By Fenderflares Team. Statutes checked against official state code websites, November 2026.
Bigger tires and wider wheels look great, but in some states a tire that sticks out past the fender can earn a ticket or fail inspection. Below is what the actual state law says in 14 states, with a link to the official code for each one, so you can read the rule yourself.
How to measure tire poke
Park on level ground with the wheels pointed straight. Hold a straightedge against the outer edge of the tire tread and measure straight across to the edge of the fender. Then turn the wheel to full lock and measure the front again, because the tire swings outward. Choose a flare that covers at least that much, with a little margin.
State rules at a glance
| State | Citation | What the law says (plain language) |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | A.R.S. 28-958.01 | Trucks, trailers and buses need rear splash guards wide enough to cover the full tread of the tires and no more than 8 inches from the ground. Pickups rated 10,000 lbs GVWR or less are exempt, unless the pickup has been modified from its original bumper height to raise its center of gravity. |
| California | Vehicle Code 27600 | Fenders, covers, flaps or the vehicle body must be at least as wide as the tire tread. |
| Florida | Fla. Stat. 316.252 | Splash and spray devices are required on trucks of 26,000 lbs or more, truck tractors, and trailers of 2,000 lbs or more. This section does not cover ordinary pickups or Jeeps. |
| Louisiana | La. R.S. 32:364 | Fenders, covers, flaps or "fender flares" must be at least as wide as the tires. |
| Nevada | NRS 484D.420 | Every truck, truck-tractor, trailer or semitrailer must have mudguards behind its rear wheels. The section sets no tire-width rule. |
| North Carolina | G.S. 20-135.4(d) | No tire-coverage rule, but a passenger vehicle may not be driven if a suspension, frame or chassis change makes the front fender 4 or more inches higher than the rear fender. |
| Ohio | R.C. 4513.021(D) | No vehicle may be modified so the wheels come in contact with the body under normal operation. Bumper or frame height limits for cars, SUVs and trucks are set by rule. |
| Oregon | ORS 815.180 and 815.185 | Required fenders or mudguards must extend at least to each side of the tire tread width. Most passenger vehicles need coverage ending no more than 27 inches above the road behind the wheel. Driving without proper fenders is a Class C traffic violation. |
| Pennsylvania | 67 Pa. Code 175.77 | Passenger vehicle fenders must be of a type used as original equipment, and the tire may not touch the body, fenders or chassis. Fender flares are allowed up to 3 inches. |
| Rhode Island | R.I. Gen. Laws 31-23-26 | Front wheels must have fenders, and a passenger vehicle with tires that extend beyond the fenders or body must also have flaps or suitable guards to reduce spray to the rear and sides. |
| Texas | Transp. Code 547.606 | Safety guards or flaps within 8 inches of the road are required behind the rearmost wheels of trucks, trailers and combinations with at least four tires (or two super singles) on the rear axle. The section sets no tire-width rule for passenger vehicles. |
| Utah | Utah Code 41-6a-1633 | A vehicle altered from its original frame height, or altered so its wheels may throw debris on other vehicles, needs wheel covers, mudguards or flaps behind the rearmost wheels. They must be at least as wide as the tires, in line with them, with ground clearance of no more than half the rear wheel diameter. |
| Virginia | Va. Code 46.2-1083 | Rear fenders, flaps or guards are required only on vehicles with a licensed gross weight over 40,000 lbs. The section does not apply to ordinary pickups or Jeeps. |
| Washington | RCW 46.37.500 and WAC 204-10-022(7) | Fenders or flaps must be at least as wide as the tires and extend down to at least the center of the axle. The State Patrol body rule adds that fenders must cover the entire tread width from at least 15 degrees in front to at least 75 degrees behind the wheel's vertical centerline, and the tire may never touch the body, fender, chassis or suspension. |
The pattern: Texas, Florida, Nevada and Virginia only regulate flaps on heavier trucks and trailers, while California, Louisiana, Oregon, Washington and Pennsylvania set rules that apply to everyday trucks and Jeeps. Arizona and Utah bring lifted or modified pickups into their splash-guard rules.
What fender flares fit oversized tires?
For about an inch of tire poke, most pocket style fender flares and bolt-on fender flares are enough. For two inches or more, look at extra-wide fender flares and check the coverage spec on the product page before you order. Measure first, then pick the flare that covers your full tread at full steering lock.
Shop by vehicle: Chevy Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, Ford F-150, Ram 1500, Toyota Tacoma and Jeep Wrangler.
Not legal advice
This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Laws and inspection rules change, and local enforcement varies. Check your state DMV or your state's current vehicle code, or ask your inspection station, before you modify your vehicle.