Bead Lock verse Standard Wheel

You guys running bead lock wheels what do you think you've gained over standard wheels? Do you notice air loss on the bead lock rims over time? Are they designed to just hold the bead better, anything else they are celebrated over the standard wheels? Just looking for input on the pluses and minuses on the two different models of wheels.

I cant see spending the money on bead locks unless your having trouble rolling the tire off the rim. I had a rock crawler for about 10 yrs and did some nasty trails and never ran bead locks and never had a problem.

Hi Kenny,

I got the beadlocks because with them I can reduce the air pressure greatly and not worry about the tire's bead separating from the rim.  I haven't noticed any air loss at all with mine.  And these wheels are really light.  Also, with beadlocks, if you have a flat and have to do a field repair, reseating the tire to the wheel is not a problem, providing you have a source of compressed air.  I've also read of people carrying a can of CO2 to reseat a tire on a beadlock, instead of a compressor.

Gil

I run pretty high air pressure in my tires for that reason, as I've flattened tires from running them off the bead. In fact I've got grass hanging out the bead on some of my tires right now. Lower air softer ride....

Any other input on the BEAD-LOCK WHEEL from the James Gang?  

We ran beadlocks when we raced honda odysseys back in the 80's but we were only running 4 or 5psi, really kept them together.....the rhino we run 12 psi or more, havn't had any issues with my itp216's yet, hope this helps

Thanks Roger, Just trying to get a feel for the need verse the cost factor for bead locks. Never have ran them so I don't know much about them. I pack a plug kit, ratchet strap, 32oz bottle of Slime, and a small 12v portable compressor in the Oh-Shit bag that leaves with the bike when ever I go someplace out of the way. Have never not been able to air up a tire and make it back to camp. So a bead lock would be more of a luxury item for me than a needed part. I don't ride so fast that I'd roll a tire off and flip the bike over it.

I run regular wheels and have had the bead break loose onetime amidst my spinning donuts parade in a open field on the trails that was rutted up and I caught the tire just right. Other than that I drive like a madman and no issues other than some big dings on the edge of my wheels close to bead which could cause me an issue sometime but my wheels have lifetime warranty if they won't bead out. I just liked the idea that dual beadlocks would never allow your tire to ever come off the wheel so even flat you could limp back to the truck. Plus the bead ring protects the rim of the wheel against abuse and you can replace the rings and not have to scrap the whole wheel. But hell if James can get away with stock wheels I'm sure I'll be alright.

My bud runs them on his can-am...they came on it .  I've helped him change tires before ,  all the bolts around the ring , are a pain in the arse !!


I ALWAYS carry a can of starting fluid (and a lighter) just in case.  It is the easiest way to pop a bead back on in the woods.  We tried sticking a rag in gas ,  and wiping it all around the wheel one time we didn't have any ether...didn't work.  Ever since then ,  I always have a can in the tool box !!

I am using the OEM aluminum wheels,started at 14 PSI,dropped to 12 PSI and now running on 8 PSI now problems yet but much smoother at 8 PSI and better in the snow.

Yeah the bolts are a pain and you have to be sure you have the ring on even or tire wobbles when going down the road.  I ran 9lbs in my new blackwater evo tires when normally I ran 11lbs in my bighorns. I was running 9 when I broke a bead and put dents in another rim so now I'm aired back up to 11lbs so will see what happens this next trip.

I have ran Big Horns and now the Motoclaws on my beadlocks and out of those 8 tires I do have one that I have a problem keeping air in.  I'm not convinced it's the beadlock causing it but I sure can't find where the leak is coming from.  As far as my reasoning for running beadlocks is the added strength around the ring and you can air down to nothing and not have to worry about your tire coming off.  I am not afraid smashing over large rocks and running down creek beds and such and you can see on my beadlock rings the abuse they take.  If I were running regular wheels they would at least be bent if not worse.  Another thing to consider is if you are out a long way from home and you have a flat and are unable to fix it and you have beadlocks if worse comes to worse you can drive it out without having to worry about your tire coming off.

just get an extra wheel ($35) that will fit all 4 corners, slap an old tire on it, mount it on the cage with a couple of bungee cords and git er done.

i have never had more than one tire go out at a time, and imho it's easier to just change the wheel than muck around with plugs.

I've got a complete set of OEM wheels & tires stacked taking up space.