Help understanding beadlock logistics

[CalvinT]

But even without dropping that low, the beadlocks do have other advantages, like being able to (easily isn’t the right word. But it’s easier) remove the front half of the tire and put a patch on from the inside. If needed you can put pop the back off with a jack or another car to get more access, then easily reseat everything. Very useful for those running a spare delete.

Many years ago, I worked with a guy who insisted the company give him a truck with spit rims. He wanted to be able to fix a flat in the field.

Once you've done your due diligence, I see only one serious downside to beadlocks. Depending on the claim, they could give an insurance company an out.

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[SierraBronco]

Many years ago, I worked with a guy who insisted the company give him a truck with spit rims. He wanted to be able to fix a flat in the field.

Once you've done your due diligence, I see only one serious downside to beadlocks. Depending on the claim, they could give an insurance company an out.

Split rims are the source of the beadlock debacle, if I’m not mistaken. I could be making that up…

 

[CalvinT]

Most of the beadlock wheels I've seen (real and imitation) give better protection to the valve stem.

 

[CalvinT]

Split rims are the source of the beadlock debacle, if I’m not mistaken. I could be making that up…

Could be. But that problem could be solved by requiring beadlocks to have inner tubes.

Thinking a bit more. Split rims could come off if not seated properly, but beadlocks solve that problem with or without an inner tube.

 

[chtucker]

Over 4 years with my Trail Ready beadlocks, double valve stems (monster and regular), zero issues, daily driven, Seattle to Hurricane Utah twice, Seattle to Moab/Grand Junction. Never an issue. I did purchase a digital 1/4" drive .5 to 50foot lb torque wrench and painstakingly made sure that all the bolts where tightened in pattern/steps/torque.

I took the stock wheels to Discount Tire, had them break the beads, put the stock tires on my beadlocks and then I took them back to Discount to balance them. No one but an off road shop would mount them, but Discount/Les Schwab didn't blink an eye at balancing. I will likely get a bead breaker when I replace the tires soon. Two fat guys jumping up and down didn't work when I tried previously.

 

[Sojourner]

@Fezzik Great question! Thanks for posting. I learned quite a bit from all the forum contributors.

Having worked on/dealt with M35A2 tires many, many years back (who remembers airing them up only after being put in the cage! And "enjoying" when installation failed and the cage saved the mechanic's bacon), I honestly didn't think beadlocks were problematic. They seemed like a MASSIVE improvement over split rings.

So to read that they aren't legal in some states for reasons that seemed more split ring-related than beadlock-related was (big) news to me. Hadn't ever thought of buying a set, but always interested in learning.

So, again, thanks for posting.

Speaking of deuce and a half tires:

 

[illverado]

Functional beadlock user here. 6 months I kept forgetting to retorque, only about 4 bolts total took about 1/4 turn to reach torque. I put them on myself with tire spoons and have tire shop balance. As far as legality: I honk at someone at least once a week driving with their lights off at 4am. Haven’t had a front license plate on at least 1 vehicle at a time for 15+ years. No cops are counting bolts on wheels to see if they’re the functional beadlocks and if the 0.01% that know, saw me, the only reason they’d use that to pull me over is if they suspected they could get me for something else worse than everything else they ignore on the road like smoking diesels and people cruising in the passing lane.

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