BeadLocks.

[jeeptastic]

I was just curious to see if Beadlocks were illegal to have on a daily driver?

I use my Jeep to go out as well but I heard that you cant run beadlocks in the city. Is that True or False information?

If that is true why cant you?

[esi]

You'd have to check with the DOTs to see if they're legal in Alberta
I've read that the main reason you can't run beadlocks is that they require routine checks to make sure they don't come loose. Too many clueless people on the road that don't even know how to signal, let alone check over their vehicle, so they're not allowed in a lot of areas.


BUT, I had fake beadlocks on my last truck, and have seen alot of fakes around on different vehicles. So If a guy was to run real beadlocks all the time they'd probably go unnoticed. Maybe take a look at a for sale post and question the owner of that jeep if he's had any issues running them on the street.

[tubby]

Do you really need beadlocks Richard? Are you planning on running single-digit psi in your tires? Most guys who run them also compete in rockcawling/offroad events. Play around with your air pressure, and ask other people who wheel  similar vehicles as yourself ; what they air down to. I usually go down to 10-12psi and have not lost a bead yet. The tires conform to the terrain we have in Alberta just fine.

There are drawbacks to running beadlocks as well. Hard to balance, leaks,expensive etc. Look it up online. Not really a good idea on a daily driver.

Now on the other hand; you can check out some Staun Internal Beadlocks that are hidden inside the tire. Stealthy and almost a run-flat; as an alternative.

There are a lot of guys in the club that air down to near single-digit pressure, and don't pop a bead without using any form of beadlocks. Fake beadlocks? No thanks. They can stay on Rig Rocket poser crap!

[frenchy]

Staun Beadlocks will be fine for on road   

Weld on beadlocks I think don't balance so well. And could possibly modify the integrity of the wheel/Safety of the vehicle. No way DOT would "approve" of this offroad customization.

You can purchase DOT approved beadlock wheels, but they will cost you (about $500 Each)

Fake beadlocks are great for when you have to go to the mall once a year (Dec. 24th) to get your x-mas shopping done   

[FiEND]

There are drawbacks to running beadlocks as well. Hard to balance, leaks,expensive etc. Look it up online. Not really a good idea on a daily driver.

I am running 120 pounds per tire w/ toyo and walker evans beadlocks.  haven't had to balance them.
expensive, yes
mine don't leak.  I haven't put air in them since i got back from holidays in June.
they aren't street legal.  there's only one set i know of that are dot approved.

the only drawbacks i have experienced to beadlocks are the weight and fuel economy hit and the possibility that i could get a ticket. oh and 100+ little bolts to torque @ every oil change interval.

[tubby]

Walker Evans Beadlocks and Toyo tires are extremely good quality Al. They are also uber expensive as you've stated. I'm just saying that the "average" joe like myself does not need them; especially for a daily driver. Cheap radial mud-terrains and weld-on beadlocks are horrible to drive on. They're fine on a trail only rig that sees minimal highway use. There are lots of guys in the club that don't have beadlocks and flirt with single-digit or close to air pressure ,and do just fine without them.

[jeeptastic]

Do you really need beadlocks Richard?

No I dont need beadlocks and I havent aired my tired down low enough to need them. I dont think I have dropped the pressure to below 22psi yet. I will make it there eventually but want to try a bunch of different pressures.

I was just curious to see why it was you arent allowed to run in the City with beadlocks. I didnt realize that beadlocks had all of those problems. Thanks.

[BlackYJ]

I was just curious to see why it was you arent allowed to run in the City with beadlocks. I didnt realize that beadlocks had all of those problems. Thanks.

Beadlocks are not illegal to run on the street.  The problem is that most beadlock companies take rims like MTs and modify them by adding the lock ring, thereby voiding the DOT approval.  Now beadlocks like WE or AEV are built to the standards of DOT but DOT does not have any testing requirements for beadlocks.  Check out this link for more info

http://www.aev-conversions.com/products/wheels/beadlock_info.php

This link also talks about running beadlocks on the street

[Sprockett]

I went with beadlocks for a few reasons.

- beadlock or not, high quality wheels cost money
- the steel wheels I had couldn't balance enough to get get of my shakes
- drastically reduce the possibilty of popping a bead on the trail which could be real PITA
- added traction of 4psi

I mounted my 35" Toyos on the AEVs in my garage by myself. I made no attempt to balance them in any way and they don't vibrate at all up to the 120 kph i've had the jeep on the high way. With 15" steelies and 35" MTRs that were 'balanced', over 90kph the jeep front end would start shake quite a bit. I had bnine check it out and replaced a worn trackbar bushing as a result but his advice were some high quality wheels and tires...lose the steelies. The added cost to get beadlocks to me made it a no-brainer and the new wheel/tire combo solved all shakes/vibrations despite no attempt to balance!!

Running single digits pressures offroad was a real bonus but not the only reason I went with the AEVs.

[slimbeam]

I run 8psi offroad on my tsl and steelies and so far have not poped a bead

[Bnine]

Everyone that wheels needs beadlocks. Most folks just dont know it.

I would prioritize beadlocks ahead of a suspension lift, but most of the herd does not understand that beadlocks enhance wheeling performance more then 90% of the available mods on a jeep.

Stauns are bad for this area. Every staun user in this club has been plagued with abbrasion failures due to mud and silt getting into the rim and then wearing holes in the staun.

High end beadlocks are a favorable mod on any jeep, most importantly ones that are street driven.

I've yet to meet anyone who has been ticketed for running a beadlock on the street. Most the highend ones are mistaken for look alikes anyways.

[Bnine]

I run 8psi offroad on my tsl and steelies and so far have not poped a bead

Thats bcause TSL's are a stiff tire, and at 8 psi you might as well run 20.

Run them at 4 and see the difference. No comparison.

[SwampSinger]

I run Staunts .. I like them lots... they do have issues with the silts getting in the bead (stupid mud around here)... I'm ok with it. I figure it's like a ARB locker VS a detroit.. they are both good but you need to do a little maintenanxce on the ARB.

I also run stiff tires.. you must run them at 3-4 lbs before you see the difference in traction...There is a major difference between 8 lbs and 4 lbs,,... MAJOR

[slimbeam]

I shall drop them down to 4psi on sunday's rescue mission & see what happens, thanks for advise

[calltrex]

once u have beadlocks u wont go back.

I cant count how much time i ve seen people trying to get their tire back on the rim on the trail.