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A widebody style changes the look of a vehicle by expanding its stance with bigger tires. Adding a fender flare accomplishes a similar goal. But a full widebody mod goes beyond just the fenders. It changes the entire appearance of the vehicle.
The most critical feature of a widebody car is the quarter panels, which are modified to allow for wider tires. Sometimes car stylists complete the widebody look by also adding body skirts.
Fender flares for Mazda 3. But that’s just part of a widebody mod.
Car manufacturers offer some models straight from the factory as widebody variants to appeal to sports car enthusiasts. But for owners who have a standard model, aftermarket companies offer a choice between a widebody kit or a fender flare. Which route should you take?
The Appeal of a Wide Body
A widebody not only looks cool but provides more space for fatter tires. Putting more tread on the ground gives your vehicle greater traction and better handling. That’s the practical go-fast appeal of a widebody.
The Scat Pack Challenger gains an aggressive stance with a widebody package.
Bear in mind that if you are replacing body panels, extra attention needs to be paid to the fit and finish when installing the fenders.
You can’t just bolt on replacement parts, especially fenders, without extra effort to perfect the body panel gaps. Of course, you will also want to paint new parts from the kit to match the rest of the vehicle.
Widebodies Are Not Just for Exotics
Japan’s Liberty Walk, a custom shop, made waves in 2012 when they created a widebody for a Lamborghini Murcielago. Porsches are often changed up with widebodies. (Porsche decided to offer only the widebody for the new 2020 Porsche Carrera 911.)
eBay is currently offering a used 2020 widebody 911. And there’s a one-off 2007 widebody Porsche 911. It reveals what’s possible with an 18-month, six-figure widebody modification.
This highly modified 2007 Porsche 911 has bulging wheel wheels to make room for sporty Pirelli tires.
But the widebody look is not restricted to expensive exotics. Aftermarket kits are available for plenty of other domestic models like the Dodge Challenger and the Ford Mustang.
Types of Fender Flares and Widebody Kits
Widebody kits come in all shapes and styles. You can expect to do some bodywork before installation. There might be pinholes or air bubbles in the top layer. Extensive block sanding might be needed to achieve a smooth finish.
Since builders can sell more kits designed for a popular base model, buying a widebody kit for a unique car will likely cost more.
Fiberglass
Some widebody kits come in fiberglass, which is often the least expensive option. The glass fibers can be massaged into any necessary shape. Unfortunately, fiberglass is easy to fracture and doesn’t rebound from most hard strikes.
Polyurethane
ABS plastic is another option. It costs more than fiberglass and is more flexible, even when exposed to high heat. Polyurethane can absorb some impacts, but it’s heavier. Installation is more difficult because the extra weight dictates more anchoring to secure the part to the vehicle base.
Some painters have a more challenging time getting painted ABS to match the stock body panels.
Carbon fiber bumper lip
Carbon Fiber
While carbon fiber is used in some high-end exotic makeovers, it is extremely expensive.
Carbon fiber is lightweight and strong. Most stylists keep the look of carbon fiber and not paint it. That means the final product needs to be flawless, which requires precise production methods.
A fender roller gradually pushes out the fender
Fender Flares and Rollers
An old-school, less expensive method to increase tire clearance is to use a fender roller. It gradually pushes out the fender where the top of the tire meets the fender.
However, this method will only gain you a little bit of room. In some cases, an oversize tire will still hit the wheel wells. So you might need to remove some of the trim from the wheel well—or even saw off an inch or two of the sheet metal. You’ll then need to replace the trim.
Fender flares are great if you only need a little extra room for your tire. They are also helpful for preventing gravel and road grime from getting flung against the side of your vehicle.
Buying Fender Flares vs Widebody Kits
Here are the primary issues to consider when deciding between a widebody kit versus a fender flare:
- How big of a tire do you want to place under your machine? Most fender flares will give you only about an inch of extra room.
- What’s your budget? Full widebody kits cost more to buy and install.
- How long do you want your mod to last? The more expensive ABS products, for widebody and fender flares, will look and wear better, especially after a few months of track time. Poorly made low-cost fiberglass pieces will crack from stress.
- Once you go with a widebody, it’s hard to go back. Add up the costs. Will your vehicle’s market value rise to the same level when you decide to sell?
- Check online reviews for the widebody kit you are considering. Their recommendations will help you buy a kit that’s proven to produce satisfying results.
See Performance/Custom Rear Fender Flares Body Kits for sale on eBay.
