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Fender Flares

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Fender flares are protective accessories designed to shield your vehicle’s body from dirt, rocks, mud, and debris that can be thrown up by the tires during driving, especially in off-road conditions. They are commonly installed on trucks, SUVs, and off-road vehicles, offering both functional and aesthetic benefits. Fender flares help keep your vehicle’s paint and body in better condition by providing an extra layer of protection around the wheel wells. Additionally, they can accommodate larger tires and give your vehicle a more aggressive, rugged look, making them a popular choice among enthusiasts who drive off-road or simply want to customize their ride.


There are several styles of fender flares to choose from, each catering to different needs and vehicle looks. The bolt-on/pocket/riveted style fender flares are designed for a bold, off-road appearance. These flares feature a riveted design that mimics the look of factory-installed fenders, offering both enhanced protection and a tough, rugged aesthetic. These flares are often made of durable plastic or ABS material and are attached with visible bolts or rivets, providing a strong, reliable connection. The extended/OE (original equipment) fender flares, on the other hand, are designed to provide additional coverage for larger wheels and tires while maintaining a more seamless, factory-like appearance. These are ideal for vehicles that have been upgraded with bigger tires, as they prevent debris from splashing onto the body while still matching the vehicle’s original design.


Flexy flare fender flares offer a more flexible and durable option for vehicle owners who need additional protection. Made from a high-quality rubber or flexible plastic material, these flares are designed to bend and adapt to different driving conditions, making them especially useful for off-road vehicles or trucks that frequently encounter rough terrain. Unlike rigid flares, flexy flares can withstand impact and flex back into shape, providing lasting protection without cracking or breaking. Whether you're looking for a tough, off-road-ready design, a subtle extension for larger tires, or a flexible solution for rough conditions, fender flares offer a customizable way to enhance both the functionality and appearance of your vehicle.


Frequently Asked Questions

Fender flares are worth considering when wider tires or lower-offset wheels extend beyond the factory body and throw more rocks, mud, water, and road debris against the vehicle. The additional flare width brings the body line farther outward over the tire and can reduce that tire spray. Tire-coverage requirements also vary by location, so check the rules where the vehicle will be driven if your tires extend beyond the factory fenders.

If the tires remain inside the factory body line and your main goal is simply changing the appearance, you may not need a wider flare. Choose the amount of coverage for your actual wheel and tire setup rather than assuming every lifted truck needs fender flares.

Look at how far the tire actually extends beyond the factory fender, not tire diameter alone. Tire width and wheel offset/backspacing both affect how far the wheel sits outward, which is why two trucks running the same tire size can require different amounts of flare coverage.

Your lift also matters for overall tire clearance and articulation, particularly off-road, but a lift by itself does not push the tire outward. Start by confirming your vehicle, then compare the coverage provided by the individual flare against your complete wheel width + tire width + offset/backspacing setup. Customer fitment questions repeatedly show that those measurements matter more than simply saying the truck has 33s, 35s, or 37s.

Choose OE/extended-style flares if you want additional tire coverage while keeping a smoother, more factory-like appearance. Choose pocket/bolt-on/rivet-style flares if you want a more pronounced off-road look and generally more aggressive visual coverage around larger wheel-and-tire setups. Current Bushwacker designs illustrate the distinction: its Extend-A-Fender uses smooth factory-style contours, while Pocket Style uses recessed faux fasteners and a more rugged appearance.

Finish can be part of the same decision. OmniGarage offers smooth and textured flares as well as custom-paint options, and many ABS flares can be painted when the manufacturer identifies them as paintable.

Not necessarily. Added tire coverage and added tire clearance are different things. A wider flare can cover a tire that sticks farther outside the vehicle, but it does not automatically create more room between the tire and the suspension, inner wheel well, or factory sheet metal. Wheel offset, tire dimensions, suspension height, steering angle, and suspension travel all affect rubbing.

Some flat or high-clearance fender designs can create additional room around the wheel opening, particularly on modified off-road vehicles, but don't assume a conventional extended flare will solve a rubbing problem. If the problem is clearance rather than coverage, verify the entire Tires & Wheels + Lift/Suspension setup before choosing the flare.

Some do and some don't. Many vehicle-specific flares are designed to attach through existing factory mounting locations, while certain applications require drilling, trimming, or other minor modifications. Bushwacker, for example, describes most of its Pocket Style applications as bolt-on/no-drill but notes that selected vehicles can require drilling or trimming.

Check the installation instructions for the exact part number before ordering—especially if drilling into the body would be a deal-breaker. Don't assume that visible “bolt-on” or rivet styling means the flare actually requires holes to be drilled; on many pocket-style designs, the exposed fasteners are primarily part of the appearance.

They may hide the area visually, but they do not repair the rust. This is a common owner question, especially on older trucks with corrosion around the wheel arches. Covering active corrosion without addressing the damaged metal leaves the underlying problem in place, and the flare still needs sound mounting areas to attach correctly.

If the wheel opening needs actual sheet-metal repair or replacement, address that first and look at Fenders or Body Repair products as appropriate. Fender Flares make more sense afterward if you still want additional tire coverage or want the finished repair area covered by the flare.