Beadlock question

The comments about tightening beadlock bolts every couple weeks is over hyped on the internet. What most fail to think about is beadlock wheels can weigh 10 pounds or more over a stock wheel. That rotational mass negatively impacts the Jeeps braking and acceleration. That said, I've run beadlocks on several Jeeps with zero issues.

My main reason for running them is the rocks where I wheel chew up the lips on stock wheels. While I've not lost a bead, I have had small rocks and sticks wedged in between the tire and wheel lip, and damaged wheels where the fix was to replace them. The beadlock rings do a fantastic job of protecting them from this happening.

How often would you need to check the tightness on the beadlock if not every 2 weeks? What beadlocks do you run and how low have you aired down with them on? Do you notice a pretty massive difference with beadlocks vs normal wheel/tires aired down?
 
How low are you airing down now? I typically air my STT’s down to 8psi. I have yet to lose a bead. The possibility of losing a bead is always there, but I see a lot of people thinking air downed is 20psi….

Also how do you like your STTs? I was nearly sold on BFG km3s since I had km2s on a prior jeep but the reviews for the STTs changed my mind. Pretty excited to test them out.
 
Hey all. I’m purchasing new 315/75/16 cooper STT pro mud terrain tires and I’m wondering about beadlocks. I know that many are not DOT approved and from my reading you have to retighten the bolts every 2 weeks but does anyone have experience with them that they would be willing to share?

I’ve got a long arm lift and like to rock crawl with my rig but I am always worried about airing down too far and the wheel coming off the bead so I’m contemplating getting some good beadlocks.

My jeep is not my DD so I would only be putting highway miles on it when I drive to the trail.

Would love to hear some opinions!
Thanks in advance.

I have Raceline Monster Beadlocks. I typically air down to 7.5. In snow I might go down to 4-6. You don’t have to tighten them every two weeks. I use blue loctite for anti-corrosion and for what loctite does. Torque to 200in-lb. G2G. I’ve had them about a year, and I just take a good look at the bolts periodically and I’ve never had an issue.

Get 17’s. 16’s are uncommon. You’ll have far more choices with 17’s and you’ll have more stability.
 
I just purchased them so haven’t tested them out. My prior tires I would run down to 12-15 but would get nervous being that low as I’ve never had to reseat a tire in the field and don’t know how. (That’s a YouTube date for later)

I have been airing my tires down to 8psi for almost the entire the ten years I have owned the Jeep without beadlocks and only losing a bead a small handful of times. My recent switch to Coyote internal beadlocks was largely for reasons other than knocking tires off the beads.
 
I have been airing my tires down to 8psi for almost the entire the ten years I have owned the Jeep without beadlocks and only losing a bead a small handful of times. My recent switch to Coyote internal beadlocks was largely for reasons other than knocking tires off the beads.

One thing is for sure, Josh - your setup definitely works in sand.

That was amazing.
 
There is no DOT approval for beadlocks.

I run these and according to them they are DOT Approved

Per there website. "Rock Monster internal double beadlock wheels are military grade adapted for civilian use. Street Legal – DOT Approved. Once Rock Monster wheels are installed, switching from on-road to off-road use and back again, in just a few minutes, is as easy as decreasing or increasing tire air pressure through your standard air valve stem or an available central tire inflation system."


slick rock.jpeg
 
I run these and according to them they are DOT Approved

Per there website. "Rock Monster internal double beadlock wheels are military grade adapted for civilian use. Street Legal – DOT Approved. Once Rock Monster wheels are installed, switching from on-road to off-road use and back again, in just a few minutes, is as easy as decreasing or increasing tire air pressure through your standard air valve stem or an available central tire inflation system."


View attachment 615653

Then Hutchinson can provide the DOT approval process they went through.
 
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How often would you need to check the tightness on the beadlock if not every 2 weeks? What beadlocks do you run and how low have you aired down with them on? Do you notice a pretty massive difference with beadlocks vs normal wheel/tires aired down?
My LJ has the beadlocks and I check my wheels, and everything else, every oil change. However, I'm on the obsessive-compulsive side. The current beadlocks are Vision wheels, but I've run Raceline and Walker Evans as well. Unless you do a lot of hardcore wheeling, you're not going to notice a big difference with beadlocks.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/VSW-S2669

FWIW, I run a set of JL wheels, non-beadlock, on my TJ for wheeling and air them down to 9 -10 psi with no issues, other than beating the crap out of them. Those get swapped out for a set of daily driver wheels and tires. If you look at the yellow markings, you'll see why I'm a bit compulsive!

20250509_231847.jpg
 
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My LJ has the beadlocks and I check my wheels, and everything else, every oil change. However, I'm on the obsessive-compulsive side. The current beadlocks are Vision wheels, but I've run Raceline and Walker Evans as well. Unless you do a lot of hardcore wheeling, you're not going to notice a big difference with beadlocks.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/VSW-S2669

FWIW, I run a set of JL wheels, non-beadlock, on my TJ for wheeling and air them down to 9 -10 psi with no issues, other than beating the crap out of them. Those get swapped out for a set of daily driver wheels and tires. If you look at the yellow markings, you'll see why I'm a bit compulsive!

View attachment 615818

If you ever sell your rig the next owner will be so stoked. I’m jealous of your obsessive nature because that thing looks clean! Thanks for your input!
 
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switching from on-road to off-road use and back again, in just a few minutes, is as easy as decreasing or increasing tire air pressure through your standard air valve stem or an available central tire inflation system."

Lol so like any wheel ever
 
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I must admit, having to reseat a bead on the trail is not a pleasant thought. I have yet to do any serious air down due to that fear. I have yet to take them below 16 psi.
 
I must admit, having to reseat a bead on the trail is not a pleasant thought. I have yet to do any serious air down due to that fear. I have yet to take them below 16 psi.
Reseating a bead is a 10 minute job with very little effort.

@jjvw is right, it's not a big deal even with only moderate air (I've used a single can ARB, a viaair, etc). Jack it up, start the air, and wiggle/squeeze to get the seal close. If it's really bad, pour some water on the bead to help fill the gaps.