Some good info here:

http://www.aev-conversions.com/produ...dlock_info.php

As for ruining beadlock wheels: That will happen if you off-road with them--they are designed to sustain damage to certain parts. I've seen a JK strip several bolt heads off a beadlock while trying to climb this hill right after me (all seven of us ended up being winched up it) ...



Finally, a quick summary of the AEV article: If you're buying beadlocks because they look cool, beadlocks probably aren't for you.

 

The question here is not whether you can run beadlocks or not. You can run any wheel you want - even build it yourself so long as it holds air and can be balanced.

BUT - if your wheel lacks a DOT stamp on it and you get in an accident? Open the floodgates for the lawsuit you'll be responsible for.

AEV beadlocks are DOT certified from what I recall. I am unsure of most others.

Walker Evans makes probably the best beadlocks on the market. Theirs are not DOT approved. On their order form it states, "For Recreational Use Only. Not Legal for Highway Use".

Raceline classifies their beadlocks as "competition series".

I've run Walker Evans beadlocks for 8 years without any problems. They leak zero air and balanced with almost no weights. Still, they are not DOT approved - buyer be ware...

 

I think beadlocks require thought before purchasing. They are expensive and usually need you to mount and maintain them...

 

Yup, thanks been debating this idea myself, I wanted walker evens, but the fact discount wouldn't touch them scared me a bit, LIABILITY. and the fact my wife drives the jeep got me thinking.....what if

 

Im running the spyderlock wheels and love them , they are a bit of work,takes time to put twenty some bolts in 5 wheels and torquing them down and you need to keep up on them and make sure they re tight. I love mine cant say enuf about them.

 

The Hutchinson Rock Monsters are street legal and DOT compliant. I'd love to run a set of them.

 

Discount tire balanced mine, I just had to mount the tires myself and that is actually really easy. As for being safe......well you do realize that practically every class of offroad racing, with exception for certain stock classes, runs the exact same beadlocks you can buy over the counter from Raceline, Walker Evans, Champion, Spyder Lock, ATX, etc. Some of of these vehicles are 750-850 horsepower, hit rocks and bumps at up to 135mph and jump distances that cover 100+ feet. What is not safe about having a wheel that can survive the worst treatment you can throw at it. I have run beadlocks for about 15 years on my daily drivers without issues.

 

Oh I agree that's why I wanted them

And it's not the liability to me....but the liability to the 3 different discount tires stores. So I even told them I would mount them and they still refused to balance. Because as they all said THEY don't want to be liable. EVEN THOUGH THEY SALE TWO DIFFERENT BEAD LOCKS, THEY WOULD NOT MOUNT OR BALANCE THEM.

 

That sucks man, I guess each store manager has his reason and hang ups. I am sure if you end up running them, you can find a spot to balance them. Have you tried up in Las Cruces, there are some serious hardcore wheelers up there that always seem to be in an offroad magazine, maybe they can steer you to a shop

 

Yeah..... going to start checking other avenues. Want to get some thrown on. Thanks for the advise