Beadlock wheels have become increasingly popular amongst drag racers, off-road enthusiasts and serious 4×4 drivers. These specialised wheels offer unique advantages on both drag race tracks and extreme terrain, allowing drivers to push their vehicles to the limit. This comprehensive guide will explore beadlock wheels, how they work, their benefits, and why they’ve become a staple in the drag racing and off-road community.
What Are Beadlock Wheels?
Beadlock wheels are a type of wheel designed to mechanically clamp the bead of a tyre to the wheel rim. The tyre’s bead is held in place primarily by air pressure in a standard wheel. As the tyre inflates, the bead is pushed against the wheel’s bead seat, creating a seal.
However, this seal can fail in extreme conditions where low tyre pressures are beneficial or when the rims are under high-torque loads during launches and acceleration, causing the tyre to “de-bead” or come off the rim.
Beadlock wheels solve this problem by using a separate outer ring that physically locks the tyre bead to the wheel. This ring is typically secured with 16 to 32 bolts, creating a mechanical clamp that holds the tyre in place regardless of air pressure. This is crucial for drag racing, where maximising traction is essential.
How Do Beadlock Wheels Work?
The construction of a beadlock wheel is more complex than a standard wheel. Here’s a breakdown of the components and how they function:
- Inner Wheel: This is the main body of the wheel, similar to a standard wheel but with a specially designed outer edge.
- Outer Ring: Also known as the beadlock ring, this separate piece fits over the wheel’s outer edge.
- Bolts: A series of high-strength bolts (typically 16-32) secure the outer ring to the wheel.
- Tyre Bead: The reinforced edge of the tyre that generally sits against the wheel’s bead seat.
When mounting a tyre on a beadlock wheel, the tyre’s bead is placed between the wheel and the outer ring. The bolts are then tightened to a specific torque, clamping the bead securely between the two parts. This mechanical grip allows the tyre to stay in place even at extremely low air pressures or under high lateral forces.
The Benefits of Beadlock Wheels
Beadlock wheels offer several significant advantages for off-road use:
- Low-Pressure Performance: Beadlocks allow vehicles to run extremely low tyre pressures without risking de-beading. This allows for a larger tyre contact patch, improving traction in soft or loose terrain like sand, mud, or snow.
- Prevent Tyre Slippage: Beadlock wheels prevent the tyre from slipping or spinning on the rim under high torque loads during launches and acceleration.
- Increased Traction: By allowing lower pressures, beadlocks enable the tyre to perform better on drag race tracks and uneven off-road surfaces.
- Reduced Risk of Tyre Damage: Lower pressures also allow the tyre to absorb impacts better, reducing the risk of punctures or sidewall damage.
- Enhanced Control: In high-speed driving, beadlocks prevent the tyre from shifting on the rim during hard cornering or sudden direction changes.
- Easy Tyre Changes: In some designs, beadlocks make changing tyres on the race track easier, as the tyre can be removed and replaced without breaking the bead.
Types of Beadlock Wheels
Several variations of beadlock wheels are available:
- Standard External Beadlocks: These are the most common type, with an external ring clamping the outer bead of the tyre.
- Internal Beadlocks: These use an inflatable ring inside the tyre to push the beads outward against the rim.
- Dual Beadlocks: This clamps the tyre’s inner and outer beads in extreme applications.
- Beadlock-Capable Wheels: These are wheels designed to accept an optional beadlock ring, allowing users to convert them to true beadlocks if desired.
- Simulated Beadlocks: These are standard wheels that look like beadlocks without functional clamping mechanisms.
Beadlock Wheels on the Race Track
The popularity of beadlock wheels among drag racers has been steadily increasing, particularly for those running high-horsepower vehicles. As noted in various sources, many drag racers begin considering beadlocks when their vehicles reach around 800 horsepower; those pushing beyond 1,200-1,300 horsepower often opt for double beadlocks for added security.
