Stock Fender Vs Fender Flares

A fender is a part of the car's body that is located on the front right and left sides of the vehicle. One of the primary functions of a car fender is to protect the vehicle’s body from the dirt, dust, and road debris thrown by the rotating wheels. The fender houses the front wheel and extends from the front door to the front bumper. Over time, the definition of a fender has become related to the location because, at the front of the vehicles, they are called fenders and at the rear, they are known as quarter panels. Fenders come in various designs depending on the manufacturer and the model of the vehicle and are often designed with an exposed curve on vehicles with factory offset tires. A fender can also play an important role in improving the aerodynamics of the car. Fenders are made from metal, fiberglass, steel, and other materials that are designed to crumple in a car crash, distributing the impact across the frame. Depending on the material, a damaged fender can be repaired or replaced.

Fender flares are generally used on trucks, SUVs and are extensions of your vehicle's fenders. They are attachments to your stock fenders and they go over the wheels of your vehicle. In some vehicles, fender flares are provided as a stock part, but mostly these are aftermarket parts that serve aesthetic and legal purposes.

There are several reasons to have fender flares on your vehicle and some of them are as follows:

1. Legal Requirement

Believe it or not, it can be a legal requirement to have fender flares on your vehicle depending on which Canadian province you live in. It can be mandated by law to have fender flares on vehicles with oversized tires in the interest of public safety. Muds and rocks thrown by larger wheels can pose a threat to other vehicles on the road and lead to unwanted damage, like cracked windshields, scratches, cosmetic damages, and accidents.

2. Protecting Your Vehicle

As mentioned above, fender flares act as deflectors that prevent the road debris from being thrown towards other vehicles and it also protects your car body as well. Off-road vehicles sling a lot of dirt and debris onto the body while driving on mud and loose gravel. This gets worse if your vehicle is equipped with wider tires. For this reason, fender flares are a must-have accessory on a truck or SUV.

3. Aesthetic Upgrade

Apart from their functional qualities, fender flares also add a lot to the vehicle’s overall aesthetic appeal. They have become popular among SUV owners and small trucks with stock wheels. Fender flares offer your vehicle a sporty and sharp look, making them a perfect option if you wish to modify or give your vehicle a muscular look. Furthermore, fender flares also help to conceal and cover pre-existing damage around your stock fender.

Fender flares come in various styles, from low profiles to big and bold ones. Most fender flares can be installed easily and require no cutting or drilling as they use pre-existing factory holes whereas some fender flares have to be installed by cutting the fender.

OE style fender flares are sleek and subtly designed and they blend seamlessly with the vehicle's exterior to appear as a stock part of the vehicle. They are a great option for concealing rust or other damage around the wheel well.

These types of fender flares have a low profile and offer optimum protection from road debris while driving on roads and streets. They are similar to OE Style Fender Flares but are comparatively sleeker.

Mostly used on trucks, pocket-style fender flares have multiple pockets that have recessed bolts giving your vehicle a sturdy and more robust look. Pocket style fender flares offer wide coverage and are a great option if you wish to add a dash of toughness to your vehicle or 4x4's exterior.

The extended style fender flares are used on vehicles with oversized tires and wheels. They offer the widest coverage and hang over the top of the tire to catch all the debris from the tires effectively. Additionally, they are a perfect addition for your off-road vehicle with larger wheels and allow you to run within the legal limits set by tire coverage laws. However, if they are not installed properly and at the correct height, they can limit wheel travel.