if i want to look at beadlocks for looks only, i cant afford to wheel in a 50k truck, would there be any drawbacks on the road?

if i want to look at beadlocks for looks only, i cant afford to wheel in a 50k truck, would there be any drawbacks on the road?

Are you looking at true beadlocks, or the beadlock "look"?

If you live in a socially oppressive state that inspects your truck every time you sneeze, a true beadlock (save for the Hutchinson branded ones) will be technically illegal for use.

If you live in a relatively free state, you can run true beadlocks and they won't care.

A true beadlock will have increased service issues. You have to check the beadlock bolts and nuts every so often, and they have their own balancing/centering issues.

Simulated beadlocks give the look and have none of the service requirements. It just makes you look like a poser. They also are allowed for use on the road.

X2. i don't know of any state wher you can legally run beadlocks.

However the simulated locks (although poserish) do have a couple of advantages. One, you will protect the lip of your rims from minor rock rash. Secondly, you can change them out when needed.

just curious, im no poser thou so forget beadlocks but they do look bad ass on that two tone sut that sewell hummer is selling

Hutchinson Industries is the only company that makes a true DOT certified beadlock out the factory floor. They make them for the H1, the HMMWV, and the Jeep. It's also why they are so damned expensive.

Sorry, but what is a bead lock?

Like those manhole looking covers, like that scary duck place sells?


or like the Williams sisters..

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Beastmaster:
Hutchinson Industries is the only company that makes a true DOT certified beadlock out the factory floor. They make them for the H1, the HMMWV, and the Jeep. It's also why they are so damned expensive. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Those are cool. I just checked them out. $400 for the Jeep ones.
I think what M.M. is looking for is that external trim ring on the outside of the rim.

I have the fake bead-locks. The real ones aren't legal in Oregon, so I went with the "look". After running Moab twice, and various other crappy trails, I don't see anywhere near the chewed up edges that I thought I would, and I have yet to blow the bead. I think it protects the rim better. (there goes my Karma) One note however, the lip on the beadlock can fill up with mud and snow and cause the tire to be out of balance on the highway.(most of it flips out, but sometimes it won't, a quick clean out with a finger or stick helps.) These ones are not interchangeable. They're actually part of the wheel, so I don't get to pick colors.

There is a company that sells the ones you can change, and those are pretty cool looking. You can get black wheels or polished, with orange, camo, black and polished rings that just bolt on the edge of the rim. These are not true bead lock wheels, so they are DOT legal.

Most 4x4/tire/rim shops will have the fake ones. Maybe in stock.