In competitive environments where every fraction of a second counts, having reliable equipment is crucial. The ability to run lower pressures without fear of de-beading allows drag racers to maximise their vehicle’s potential on the track.
Beadlock Wheels in Off-Road Competitions
Beadlock wheels have become standard equipment in many off-road racing and competition forms. In rock crawling events, where shallow tyre pressures are crucial for maximising traction, beadlocks are almost universally used.
They’re also common in desert racing, where high-speed impacts and sharp turns can cause standard tyres to de-bead. Even in more mainstream off-road competitions like the Dakar Rally, many teams use beadlock wheels to gain an edge in challenging terrain. Running lower pressures without risking tyre failure can be a significant advantage in these gruelling events.
Street-Legal Alternatives
Given the potential legal issues surrounding beadlock wheels for on-road use, several manufacturers have developed alternatives that provide some of the benefits of beadlocks while remaining street-legal:
- Beadlock-Style Wheels: These wheels have the appearance of beadlocks but function like standard wheels. They’re purely aesthetic but can give vehicles an aggressive off-road look.
- Internal Beadlock Systems: Some manufacturers offer internal systems that work similarly to beadlocks but don’t modify the external structure of the wheel, keeping them legal for road use.
- Run-Flat Systems: While not true beadlocks, run-flat tyre systems can provide some of the same benefits in continuing driving with low or no air pressure.
Installation and Maintenance
Installing and maintaining beadlock wheels requires more care and attention than standard wheels:
- Installation: Proper installation of beadlock wheels is crucial. The bolts must be tightened in a specific pattern and to a precise torque specification to ensure even clamping force.
- Regular Checks: The clamping bolts should be checked and re-torqued regularly, typically every few hundred miles of off-road use or before any major off-road trip.
- Cleaning: The interface between the wheel, tyre, and beadlock ring must be kept clean to ensure proper sealing and prevent corrosion.
- Tyre Mounting: Mounting tyres on beadlock wheels often requires special techniques and may be best left to experienced professionals.
Conclusion
Beadlock wheels represent a significant advancement in on and off-road technology, offering unparalleled performance in extreme conditions. They allow racing and off-road enthusiasts to push their vehicles to new limits.
For casual off-roaders or those who primarily drive on paved roads, the benefits of beadlock wheels may not outweigh their drawbacks. But for serious drag racers and off-road enthusiasts, beadlock wheels can be a game-changing addition to their vehicles.
As with any modification, it’s essential to consider your needs, driving habits, and local regulations before investing in beadlock wheels. When properly chosen, installed, and maintained, however, they can significantly enhance the capabilities of any racing or off-road vehicle.
Convo Pro 002 Beadlock Wheels from Purnell Tyres
StreetPro Design’s latest innovation sets a new standard in the muscle car world. The Convo Pro 002 series wheels blend optimal performance and strength with a classic, timeless, slim spoke design. These lightweight, one-piece billet aluminium wheels are built tough, exceeding all OEM standards while meeting street legal requirements.
The Convo Pro 002 series is available in standard or beadlock designs, perfect for both street and strip muscle cars. The beadlock option, while non-functional, adds a race-inspired look to your street hot rod without compromising street legality. With various sizes and fitments, these wheels offer the ideal style, performance, and versatility for any muscle car enthusiast.
Boyd Coddington Bristol
The Boyd Coddington Bristol is the latest pro-street-style wheel to hit the market. This one-piece cast aluminium wheel offers a stylish look at a great price. These are available in 17×4.5″, 15×7″, 15×8″ and 15×9″ sizes. Available in gloss black or machined diamond dish. They suit a wide range of passenger vehicles, from old-school classics to modern falcons and commodores.
We can fabricate these wheels with a genuine forged competition beadlock with titanium bolts. Available in both polished or black beadlock rings.
If you want to modify your existing wheels with genuine competition beadlocks, contact us for a quote today!
