Lets talk Fender Flares

[Canadian818]

So I recently read somewhere on the forum that someone was planning fender flares to run wider tires. (I don't remember who, but I don't think they have their kit yet) I'm on the verge of ordering wheels and tires and now I can't get the image of carbon fiber fender flares out of my head. So I thought we (ie; anyone interested) could talk over the viability, and our options.

1. Do we NEED wider tires?

I'm not sure there's enough members cars finished to know the answer to this. Perhaps FFR or wayne could chime in on the initial test sessions and how easy it was to get heat in the tires. Any Top Gear fans will remember Richard Hammond driving the renault F1 car, not enough heat in the tires is sketchy on track. If its a problem, then more downforce, and probably more power to achieve said downforce, etc, etc. (thats a discussion for later) Obviously for street cars, or the drag strip, it would help with traction and probably look bad ***.

2. Are flares going to help run wider tires in the front?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but won't wider tires contact the frame/aluminum at the rear of the front fender well? Wider tires, or less offset might just make matters worse.

3. Are there any flares that will work without modification to the flare?

Obviously the quarters/fenders will have to be trimmed, but if we can find flares that fit the body lines as is, then finished quality carbon fiber is an option. Otherwise we can look at fiberglass flares, and hack away.



Here's a side shot for reference...

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=22983&d=1383053211


And here's the largest flare from jdmflares.com (no affiliation)

http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k519/pope83/jdmflare.jpg (http://s1113.photobucket.com/user/pope83/media/jdmflare.jpg.html)

IMO the 818's rear quarters are so flared as is, that large flares would be our best option to avoid the "flare on flare" look. I'm not sure universal flares are an option up front, but that may be moot if the above mentioned fitment issues are true.

carbon creation also makes a set (no affiliation)

http://extremedimensions.com/images/Thumb/6159dee074b36095fa03301bd6a73f82.jpg

[TahoeTim]

(insert barf smiley)

it's not a 72 bronco!

[metalmaker12]

Ummm bad idea, sorry car looks butter as is, and you don't need more tire

[Canadian818]

Nothing worse than negative comments...

I seen a race prepped FR-S at a car show last weekend, it had bolt on flares and 295's and IMO looked really good. I don't like the big flares on a otherwise flat body, but on the 818 they would be near the top of a sloped quarter. Not sure it would look great, but I'm not ready to puke and call it a tahoe either.

http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k519/pope83/ml24_scion_frs_wide_body_kit_crawford_performance_ 03-1.jpg (http://s1113.photobucket.com/user/pope83/media/ml24_scion_frs_wide_body_kit_crawford_performance_ 03-1.jpg.html)

http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k519/pope83/Scion-FR-S-by-SR-Auto-Group-1.jpg (http://s1113.photobucket.com/user/pope83/media/Scion-FR-S-by-SR-Auto-Group-1.jpg.html)

http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k519/pope83/DSC_01401268883480.jpg (http://s1113.photobucket.com/user/pope83/media/DSC_01401268883480.jpg.html)

http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k519/pope83/tn_lb-performance-liberty-walk-ferrari-458-nitto-title.jpg (http://s1113.photobucket.com/user/pope83/media/tn_lb-performance-liberty-walk-ferrari-458-nitto-title.jpg.html)

http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k519/pope83/tn_liberty-walk-ferrari-458-flares.jpg (http://s1113.photobucket.com/user/pope83/media/tn_liberty-walk-ferrari-458-flares.jpg.html)

[Joseph]

I know that if you are racing you do what you have to do to be competitive but for the street cars those flares just take away from the beauty of it all. Just my opinion I know and to each their own.

[Kurk818]

I am planning on purchasing the jdmflares.com flares for my kit once the body is on and exact dimensions are finalized. I have 10.5" rims with 295s on the rear and 8.5" rim with 255 for the front.

http://i.imgur.com/gkgGrEhl.jpg

[Canadian818]

I am planning on purchasing the jdmflares.com flares for my kit once the body is on and exact dimensions are finalized. I have 10.5" rims with 295s on the rear and 8.5" rim with 255 for the front.

http://i.imgur.com/gkgGrEhl.jpg

What offset up front, and do they clear the frame up front?

[Turboguy]

Is this the look you're after ?

http://www.fquick.com/images/articles/29921.jpg

[Canadian818]

Is this the look you're after ?

http://www.fquick.com/images/articles/29921.jpg

No, that's the look I'm trying to avoid.

[D Clary]

I am not sure that with the diameter restrictions on the front that flare would be needed. You could offset the rears out but the front would still be limited to about 24 inches from what I have read. So you could end up with 9 inches in front and 12 in the rear, doesn't sound right.

[metalmaker12]

Nothing worse than negative comments...

