Beadlock fail at SEMA causes broken leg

[6.2Blazer]

Because they aren't. Last time I checked (a LONG time ago), DOT does not have any regulation specific to beadlocks, it's therefore impossible to have DOT approval.

That is not an accurate statement. Beadlocks can be DOT approved/certified and there are a few brands that are. There is nothing specific in DOT regulations saying that beadlocks are illegal or cannot have DOT approval, so they can be. The reason most are not is that the manufacturers are not willing to spend the time and money to get the DOT certification, either in the testing required or revision of the design. I am not personally familiar with the test requirements and what challenges that may pose to the traditional beadlock design that most people are familiar with.

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[Jtclayton612]

That is not an accurate statement. Beadlocks can be DOT approved/certified and there are a few brands that are. There is nothing specific in DOT regulations saying that beadlocks are illegal or cannot have DOT approval, so they can be. The reason most are not is that the manufacturers are not willing to spend the time and money to get the DOT certification, either in the testing required or revision of the design. I am not personally familiar with the test requirements and what challenges that may pose to the traditional beadlock design that most people are familiar with.

I believe it’s because they call for periodic maintenance fairly regularly

Hutchinson rock monsters do not and are DOT approved. Although Hutchinson does recommend inspection of nuts every 3k miles, however they don’t say you need to worry about re torquing the nuts. They do get the nifty DOT stamp to prove they’re in compliance as well.

Traction off-road beadlocks use the same/similar design to Hutchinson double beadlocks and may be DOT approved as well but I didn’t see anything on the website in quick look.

Trail ready beadlocks say all their double beadlocks are dot compliant but I don’t know if they get the stamp on the wheels themselves.

Similarly beadlock capable wheels, dirty life, mopar, aev are DOT approved when run as a normal wheel but not when run as a beadlock.

Suffice to say the DOT doesn’t trust people to do fairly regularly maint I think. Which I don’t exactly disagree with.

I could also just be talking out my ass and be completely wrong.

 

[zouch]

if you want to keep them looking as pretty as they did when they were new, you’d probably be wise to remove the ‘trim ring’ before having the tire shop do their thing.
put the rings back on yourself after you get home.

Holy shite!! Okay, so please briefly help an ignorant non-mechanic (that’s me): I got a Jlur Xtreme Recon for the factory package of 35s plus lift plus gears. It comes with “beadlock-CAPABLE “ wheels. I have left the stock KO2s on there and after reading this thread, I will never go bead-lock, because I am not this committed.
SO, if I have these beadlock-capable wheels but I never go with beadlock tires, do I have to worry about all this super-careful torque shite and replacing bolts etc.? Or can I “trust” the dude at Discount to rotate and eventually replace/mount my tires the same as if I did not have the XR beadlock-capable wheels? I don’t want to have to babysit the mechanic.
I know some will say you shouldn’t trust the discount guy regardless and that’s fine, but my question is Do I have to be more careful/pay more attention because I got the beadlock-capable wheels stock with the XR?
Thanks-

 

[Pig-Pen]

My question was mostly rhetorical. Why do most think beadlocks are not DOT approved. Maybe because stuff like this can happen when people are careless. I wasn’t asking why the DOT does not approved beadlocks.

Most people don’t know that when airing up tires at a tire shop, the entire rim/tire is put into a cage to protect tire shop workers while airing up. Tires are dangerous, stiffer or bigger more dangerous. Most people drop of their vehicle and pick it up with new tires on it and don’t realize that their 35s are dangerous for the tech… without beadlocks…

ive watched 35s and 37s being mounted and balanced at a few shops and never seen a cage. Ive been to many tires shop and never seen a cage. You know what ive seen a shop struggle with the most, a corvettes run flat tires. Super stiff sidewalls are way more of a pita to put on. Ive seen then have to double stack tires to get them just mounted. 35s and 37s only seem to need help due to the weight. Just regular wheels though, ive never watched beadlocks worked on. From what ive heard a lot of shops wont even touch them. Many shops are strickt on liability concerns.

 

[Pig-Pen]

Because they aren't. Last time I checked (a LONG time ago), DOT does not have any regulation specific to beadlocks, it's therefore impossible to have DOT approval.



Gun guy.



Not a gun guy.



Another gun guy.

not me sir. I lost all my guns in a terrible offroading accident

 

[Gorilla57]

not me sir. I lost all my guns in a terrible offroading accident

I lost mine in a flood.........in Phoenix.......

