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Realize lots of opinions on this subject, was reading the thread
https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/35”-tires-street-legal.2524/
and a quote from the thread,
You most likely will not find any state laws specifically on the subject of Beadlocks, just about all of the states if not all will refer to the Federal CFR Title-49 /Subtitle B / Chapter V / Part 571 as a standard for their motor vehicle equipment safety standards.
Here's what the CFR says about rims for vehicles under 10,000 lbs. GVW
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-V/part-571#571.110
"S4.4 Rims.
S4.4.1 Requirements. Each rim shall:
(a) Be constructed to the dimensions of a rim that is listed by the manufacturer of the tires as suitable for use with those tires, in accordance with S4 of § 571.139.
(b) Except for trailers, in the event of rapid loss of inflation pressure with the vehicle traveling in a straight line at a speed of 97 km/h (60 mph), retain the deflated tire until the vehicle can be stopped with a controlled braking application."
Therefore because of these two requirements, the standard beadlock rim design that uses a external clamping ring will not meet these requirements and therefore are illegal for on highway use.
Here's the part from S4 of § 571.139. that was referred to in the above
" S4. Tire and rim matching information.
S4.1. Each manufacturer of tires must ensure that a listing of the rims that may be used with each tire that it produces is provided to the public in accordance with S4.1.1 and S4.1.2.
S4.1.1 Each rim listing for a tire must include dimensional specifications and a diagram of the rim and must be in one of the following forms:
(a) Listed by manufacturer name or brand name in a document furnished to dealers of the manufacturer's tires, to any person upon request, and in duplicate to the Docket Section (No. NHTSA-2009-0117), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, West Building, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20590; or
(b) Contained in publications, current at the date of manufacture of the tire or any later date, of at least one of the following organizations:
(1) The Tire and Rim Association.
(2) The European Tyre and Rim Technical Organization.
(3) Japan Automobile Tire Manufacturers' Association, Inc.
(4) Tyre & Rim Association of Australia.
(5) Associacao Latino Americana de Pneus e Aros (Brazil).
(6) South African Bureau of Standards.
S4.1.2 A listing compiled in accordance with paragraph (a) of S4.1.1 need not include dimensional specifications or a diagram of a rim whose dimensional specifications and diagram are contained in a listing published in accordance with paragraph (b) of S4.1.1.
S4.2. Information contained in a publication specified in S4.1.1(b) that lists general categories of tires and rims by size designation, type of construction, and/or intended use, is considered to be manufacturer's information required by S4.1 for the listed tires, unless the publication itself or specific information provided according to S4.1(a) indicates otherwise."
DOT Approved -
First off US DOT doesn't approve, certify or test products. They provide the standards that products must meet and testing methodology that has to be used if testing is required. Reading thru the referenced CFR, do not see any testing methodology listed for RIMS, just that they have to meet the tire manufacturer dimensional requirements.
When a wheel manufacturer claims DOT Approved or Certified, this is marketing at work, what they should be claiming is DOT compliance.
There is a SAE standard (J2530_202109) (https://www.sae.org/standards/content/j2530_202109/) for testing of aftermarket RIMS. Can't provide the standard as the SAE wants to be paid for the document.
Bottom line the aftermarket wheel manufacturers and vendors do not have to test and are therefore self-policing.
And yes there are manufacturers that have DOT compliance beadlocks that do not use an external clamping ring.
Personally am considering the Hutchinson Inc Rock Monster Wheels, however when I reached out to them last month they stated late summer 2022 availability for the Bronco.
https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/35”-tires-street-legal.2524/
and a quote from the thread,
While not a lawyer, here's some insight from research I have done over the last several months since deciding to buy another off-road capable vehicle last year.
You most likely will not find any state laws specifically on the subject of Beadlocks, just about all of the states if not all will refer to the Federal CFR Title-49 /Subtitle B / Chapter V / Part 571 as a standard for their motor vehicle equipment safety standards.
Here's what the CFR says about rims for vehicles under 10,000 lbs. GVW
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-V/part-571#571.110
"S4.4 Rims.
S4.4.1 Requirements. Each rim shall:
(a) Be constructed to the dimensions of a rim that is listed by the manufacturer of the tires as suitable for use with those tires, in accordance with S4 of § 571.139.
(b) Except for trailers, in the event of rapid loss of inflation pressure with the vehicle traveling in a straight line at a speed of 97 km/h (60 mph), retain the deflated tire until the vehicle can be stopped with a controlled braking application."
Therefore because of these two requirements, the standard beadlock rim design that uses a external clamping ring will not meet these requirements and therefore are illegal for on highway use.
Here's the part from S4 of § 571.139. that was referred to in the above
" S4. Tire and rim matching information.
S4.1. Each manufacturer of tires must ensure that a listing of the rims that may be used with each tire that it produces is provided to the public in accordance with S4.1.1 and S4.1.2.
S4.1.1 Each rim listing for a tire must include dimensional specifications and a diagram of the rim and must be in one of the following forms:
(a) Listed by manufacturer name or brand name in a document furnished to dealers of the manufacturer's tires, to any person upon request, and in duplicate to the Docket Section (No. NHTSA-2009-0117), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, West Building, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20590; or
(b) Contained in publications, current at the date of manufacture of the tire or any later date, of at least one of the following organizations:
(1) The Tire and Rim Association.
(2) The European Tyre and Rim Technical Organization.
(3) Japan Automobile Tire Manufacturers' Association, Inc.
(4) Tyre & Rim Association of Australia.
(5) Associacao Latino Americana de Pneus e Aros (Brazil).
(6) South African Bureau of Standards.
S4.1.2 A listing compiled in accordance with paragraph (a) of S4.1.1 need not include dimensional specifications or a diagram of a rim whose dimensional specifications and diagram are contained in a listing published in accordance with paragraph (b) of S4.1.1.
S4.2. Information contained in a publication specified in S4.1.1(b) that lists general categories of tires and rims by size designation, type of construction, and/or intended use, is considered to be manufacturer's information required by S4.1 for the listed tires, unless the publication itself or specific information provided according to S4.1(a) indicates otherwise."
DOT Approved -
First off US DOT doesn't approve, certify or test products. They provide the standards that products must meet and testing methodology that has to be used if testing is required. Reading thru the referenced CFR, do not see any testing methodology listed for RIMS, just that they have to meet the tire manufacturer dimensional requirements.
When a wheel manufacturer claims DOT Approved or Certified, this is marketing at work, what they should be claiming is DOT compliance.
There is a SAE standard (J2530_202109) (https://www.sae.org/standards/content/j2530_202109/) for testing of aftermarket RIMS. Can't provide the standard as the SAE wants to be paid for the document.
Bottom line the aftermarket wheel manufacturers and vendors do not have to test and are therefore self-policing.
And yes there are manufacturers that have DOT compliance beadlocks that do not use an external clamping ring.
Personally am considering the Hutchinson Inc Rock Monster Wheels, however when I reached out to them last month they stated late summer 2022 availability for the Bronco.
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