So I'm going to need to do some fender work to fit the 17x9" wheels and I've heard some rumors about S13 flares, rolling the fenders with a bat, etc. I'd like to discuss the options here in detail so that myself and others can get a solid answer. Let's keep this 1G specific for now please and only chime in if you have first hand experience with wheels 9" wide or more on a 1G and 235mm wide tires or more. And please don't reply with any opinions on how good or bad flares will look - this is only about functionality for road racing.

I wanted to find out who has information on fender rolling, specifically, how much clearance can you gain by doing it and what drawbacks there are - does the fender look distorted? I figure I'll need about an inch or so of extra clearance. If I can get away with rolling the fenders I'll do it. I just want to know if it's been done for a 17x9 with 235 or 255 wide tires. I want the tires to tuck inside the fender in hard cornering.

S13 fender flares - how well do they fit? There are a few different brands out there - any one in particular work better than another? Any special considerations? Any other flares that would work better?

I have seen the ones on this car in Japan, and they look like they'd work, but I could probably get away with less of a flare. And nobody seems to know who makes the flares.

<img src="http://jyaga-.hp.infoseek.co.jp/P1010024.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><br />
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<img src="http://jyaga-.hp.infoseek.co.jp/P1010026.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><br />
<img src="http://jyaga-.hp.infoseek.co.jp/P1010025.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><br />
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I'd look into what greg runs. He's got his molded on which takes a bit more money, but if you could figure out the sizing on them then you would have some idea as to what other options out there may work for you.

I believe his came from www.raceonusa.com . Here's some results I found from them that may possibly work.

240sx rivet on flares

Greg made his from scratch, I'm not sure I can do that. And I would rather just bolt mine on and not have to deal with bondo and sanding. Maybe later. But for now some riveted flares will do if I can't get the clearance from fender rolling.

I am interested in this as well. I have 17x9 Motegi Touge rims on my Talon, and I need some flares at least on the front. I think I can get enough clearance in the rear with just rolling the fenders. I haven't driven the car with these rims yet, but plan to do it shortly. I have been doing a lot of research on fender flares as well, but the problem is no one lists the dimensions of the flares, so you almost have to know someone who has done it, or have them in-hand and test fit them to the car. I have been looking at just making them myself, but it would be a LOT of time consuming work. I would rather just bolt them on and drive as well...

Hey Dan, the flares that Kyle linked to above actually have some measurements - the photos were taken with a tape measure. That should help a little.

Thanks, I'll check it out! Have you tried fitting 17x9 wheels and tires on the front of your car already? That is where I am seeing the most protrusion of the tire. I was thinking about finding some other cars, that fender flares are made for, and measuring the opening for the front tires along with the curvature. Maybe I can find some that are close enough to make work.

These seem to work on both an integra and 240sx, but they're molded in.

Universal molded flares on EBAY

It's proving hard to find some that are securely mounted with pop-rivets or something similar.

More 240sx flares, but no info on them at all

Yet another pair, this time on a 2g at least

Found these for an S13:
http://phase2motorsports.stores.yahoo.net/pj18fefl.html

Wonder if 240Z flares would work:
http://www.autosportgallery.com/DatFlares1.jpg

I think those S13 flares would work and would probably look better than the 240z flares as well. I know looks isn't the main concern, but it doesn't mean it doesn't matter at all.

I was wondering about this as well as I will be running some 235 wide Hoosiers next year and I will have to use spacers to clear the suspension. I was looking to have Flares made at a local shop but it was going to cost a lot more than the ones posted so far.
Are these simple bolt-ons to the existing fender? or does the stock fender need to be trimmed underneath? I've been worried about the tires making contact with the fenders and blowing out a tire.

Zero Bar said:

I was wondering about this as well as I will be running some 235 wide Hoosiers next year and I will have to use spacers to clear the suspension. I was looking to have Flares made at a local shop but it was going to cost a lot more than the ones posted so far.
Are these simple bolt-ons to the existing fender? or does the stock fender need to be trimmed underneath? I've been worried about the tires making contact with the fenders and blowing out a tire.

