The Fake Bolt Reality: Do Pocket Style Flares Ruin Your Sierra's Fenders?
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You just installed a massive set of 35-inch mud tires on your 2014–2018 GMC Sierra 1500. The tires are sticking out two inches past the fenders, and they are relentlessly throwing gravel and rocks directly into your doors. You know you desperately need fender flares to save your paint.
You go online and look at the most popular option on the market: the aggressive, heavy-duty Pocket Style flares. They look incredibly muscular and feature massive stainless steel bolts circling the entire wheel well. You love the look, but you instantly panic. You absolutely refuse to take a heavy-duty drill bit and punch 40 permanent holes into the side of your expensive Sierra's sheet metal. You decide to just let the rocks hit your doors instead.
You just fell directly into the Fake Bolt Reality.
The aggressive, bolted-on look of a Pocket Style flare is an incredible feat of design, but it is a complete illusion. Those massive stainless steel bolts do not touch your truck. They are simply bolted into the plastic flare itself. To install the massive armor to your truck, you actually use the factory screw holes hidden underneath your wheel well.
You get the hardcore, industrial aesthetic without ever drilling a single hole in your paint.
In this guide, we explain exactly how elite armor engineers at Bushwacker and EGR utilize factory mounting points and specialized rubber edge trim to safely secure massive tire coverage to your truck. We'll show you why you need to remove your factory wheel lip moldings first, how to measure your tire poke, and how to safely armor your Sierra.
Compare Premium Fender Flare Upgrades
Aggressive Pocket Style, Extended Coverage, or Seamless Factory Fit?
|
Flare Style |
Top Brands |
Tech / Build |
Best For |
|
Pocket Style® |
Bushwacker |
Dura-Flex® 2000 ABS. |
The Ultimate Lifted Aesthetic. The absolute gold standard of the industry. Features the iconic, recessed stainless steel bolts. Provides massive tire coverage (up to 2.5 inches) to legally cover negative offset wheels while maintaining extreme flexibility to absorb trail impacts without cracking. |
|
Rugged / Bolt-On |
EGR |
UV-Protected Acrylic. |
Heavy-Duty Value. Engineered for extreme durability under harsh sunlight. EGR flares utilize an incredibly dense, UV-stable material that refuses to fade or chalk over time. Delivers the aggressive riveted look with a slightly more streamlined profile than the Bushwackers. |
|
OE Style / Elite |
Lund |
Tri-Flex™ ABS. |
The Seamless Luxury Look. Ditch the bolts completely. If you want the extra tire coverage to stop rock chips but want to maintain the clean, sophisticated look of a Sierra Denali, the OE Style flares perfectly mimic a factory-installed upgrade, blending flawlessly into your body lines. |
Frequently Asked Questions (Fender Flares)
Can I paint my fender flares to match my Sierra's body color?
Yes, they arrive perfectly primed for paint.
Most premium fender flares arrive in a sleek, UV-protected OEM matte black finish that perfectly matches your truck's factory bed caps and mirrors. However, the advanced ABS and acrylic materials are specifically engineered to be easily sanded, primed, and color-matched by your local body shop for a seamless, high-end look.
Will water get trapped behind the flares and cause my fenders to rust?
No, they use heavy-duty rubber edge trim.
Premium fender flares from Bushwacker and EGR include a roll of specialized, automotive-grade rubber edge trim. You apply this rubber seal to the top edge of the flare before installation. When you bolt the flare tight against the truck, the rubber compresses, creating a watertight barrier that prevents rain, mud, and road salt from sliding behind the plastic.
How much tire coverage do I actually need?
Measure from the fender edge to the outside of your tire tread.
Take a tape measure, place it against the metal lip of your factory fender, and measure straight out to the furthest edge of your tire's tread block. If the tire sticks out 1.5 inches, you need a flare that offers at least 1.5 inches of coverage. Pocket Style flares typically offer 2.0 to 2.5 inches, while OE Style flares usually offer 0.75 to 1.0 inch.
Cover the rubber. Stop the rocks.
Ditch the rock chips and the exposed tread tickets. Upgrade to massive, heavy-duty ABS fender flares for ultimate paint protection and an aggressive, wide-track stance. Shop our verified collection of premium 2014–2018 GMC Sierra 1500 Fender Flares.