Hello all,

I searched around the site for this and couldn't find anything so I apologize if it's already been discussed. I'm pretty sure I understand the pro's of beadlocks and don't mind hearing more, but what are the cons (other than cost)? I'm getting new wheels. DD but when I go wheeling, but I like to to not worry about losing a tire when I pressure down although it's never happened (but I think that's why we all do mods-to not have to break something to think "why didn't I do that before...")

Thanks.

 

only con, other than cost, that i can think of is the availibility of mounting surface for balancing

 

Many are also not dot approved. This can be a issue with inspection in some states as well as in the event of an accident.

 

You also have to re torque them all the time

 

The 2 biggest cons are going to be finding a shop that will do an alignment on them after they are installed and the second they do require some regular maintenance. If your going to get Beadlocks go on Youtube and watch a couple videos on how to seat them properly. I was able to mount and balance my own using Dynabeads and I haven't had any issues (almost 5000 miles). Yes you do need to check the torque on the bolts I checked mine when I changed my oil and they were fine. Like anything we modify with our Jeeps you need to watch it and ensure its working properly regular maintenance goes a long way.

 

If you are keeping old tires and rims, use them for alignment, if not a lot of shops have a set for jeeps and use them. The shop I use in Raleigh has a set they put on so no problems.

 

If by all the time, you mean after every wheeling trip, well yes you should recheck the ring bolt torque. But if you are doing things correctly after wheeling, you should also be checking torque on your lug nuts, your tie rod, track bar and bracket, and your drag link too. If you are simply daily driving, you could go for months or longer and never need to. People that have never owned beadlocks seem to think there is some incredible amount of extra maintenance and effort that goes into running them. I have been running beadlocks on my daily drivers and my tow rigs since 1998, zero problems. The truth is that most offroaders think they wheel hard enough to need beadlocks, and they don't. However, if you do choose to run them and utilize the ability of safely airing down very low (single digit psi), you greatly increase the traction capabilities of your vehicle

 

yup what he said...but if you don't feel that if you need to be airing down below 10 psi in order to make that last hard section you couldn't make before then save your money and get another wheel you really like...bead locks are pricy and just like anything if you don,t use them for what they were designed for then you spent all that money just for looks....

 

No one has mentioned the weight yet as a con, so I'll throw that in as my 2 cents. Big weight difference between my spyderlocks and the stock wheels. Noticeable power loss. But I had the 3.8l minivan motor anyways, so there wasn't much power to begin with. I was out wheeling in the Badlands offroad park in Indiana in April, and out of about 10 vehicles I was the only one with beadlocks and the only one who never got stuck... There was a steep rock face that everyone was having trouble with because it was raining, but I just zipped right up it, no problems.

I'd say besides the downside of additional weight, and the slight hassle of occasionally tightening the bolts, the only other downside is water/mud retention between the rim and the ring. Just make sure you clean your wheels off before getting back on the highway! Haha.

 

Can also do inner bead locks. Not to much maintenance other than checking the air pressure of it. They Also lock both beads