 

[stumblinhorse]

ive watched 35s and 37s being mounted and balanced at a few shops and never seen a cage. Ive been to many tires shop and never seen a cage. You know what ive seen a shop struggle with the most, a corvettes run flat tires. Super stiff sidewalls are way more of a pita to put on. Ive seen then have to double stack tires to get them just mounted. 35s and 37s only seem to need help due to the weight. Just regular wheels though, ive never watched beadlocks worked on. From what ive heard a lot of shops wont even touch them. Many shops are strickt on liability concerns.

At most places they look like this. Most tire shops have to have them.

 

[Tool Guy]

At most places they look like this. Most tire shops have to have them.

And no one uses them unless they are mounting commercial (bus, truck, semi) wheels. No one uses cages for passenger and light truck applications.

 

[Tool Guy]

ive watched 35s and 37s being mounted and balanced at a few shops and never seen a cage. Ive been to many tires shop and never seen a cage. You know what ive seen a shop struggle with the most, a corvettes run flat tires. Super stiff sidewalls are way more of a pita to put on. Ive seen then have to double stack tires to get them just mounted. 35s and 37s only seem to need help due to the weight. Just regular wheels though, ive never watched beadlocks worked on. From what ive heard a lot of shops wont even touch them. Many shops are strickt on liability concerns.

Yeah, no one uses cages unless working on commercial size wheels. Beadlocks are supper easy to mount. They don't even require a tire machine. I installed mine at home using some small motorcycle tire irons to coax the outside bead onto the lip prior to installing the beadlock ring. Throw a bag of balancing beads in the tire as you mount it and you will never need to visit a tire shop, unless you install new TMPS and need them programmed.

I don't think my 37's took more than 35 PSI to seat the inside bead. Far less than operating pressure on many light truck tires.

 

[dcmdon]

I've come to dislike impacts for putting just about anything together. So often things are over tightened causing damage.

20ft-lbs is not that high I mean I think I have a torque screwdriver that gets almost 20 ft-lbs definitely don't need an impact for that. Tighter isn't always better when putting things together.

I agree. I've recently picked up a Milwaukee battery powered ratchet. I like it for assembling things for a few reasons.

1) the head turns slowly enough that its easy to control..
2) it only goes to about 30 ft-lbs
3) if I want tighter or need to break something loose, I can turn the bolt manually so I have good feel.

 

[GMONEY]

I agree. I've recently picked up a Milwaukee battery powered ratchet. I like it for assembling things for a few reasons.

1) the head turns slowly enough that its easy to control..
2) it only goes to about 30 ft-lbs
3) if I want tighter or need to break something loose, I can turn the bolt manually so I have good feel.

Good call

 

[dcmdon]

Good call

It's really proven to be a great tool. I got it for a specific job but find I'm using it a lot now. Often I'm using it instead of a small impact driver (quarter inch drive with a 3/8 socket adaptor) where speed can be difficult to moderate, and often I'm using it instead of a hand tool.

 

[GMONEY]

It's really proven to be a great tool. I got it for a specific job but find I'm using it a lot now. Often I'm using it instead of a small impact driver (quarter inch drive with a 3/8 socket adaptor) where speed can be difficult to moderate, and often I'm using it instead of a hand tool.

Yeah I use low torque power drives. It gets things tight enough and then I can throw a torque wrench on it when needed or snug with a ratchet if needed.

I'll use impacts to take things apart of course but not worth it to put things together.

 

[azwjowner]

I don't think anyone has yet linked wibornz's great thread about the true effort required for beadlock wheels: https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...s-sample-of-cost-time-efforts-required.77683/

Beadlocks are best reserved for those who truly need them, in my opinion.

 

[roaniecowpony]

I've come to dislike impacts for putting just about anything together. So often things are over tightened causing damage.

20ft-lbs is not that high I mean I think I have a torque screwdriver that gets almost 20 ft-lbs definitely don't need an impact for that. Tighter isn't always better when putting things together.

I love impacts. ... when I use them. Hate them when others use them.

My air impact has a dial on it. My M18 Milwaukee Mid-Torque has 2 ranges. I use the M18 most. They are real sweat savers. But I probably should forego them and just sweat. I need the exercise. Yes, I use a torque wrench.

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