Bead locks ? Looks

I have a question about bead lock rims 1. Are the functionality worth the investment 2. when i see them why is it just the the outside of the rim and not the inside?

 

This is a tough question. Bead locks cost more than other rims generally. For the most part bead locks are usually not DOT. I have not seen any laws about this. People have told me (take with a grain of salt) that they are not designed for highway speeds. I have buddies that say they have no issues with there bead locks driving around but, you do have to check to make sure that none of the nut have loosen up on the rims. Bead locks will hold the tire on the rim while be aired down to 4 psi. This is useful in rock climbing to get a wider foot print and for the tire to wrap around objects. There are a few who make DOT legal bead locks. If you have the money and like the looks or will be using them for there intend use, then yes they are worth it. I just ordered my Hutchinson bead locks. I will post pics and how they work after I use them. One other quick note if you air down low you will need an air compressor to air back another cost but when your wheelin there are no gas station on the trails not including other jeeps with you.

 

Air pressure inside a tire forces the tire seat or bead against the wheel or rim preventing the wheel from slipping inside tire, called slipping a bead, causing the tire to deflate instantaneously. The more air pressure the more force holding that wheel and tire together. If you wheel in conditions that require you to air down to less than 12psi it is probably a good idea to run beadlocks which pinch the outer bead of the tire preventing the wheel from spinning inside the tire. There are double beadlocks that pinch both beads of the tire i.e. I believe the Humvee (H1) wheels are double beadlocked. There is also an internal beadlock, a piece of stiff rubber that fits inside the tire that gives kind of a double beadlock to the tire, and these run about $100 each. I run single beadlocks and once tried to run 4 psi and slipped a bead on the back side. I was doing this just to see how low I could run. Usually on my JK I run 8-10psi with standard raceline beadlocks, and on my CJ I run 12psi without beadlocks and I have not had any trouble at this psi for either. Simulated beadlocks are for looks and do nothing for performance, but since the only DOT beadlocks I know of are the Hutchinsons it sure helps that we are seeing simulated so that we can drive on the street with our beadlocks with less chance of getting pulled over because of them (I have never been pulled over for having beadlocks).

 

You beat me to it.

 

I have the American racing beads and have aired down to 2-3 psi with no issue. Drive at hoggish speeds no problem. They do require a little maintenance. I retirement the bead after every off road trip and about every 1500-2000 miles.