After tackling "Rattlle Rock", a local hardcore at Coal Creek OHV area, I learned two things. I need more ground clearance and skids and that aluminum rims can change shape if you beat on them hard enough. On the way home i had some serious vibrations and after checking all my nuts and bolts in the driveway, went to see if maybe my wheels had slipped inside the rim throwing off the balance. Nope. I bent two rims and am trying to smile while following the old motto of "if it breaks it needed to be bigger and stronger anyway". Im thinking about the Poison Spyder beadlocks but ouch they are xpensive. By the way the rims I was running were "Granite Alloy".

 

Oh yeah, aluminum is soft. Bends, and sticks.

I guess thats why alot of people choose steelies? Cheap, strong... etc.

 

I've got some PSC 18's on order. I could have gone with 17's and had them already, but I'm currently running 18's and don't want to buy new tires and the moment, although I was very much thinking about moving up to 37's.

 

if you ding or a steel rim beet it out, you bend or ding aluminum you buy a new one or live with a chip out of it. steel low cost, aluminum higher cost, i forget who makes it but you can buy (for steel rims) weld on beed locks. saw it on extreme off road that show rocks

 

There are shops out there that can fix aluminum rims on a case by case basis. Also you can have beadlocks welded onto an aluminium rim as well as steel. Trail Ready is one of the biggest names in that arena. Post some pictures of them and we might be able to give you more info.