The bead locking insert helps keep the tire bead tight even at low air pressures, allowing you to achieve a wider range of performance with a single set of tires. However, if the owner plans to ventilate, he can remove the outer bead from his seats and replace the display ring with a real locking ring. This makes the wheel a real beaded wheel with all the pros and cons that come with it. If you drive a lot off-road at this time, you need to be able to reduce your tire pressure low enough to maintain the wide contact area or sidewall bending for rocks. If this is the case, you will need a pearl blocker. What is the purpose of a bead lock, what types are there, why should you use them and when? We will talk about pearl strands in this article. Similar to previous articles, you`ll probably want to read it as well as the basic articles of the wheel before continuing this article. A few terms could be glossed over here. Don`t worry, if you happen to get lost in a term, come back to it. Almost all other terms are fully referenced. Follow the installation instructions of your beadlock manufacturer, but in general, you should tighten the cross screws in quarter or half turns. So you go from the 12-hour position to 6, 6 to 3, 3 to 9 and so on until you have the full diameter of the wheel.
While you turn these screws, you should also continue to check the bead of the tire. You want to make sure it hasn`t moved and isn`t stuck by the ring and bridle. If the idea of handling screws seems troubled or too inconvenient, it is possible to use internal inflatable heel locking devices. These are also DOT approved heel lock devices, so you can remain legal in states that require DOT approval on wheels. The other manufacturer is Hutchinson with its DOT Beadlock wheels under the Rock Monster Wheels brand. Unlike BAD, their internal bead locking device is clamped together by a two-piece wheel with a rubber locking ring that sits between the tire beads. While the Beadlock wheel and Beadlock devices aren`t going away anytime soon, there are developments on the horizon that could make Beadlockers obsolete. The main feature of the ball blocker is the ability for Jeep owners to ventilate their tires at very low numbers and widen the footprint or bend the tires around rocks. However, the tires show more flexibility while maintaining sidewall resistance at a pressure above 15 psi. Tim Odell of Vice Unlimited discusses the benefits of Hutchinson DOT-approved double-pearl internal locks.
Vehicle Photo: Andy Perry IG @benkaptured Beadlocks are great tools for off-road vehicles, but they can be very dangerous if not properly installed, used, or maintained. LiftLaws.com strongly believes that beadlocks should not be installed on vehicles that drive on the road, as they are not as safe as their counterparts that are not beadlocks. If someone decides to install trunks in a road vehicle, they should make sure to check their tire pressure and pearl pin torque frequently and adjust their driving habits to account for possible heel failure. (This includes taking turns slowly and learning how to handle the vehicle in the event of a tire burst.) What distinguishes a BAD Eclipse 17 from a standard pearl lock is the way it secures its locking device. The ring you see on an eclipse 17 is usually just a sacrificial beauty ring (or one of their balance rings). The screws pass through the surface of the wheel, and a locking device is located inside the wheel. When mounting the tire on the wheel, keep the inner bead loose and out of the wheel. If you`re into the off-road scene, you`ve probably heard of or seen beadlock off-road wheels.
Yes, the beaded wheels look cool and all hardcore trail platforms run them; But why? The biggest questions emerge in the background. Do you need beadlock off-road wheels? Are you sure? What are the advantages of a beadlock over a non-beadlock? As trail addicts, we often get this question. At HardRock Offroad, we`ve done tons of testing, not only from a manufacturing perspective, but also from individual experiences on and off the ground, sand and mud. Let`s take a closer look at beadlocks and what they are. Rock Monster`s Double Beadlock internal system securely holds the tire bead to the rim without breaking the bead seal or slipping during use. Due to their unique design and use, Beadlock wheels do not mount like regular wheels. It seems obvious when you look at it, but there`s a lot more going on here. The inner bead of the tire slides over the bead flange, but the outer bead rests on the bridle. You need to make sure that the outer bead is properly located between the rim of the wheel surface and the flange. If you don`t, you run the risk of pinching the pearl when you install the locking ring. In short, Beadlock wheels do exactly what their name suggests: they lock the bead of the tire on the wheel.
Originally, this type of wheel was used in military applications, but was later popularized by off-road and creeping communities. The purpose of a beadlock was originally to prevent the wheels from descending when subjected to massive torque load and lower-than-normal tire pressure. While holding the wheel bolts, slide the bead locking device over the bolts. They then squeeze the nuts until they are all tight and tight. These wheels are also “maintenance-free” and achieve this by using a hairpin clip on the screws. This prevents the nuts from loosening and causing the pearls to fail. Until then, grab a pearl blocker for your off-road adventures. They can also be used on any wheel, provided they adapt accordingly. The only change is to drill a hole for the valve stem of the inflatable ball blocker. You may also need to round (round) the tire beads, as they can be sharp enough to cut some inflatable lockers.
First, the screws of the correct length are mounted on the inner half of the wheel. The Rock Monster Wheels therefore require no maintenance. Then the rubber ball blocker is placed in the tire so that it sits between the beads of the tire. The inside of the wheel is placed on the inside of the tire after lubrication. If a product is sold as “For off-road use only” or “Not legal for highway use”, is it illegal for the customer to install it in a road vehicle? There are wheels with a “beauty ring” that mimics a pearl lock, but these wheels are NOT pearl locks. The ring in this case serves as a visual enhancement to give the appearance of a pearl lock. As mentioned earlier, some wheels with a “beauty ring” can become a pearl lock if they are designed that way. You`re probably wondering how a beaded wheel and a wheel without a bead stack against each other. The truth is that both have their advantages and it depends entirely on what your use case actually is. However, there are a few important points to consider before committing to a particular set of wheels. If you don`t intend to tackle the tougher trails, beaded wheels aren`t a must on your off-road platform. It is important to note that not only are these types of wheels relatively expensive, but most, if not all, are not legal and approved by the DOT (Department of Transportation).
This means that you cannot legally drive your platform on the road or highway if it is installed. Ultimately, it comes down to your intentions with your platform and what you think is right. Always remember to consider the risks and liability arising from improper use and installation of screws and wheels. Again, we can`t stress enough: check your bead bolts as part of your regular maintenance and before your tires deflate and after inflating. The only major problem with these locking wheels is that they are not legally approved by the Department of Transportation (DOT). In some states, they may not be legal because they may not allow wheels that are multi-piece or do not have DOT approval. If so, there are legal beadlocks that can be used on the highway and function as a functional beadlock. If you look at a locking wheel, you will notice that it only has a ring or locking device on that outer bead. The reason for this is that the outer pearl has the most tension to remove its seat. If you apply low pressure, you will usually see this defect on the outside of the tire when turning in the opposite direction (i.e. when you turn left, the bead of the right outer tire will slip from its seat because there is more pressure).
The purpose of a bead is to attach one or both tire beads to the wheel. This prevents them from slipping out of their seats and causing tires to fail when you don`t need them. This can be very easy if you lower the tire pressure of your Jeep to gain traction in the sand and rocks.
