What are beadlock wheels? Well, take a comfortable sitting position, get a bottle of soda or a cup of coffee (once it's not too late in the day) and let's discuss what beadlock wheels are.
We are sure that you have seen or at least heard of beadlock wheels but most likely, you didn't realize they were what you saw. The beadlock wheels perform one major function, and that is; they lock the tire's beads to the wheel. Normally, air pressure is sufficient to keep the beads closely fitted against the wheel, but because of safety and further assurance, off-road cars and heavy-duty vehicles are fitted with beaded wheels to greatly reduce the risk of tire unseating.
That is why they are different from the wheels of our sport and supercars in that they are heavier (more metal) and stronger than normal wheels
The Importance Of Beadlock Wheels
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Our cars have improved greatly. From tires to suspensions to engine, we can see a result of massive research and development. The beadlock wheel is another proof of this. With roots from the military, the beadlock wheel was initially created to reduce risk of wheels removing when placed on massive torque loads and reduced tire pressure.
In normal cars, in as much as there is no slippage when the tire and rim move together, no air leaks out, and all looks good. Off-road cars are a different story. Sand, snow, dirt, and stones are a few things that are skilled at deflating tires.
They help in achieving better traction, but in so doing, they gradually reduce air pressure. If the pressure gets low enough, the beads start slipping against the rims, and the tire can slip off entirely. Now that's not good. This is where beadlock wheels come in.
If you need to drive in areas that need more traction, you may need to reduce air pressure to as low as three to seven psi. To avoid the rim slipping off your wheels, you had better do it with your beadlock wheels on. There are different types of beadlock wheels as they differ in shape, positioning, weight, and expertise needed.
Pros And Cons
Pros
- You can reduce the pressure on your car, making room for more traction and firmer grip on the ground.
- They are very strong and can withstand external pressure.
- Off-road vehicles are much safer when carrying heavy load with the presence of the beadlock wheels.
Cons
- They are not legal for on-road use because if two sequential beadlocks break, the whole beadlock could remove from the wheel, and that is bad for the vehicle and other road users. It is not uncommon to have vehicles moving at 80 MPH. Imagine if the wheel removed at such speed. It could be catastrophic.
- For legal reasons, many tire repair shops won't mount or loosen a beadlock wheel. This means you will be tasked with the responsibility of mounting and balancing your own tires.
- The price to get a beadlock wheel is higher than normal wheels because it is heavier, more sophisticated, and has more parts.
Should You Get Beadlock Wheels?
The answer to this question is as simple as it comes. You would not need the beadlock wheels if you never take your tire pressure below 12psi. They might do more damage than good if you decide to use them on tire pressures above 12psi.
On the other hand, if you do more off-road journeying, the beadlock wheels might be just the right thing for you.
Also, owning a beadlock wheel means signing up for extra maintenance. Normal wheels do not require any attention until things go really south, really fast. If you do not have knowledge of how to reseat a blown wheel, then you are best off not having one.
Final Thoughts
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Beadlocks can come with quite a variety of beads, raining from 16 to 32. Some have even more. From experience and a vast range of research, having a 24-beaded lock with extra bolt protection would be in your best interest. Beadlocks should also be tightened to anywhere between 14-18ft-lbs. You can first fit the wheels well by tightening the bolts by hand before using a tool.