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I had envisioned trimming the fenders so that the tires would not contact them if I did go with flares. I think you'd pretty much have to do some cutting, which sucks because there's no going back once you cut the rear fenders.

A friend of mine rented a fender rolling machine(dont know from where and what it is accually called) but he rolled his fender and streched them out 1inch, on his z32 300zx.

Fender roller... Tom can tell you more about it then I can!

I found these for sale at Tirerack for $299. Maybe I could look into buying one and renting it out to the members...

The Eastwood company has these for $225, but I don't know if it is the exact same thing as at the Tirerack. Here is a link showing some pictures of what this fender rolling machine can do.

http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=1248&itemType=CATEGORY&iMainCat=688&iSubCat=1248

I re-checked my rear tire clearance, and I don't think I can get enough clearance with rolling alone on the rear anymore (after reading more about this fender roller). This is with 17x9 rims and 235 wide tires.

Chris, actually, I’ve personally not used this, but it looks to be pretty much accepted, as a way to increase your tire clearance. If you come to the conclusion that rolling your fenders will give you sufficient room for your wheel and tire package, and don’t want to go the “bat” route, I know an online company that sells them for the $225.00 price . The pictures below look to be indicative of the clearances you could expect from this tool.

There's a guy who rents them out to people, I can't remember the link, but I swear I saw it on NASA forums.

That's a cool machine, but I don't think it will create enough clearance for 17x9 wheels. I have 16x8 wheels w/215mm tires and they sit about flush with the edge of the fenders, let alone some 17x9 wheels or some spacers on there. On my turbo Laser with enough body roll the tires would make contact with the fenders on stock sized tires!!

i used a rubber hammer when i crammed 245 nitto's under my rear fenders. I dont think many are as brave as i am though.

The front fenders are easy to roll and you can get a lot of roll if need be. The rear fenders are another story. The mono-body seam weld isn’t that far up the fender. When I cut the rears to install the flares I made sure I didn’t cut the seam (you’ll screw up the integrity of the car if you do)…

If I could have found the Japan rivet install flares I would have done so in a heartbeat. I purchase my “universal” flares from extremedimensions.com at $75.00 a pair back then. I don’t know what they’re going for now. I was doing the full body kit so feathering in the flares at the same time was a piece of cake

In your opinion Greg, would rolling the fenders be enough to fit a 9" wide wheel with a 255/40 tire? How much would you need to be able to pull the fender out?

I've been looking at a lot of fender flares the past few days and it almost seems like they're all too much for what I need. I don't think I'll need 2-3" flares. And yet, I'm concerned that rolling the fenders won't give me enough clearance.

go 10.5" wide then and 275's

Ludachris said:

In your opinion Greg, would rolling the fenders be enough to fit a 9" wide wheel with a 255/40 tire? How much would you need to be able to pull the fender out?

I've been looking at a lot of fender flares the past few days and it almost seems like they're all too much for what I need. I don't think I'll need 2-3" flares. And yet, I'm concerned that rolling the fenders won't give me enough clearance.

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I mounted the Hoosier GrandAm 275's on my new 9 x 17 Mustang rims and put them on the car. (The GrandAm's are a bit wider then the DOT's) The rims have a +24mm offset and I can't believe how much room I have in the fender distance, wheel wells, control arms, coil-overs, brakes, etc, etc, etc,... You've also have to remember that I'm running the JIC's with John Mueller's tune, so the car is sitting as low as possible. I don't think you'll have a problem with the 255's...

mavisky go 10.5" wide then and 275's

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Kyle, a 275 should fit from 9" to 11" rim size.

Zero Bar said:

That's a cool machine, but I don't think it will create enough clearance for 17x9 wheels. I have 16x8 wheels w/215mm tires and they sit about flush with the edge of the fenders, let alone some 17x9 wheels or some spacers on there. On my turbo Laser with enough body roll the tires would make contact with the fenders on stock sized tires!!

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What offset are the 16x8's? The wheels I'm going with shouldn't need spacers, and we're working out the right offset to get them as close to the suspension as possible without rubbing. So I think I might be able to get away with fender rolling.