I seen a race prepped FR-S at a car show last weekend, it had bolt on flares and 295's and IMO looked really good. I don't like the big flares on a otherwise flat body, but on the 818 they would be near the top of a sloped quarter. Not sure it would look great, but I'm not ready to puke and call it a tahoe either.

http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k519/pope83/ml24_scion_frs_wide_body_kit_crawford_performance_ 03-1.jpg (http://s1113.photobucket.com/user/pope83/media/ml24_scion_frs_wide_body_kit_crawford_performance_ 03-1.jpg.html)

http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k519/pope83/Scion-FR-S-by-SR-Auto-Group-1.jpg (http://s1113.photobucket.com/user/pope83/media/Scion-FR-S-by-SR-Auto-Group-1.jpg.html)

http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k519/pope83/DSC_01401268883480.jpg (http://s1113.photobucket.com/user/pope83/media/DSC_01401268883480.jpg.html)

http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k519/pope83/tn_lb-performance-liberty-walk-ferrari-458-nitto-title.jpg (http://s1113.photobucket.com/user/pope83/media/tn_lb-performance-liberty-walk-ferrari-458-nitto-title.jpg.html)

http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k519/pope83/tn_liberty-walk-ferrari-458-flares.jpg (http://s1113.photobucket.com/user/pope83/media/tn_liberty-walk-ferrari-458-flares.jpg.html)

Sorry did not mean to be negative, those cars do look killer, so it might be an option and have at it. The thing with more tire might create undesired handling characteristics, but with like 12" rims out back with 335's that would be interesting.

[C.Plavan]

I am planning on purchasing the jdmflares.com flares for my kit once the body is on and exact dimensions are finalized. I have 10.5" rims with 295s on the rear and 8.5" rim with 255 for the front.

http://i.imgur.com/gkgGrEhl.jpg

You will have to make some serious mods to be able to turn those meats in the front.

[Canadian818]

You will have to make some serious mods to be able to turn those meats in the front.

I'm not sure there's been any serious discussion on what mods would be needed. It's always just shot down as too difficult or impractible. I don't see that a front gas tank is worth the effort, or a side pod radiator, but I fully support their efforts and I love the idea of stepping of the beaten path and pursuing it.

[C.Plavan]

My 235's rub- but its a racecar- I do not go full lock on the track. 255's on the front for a street car that does U turns. I really want to see the mods. We all can learn that way.

[Jvalgardson]

Is this the look you're after ?

http://www.fquick.com/images/articles/29921.jpg

Oh man, that is gross looking! The other cars looks pretty aggressive though. :)

[Xusia]

In the rear, it seems like it's mostly just body work, assuming you plan your offset correctly. So how it looks is largely a matter of vision & execution. The front will be slightly more difficult because you increase width, you must also increase diameter at some point, and the tire will contact something when turning - even if you run an offset that puts the tire out farther.

[Kurk818]

My front tires are 255/30/18 with a 35mm offset. So far the with the current setup and off set i have the following issues; tires contact the sway bar at the links and minor frame contact. Im hoping a majority of the issues can be taken care of with some spacers. The rears are a 20mm offset and do not have any issues with suspension contact or the trailing arm. Body modification will definitely be required. Ill keep posting as more progress is done.

[Santiago]

Keep us updated Kurk! And drop the sway bar - easy fix and you don't need it.

I'm planning on flaring the fenders, but not with a bolt-on flare. Some folks really can't stand the bolt-on look, but to each his own. I think it looks pretty cool on some of the above examples, it's just not what I'm planning. I've got plenty of other body mods in mind, so doing the required blending isn't adding anything I wasn't intent on doing anyway.

For the record, my interests are not initially "more tire" even though I'll probably move in that direction later. I'm building a track-only R-car and I've got aggressive aero plans, so I'm not terribly worried about not being able to get heat in the tires. Still, the FFR mule is doing pretty well with tires sized within the common ranges found on the 818. So "more tire" alone isn't the overriding concern for me. I want more track width, and that will require flares with just about any wheel/tire combo I'd plan. For my part, if it interferes with those plans, it's getting cut out.

Best,
-j

[Kurk818]

Itll be some time before i start mounting the body panels on but i will keep you guys posted.

[Turboguy]

Here are 2 other shots of the FRS you posted:

http://www.ml24.net/gallery/img/ml24_scion_frs_wide_body_kit_12.jpg

http://www.ml24.net/gallery/img/ml24_scion_frs_wide_body_kit_10.jpg



ABout as bad as the pic 5 posts above.

[bbjones121]

I think Porsche flares are the best looking. The body shapes to them well. If it is going to look good, they need to be part of the car or flow with it.

Although an older generation, panteras are commonly flared.
28269
28270

[flynntuna]

How radical do you want to go.

[Canadian818]

Here are 2 other shots of the FRS you posted:

http://www.ml24.net/gallery/img/ml24_scion_frs_wide_body_kit_12.jpg

http://www.ml24.net/gallery/img/ml24_scion_frs_wide_body_kit_10.jpg



ABout as bad as the pic 5 posts above.

I agree, the rear especially looks like ***. Please remember that my intention is not to ruin the look of the car. If need be, molding a flare in might the only way for it too look good. I'm glad that there's a few others determined to run wider tires, and now with a 600hp EZ30R build thread, we're about to see the need for them.

[longislandwrx]

My front tires are 255/30/18 with a 35mm offset. So far the with the current setup and off set i have the following issues; tires contact the sway bar at the links and minor frame contact. Im hoping a majority of the issues can be taken care of with some spacers. The rears are a 20mm offset and do not have any issues with suspension contact or the trailing arm. Body modification will definitely be required. Ill keep posting as more progress is done.

Who makes a 255/30R18 tire? or is that a typo and it's 35?

[Kurk818]

That is a typo. Fronts are 35, rears are 30.

Who makes a 255/30R18 tire? or is that a typo and it's 35?