into the body as well as other vehicles around you.
There's no legal restriction on the width of the truck tires themselves, but tires can't extend beyond the fenders of a vehicle in virtually every state. With the addition of either pocket or high clearance fender flares, wider offset wheels and larger tires can be added while staying road legal.
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Thinking about running a larger offset wheel and tire package? Contact us today to get the perfect wheel and tire combination. Stop by the shop or check out all available fender flares online.
