Fender flare requirements...

Rot Box

Diesel and Dust
Supporting Member
Location
Smithfield Utah
Can someone shed some light on Utah's fender flare requirements for me. I'm getting a lot of mixed opinions about it and was wondering if there is a written law somewhere--I can't seem to find anything.

I'm going to make them wide enough to cover the tire, but don't know how far down they need to come :confused: They will look really goofy if they need to come down to the middle of the tire. Anyhoo thanks again,

Andrew
 

Col Mustard

Registered User
Here's a piece taken from the manual:

PLT Safety Inspection Manual January 1, 2007 31
ALTERED VEHICLES - Continued
5. Check vehicle wheel track. (UCA 41-6a-1631)
a. REJECT when:
1) Tire tread protrudes beyond the original fender or fender
extenders.
*NOTE: Fender flares or fender extenders are required to cover both front
and rear tires when wheel track extends beyond the vehicle body.
2) Spacers are used to increase wheel track width.
*NOTE: Custom wheel adapters are not spacers.
6. Check for mud flaps when vehicle has been altered. Mud flaps are
required on the rear wheels of all vehicles that are altered from their
original OEM specifications. This includes the addition of larger tires and
suspension lift kits. (UCA 41-6a-1633)
a. REJECT when:
1) Fenders do not cover the top 50% of the tire
2) Mud flaps are not present when required.
3) Rear mud flaps are not as wide as the tire.
*NOTE: From the rear, mud flaps must hang down to the center of the axle.
7. Check for headlamp height
a. REJECT when:
1) Headlamp exceeds 54 inches in height measured from the
ground to the center of the low beam.


So on an altered vehicle, the tire tread needs to be completely covered by the fender. The top 50% of the rear tire must be covered. Mud flaps can be used for that.
 

Bear T

Tacoma free since '93
Location
Boulder, mt
Yes, the fender needs to go to the outside edge of the tire, and the mudflap needs to go down to the centerline of the wheel.
 

Rot Box

Diesel and Dust
Supporting Member
Location
Smithfield Utah
Wow thanks a bunch you guys! That was exactly what I was looking for :D

I think I'll be okay. My flares look REALLY stupid but hey, they do their job right?
 

mike808

New Member
anyone know where to get fender flares that will cover tires that go about 10" wider than the body of the truck. They go out about 8" wider than the stock flares. its a 90 toyota.
And anybody know where to get those huge mud flaps to pass safety also?
 
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Bear T

Tacoma free since '93
Location
Boulder, mt
mudflaps like mine are just some semi mudflaps from sixstates cut to fit, I think they were $25.

The widest flare I have seen for a yota was about 4" wider is probably going to have to custom made, garden molding comes to mind, even though its redneck and hideous.
 

Chevycrew

Well-Known Member
Location
WVC, UT
I buy my mudflaps from NAPA, they seem to be cheap there. Good luck on the 10" wide flares. I used a roll of flashing from lowes on mine.

Its available in different sizes. Then just screw it to the fender lip at your desired width.
 

pELYgroso

'Merica
Location
LEHI, UT
the law says it fails if...."Tire tread protrudes beyond the original fender or fender
extenders." so, on many tires, the buldge of the sidewall is wider than the tread on top. the fenders only need to cover the actual tread then and the sidewall buldge can hang out past the fender? thats what I'm getting from this. I've had inspectors put a straight edge from the bottom sidewall to the top, and although the tread was covered by the flare, the flare did not extend out past the sidewall so he failed me. was that wrong?
 

mike808

New Member
I buy my mudflaps from NAPA, they seem to be cheap there. Good luck on the 10" wide flares. I used a roll of flashing from lowes on mine.

Its available in different sizes. Then just screw it to the fender lip at your desired width.

You got any pics with the roll of flashing on?
And how much did it cost you to do all 4 fenders?
Do the mud flaps need to be as wide as the tires also or just half as wide as the tires?
Thanks for the help.
 

scramble this

Umm.. Where am I?
Location
West Jordan, UT
the law says it fails if...."Tire tread protrudes beyond the original fender or fender
extenders." so, on many tires, the buldge of the sidewall is wider than the tread on top. the fenders only need to cover the actual tread then and the sidewall buldge can hang out past the fender? thats what I'm getting from this. I've had inspectors put a straight edge from the bottom sidewall to the top, and although the tread was covered by the flare, the flare did not extend out past the sidewall so he failed me. was that wrong?

You interperet the law correctly, the flare must cover the tread. Sidewall bulge does not count.
 
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