I got pulled over and was warned about my tires sticking too far past my fenders. I was told that I need to get fender flares. Also I was told that I need to have mud flaps. What is exactly is the law about this? Can it stick past the fender a little, or none at all?

 

where i am up in washington some people, not police officers, have told me that your tires cant stick out to far. I have always been told that as long as behind you tires is covered you are ok but i am not sure. Semi trucks dont have fenders at all when they arn't carring a trailer? I have an 81 with 36x 14.5 and havent had a problem but i have found that having big mud flaps really keeps the police of your arse and at least makes it seem liek you are trying.

 

In Wisconsin it's 2" past the body panels including fender flares, no flaps required unless dual wheel rear truck/tractor/trailer.

 

I'd been warned by other wheelers about the mud flap deal(made my own out of angle iron and flaps from Napa's catalog), but I hadn't heard about the fender issue. I just got pulled over on the 4th by clackamas co. sheriff dep., he didn't say anything to me about that(and mine stick out 4" past the fenders). He was probably just lookin' for drunks. It was the first time I've been stopped in my truck for any reason. He tried tellin' me the reason he stopped me was because, now get this, "your license plate light is a little bright there, you might wanna "tone" that down". Direct quote, what it means I can't tell ya.(Real reason=Long-haired Hippy behind the wheel)

 

Incorrect. Read the "General" section of the Washington Laws area here: http://www.wattora.com/

 

Generally in most areas you gotta have the flaps and the tires cannot stick out further than 1 to 1.5" past the fenders, thats what fender flares are for.

 

(1) Except as authorized under subsection (2) of this section, no person may operate any motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer that is not equipped with fenders, covers, flaps, or splash aprons adequate for minimizing the spray or splash of water or mud from the roadway to the rear of the vehicle. All such devices shall be as wide as the tires behind which they are mounted and extend downward at least to the center of the axle.

As per Washington's law.

 

Barely legal flaps.

 

I really don't like the look of mud flaps. I don't mind the look of fender flares, but nobody makes any for 2nd gen 4Runners that I actually like. Since I am moving up to Washington I'll see how it goes.

 

Me neither on the flaps, and I REALLY don't like the look of flares myself. But, what are ya gonna do?

"It's not that I don't like cops, I just feel a whole lot better when they're not around".

 

Here it is illegal to have any tire showing past the fender/flares.
Though you will see trucks have have tires poking a few inches out and no problems, hell I got pulled over a few nights ago and my tires stick out .5" or so.

 

yup...up here, you'll get nailed with an inspection notice if youre stickin out stupid far like daytons. and mudflaps MUST cover up to the middle of the rear wheel center. although it all does really depend on whether or not a cop will want to pull you over and be a dick. i dont have flaps, but my truck is quite factory looking on 35's...thanks to the cruiser wheels, and my limited flares...it doesnt stick out too much that its offensive.

 

same with me..sorta, they see a younger guy in a "lifted" pickup and automatically think hes a B.A. ,i'm not a nut on the road, i cant be really haha sloooowness

and man, with the 35s on my 4runner, i got the staredown hardcore, they stuck out a good 4-5"s i had one follow me for a bit, but nothing of it, the next day i was running my 31s on stock steel, i had cops scratchin their heads wonderin if it was the same 4runner haha

 

I've never had a problem here in WA with my truck that has no flaps and the tires stick out at least 2 inches past the fenders, plus im over the height limit for bumper to ground distance. I guess it just depends on if the cop had a bad day or not whether youll get pulled over.

 

In VA its 4" out of the fenderwell

 

Probably best to search your state's on-line vehicle code pages. In CA, it is mud flaps in the rear down to at least the centerline of the tire. I made mine removeable:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/MudFlap.shtml
so take them off on the trail, put them back on before hitting the road. I also list the applicable section of the CA-Vehicle Code on the web page above.

I think the rule on flares is coverage out to the width of the tread. I ran 4" flares with my old Swampers and did not get pulled over, but was checked out on a few occasions by local police: