Don't spread them, then try to sqeeze them tight again.
You'll be looking kinda funny with guards on JUST the front, because they'll fall off.
What finally worked for me, after several failed atempts, was lining the guard up to where it was going to be on the car, (marking the guard as to where the clips were goin) then sliding a clip onto a portion of the splash guard. I'd then finagel it (clip and guard) onto the wheel well panel. Then pushing it (clip) the rest of the way onto both of them, as I put the guards in place.
You'll soon see that when you're trying to do this, there's not much room to manuver while accomplishing this task, while trying not to scratch things. (Unless you remove the wheel).
Note: I also used the screwdriver to help push the clips into place, because they are very tight! Also, I started out trying to put the front guards on the rear
and was Ticked off for awhile , thinking I got screwed etc.
Shhhhhhhhhhh don't tell anyone...they'll Rag on me!
~Ray