You might have heard that beadlock wheels are good for your off-roading adventures or you have seen them on vehicles and maybe are thinking about getting a set for your ride too. Perhaps, though, you wonder what they are used for and if they are safe. Well, beadlock wheels secure the tire bead together by locking the tire’s bead (the part that’s designed to be on the rim of the wheel) to the wheel.
Beadlock wheels allow you to run lower air pressures without the risk of a tire rolling off its wheel. This helps you to get the maximum traction out of your tires. Though they look like normal wheels, beadlock wheels have an extra ring piece that fits along the perimeter of the wheel face. You install it by slipping the tire lip in between the bead, band the beadlock ring, and tighten with a series of heavy-duty bolts, that way you lock the bead into place.
The reason why beadlocks are necessary and very useful to off-roaders and drag-racers is that they prevent tire slippage by clamping the bead to the wheel itself. Also, when your bead is locked into place, it will not become unseated even if you significantly air down your tires, which is something that is frequently done by off-roaders.
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Importance of Beadlock Wheels
On the normal wheel, the bead on both sides of the tire that contacts the wheel sits on a bead seat just inside the outer diameter of the wheel. Air pressure and friction at this interface hold the tire expanded, keeping the tire in place on the wheel and retaining inflation pressure. This doesn’t work well in off-road situations where many like to drop tire pressure.
In that case, a beadlock wheel is used to prevent wheels from dismounting when placed under tremendous torque loads and lower tire pressures. Instead of the tire bead slipping onto a beat seat, it is clamped between a machined surface on the outside of the wheel and a metal ring that is bolted onto the wheel face. This ensures the tire can’t be pulled off the wheel bead, regardless of the pressure.
With beadlock wheels, you won’t struggle with flat tires because beadlocks keep additional air from leaking out, and they also keep your tire securely fastened. Beadlocks keep your tire from falling off and hence ensuring your safety and making it easy for you to drive your vehicle in the trails.
Pros of Beadlock Wheels
Beadlock wheels protect your tires from damage; since it is necessary to air your tires down when driving in trails and this is risky because might lose your tires for not being well secured to your vehicle. Beadlocks keep your tires attached to the vehicle and they also support your wheel.
Beadlocks will help you to keep going until you get to where you could solve your problem if you happen to have a flat tire. And they also prevent too much air from leaking out of the tires.
Aesthetics-wise, beadlock wheels give a new look to your vehicle, and they make your vehicle look more aggressive. Beadlock wheels are also very easy to swap and install. Beadlock wheels also add strength to the tire’s circumference, and offer superior tire retention. Off-roaders can air down their tires to extreme levels and boost tires’ traction power, which is useful in the terrains.
It’s easier for a driver to swap out tires with a set of bead locks than going to a mechanic because a wheel has only one standard bead line, and the other side is a lock you tighten with bolts and tools, so this becomes easier even for you. And lastly, beadlock wheels are usually stronger and can face any beatings in the trail.
Cons of Beadlock Wheels
Beadlock wheels are very expensive compared to traditional wheels. With the materials used to make them and their hardware, beadlock wheels tend to also be very heavy and, in turn, the car becomes much heavier. For this reason, drivers with beadlock wheels sacrifice fuel efficiency for extra traction.
Beadlock wheels also require maintenance, while you still have to do maintenance even on normal wheels, beadlock wheels add an additional load. Sometimes it is even advised to get your vehicle serviced after an off-roading adventure and that adds cost.
Beadlock wheels may not be legal for on-road use, they are strictly for off-road use. You might want to also consider the fact that not all beadlock tires are DOT approved. Also for legal reasons, some shops won’t touch a beadlock wheel and so you might have to mount them yourself.
Beadlock Wheels and Legalities
Even though with proper maintenance and use, beadlock wheels are safe, most of the beadlock wheels are not DOT approved and hence not legal for street use in most states. Due to their use of bolts and rings which are used to lock in the tire, they pose a safety hazard for other drivers if bolts fly off, and this is why it is important to do frequent maintenance even if you use them in off-road conditions.
Beadlock wheels are also not approved by the Department of Transportation because if a few bolts come loose when you are on the road, the tire could experience rapid deflation and this is dangerous not only to you but also to other drivers around. It’s essential to research the state you live in to be sure if beadlocks are legal for street use before purchasing a set; as they are normally used for extreme off-roading conditions only.
