BEADLOCK RIMS

If rocky mountains and clay valleys are a few of the places that define your off-road adventure destinations, you will probably want to know more about beadlock rims. What are they, what do they do and is it legal to have them fitted to our beloved terrain 4WDs? We buckle down for the rest of this article to run through a full breakdown of 4×4 beadlock rims.

What Are Beadlock Rims?

Simply put, beadlock rims do exactly what it says on the box; they lock the bead of the tyre more securely to the rim than traditional rims.

The major distinguishing factor between a traditional rim and a beadlock rim is that it helps during rugged and rough terrains and dramatically improves your truck’s look. 

The different parts of a beadlock rim include:

• The outer beadlock ring
• The inner beadlock ring
• Bolts
• An inner safety bead
• A valve stem

While installing the wheel, instructions say to slip the lip of the tyre between the bead lock ring and bead and secure it tightly with heavy-duty bolts that come with the wheels. This is how the bead locks into place with much more strength than a traditional wheel.

The reason 4×4 beadlock rims are essential and very useful to off-roaders and drag racers is that they prevent tyre slippage by clamping the bead to the rim itself. Also, when the bead is locked into place, it will not become unseated even if you significantly air down the tyres, which off-road enthusiasts frequently do.

Importance Of Beadlock Rims

Now that we understand the anatomy of beadlock rims, we can dive deeper into why someone may want to buy these and what they offer for off-road ventures.

Traditional tyres on standard 4WD or trucks have a recommended PSI range of 35 and 50 air pressure. However, this system doesn’t cut it when off-roaders are taken on tough terrains. The way around this that off-roaders realised is by reducing the level of air pressure in the tyres, which alloy better cruise along uneven pathways and provide the truck or 4WD with more traction.

By “airing down” the tyres during off-road adventures, drivers effectively manage to increase the dimensions of their tyre’s contact patch to the surface, allowing for much better traction.

Furthermore, the gummy tyres will give a more comfortable ride on rough terrain and, with their increased flexibility, are less likely to puncture because they will bump, flex and pinch around uneven surfaces without popping. While this may make for a better drive, it comes with the risk of the tyre coming off entirely.

This is where beadlock rims come in. Because 4×4 beadlocks are secured so tightly to the tyre irrespective of its air pressure, in theory, the driver could reduce the air pressure on it as much as they want for more conformity without worrying about them getting ripped off entirely from the rim. Even at 0 PSI of air pressure, there is nil chance of the tyre slipping off owing to its locking system of the ring and bolts.

Beadlock rims allow outback adventurers to drive confidently at high and low speeds. Even with sharp steering, you wouldn’t need to worry about the wheel peeling away from the tyre bead; the beadlock rim ensures it stays put.

Are Beadlock Rims Illegal?

If you’re looking into beadlock rims, you will likely come across plenty of discussions on posts and forums debating their legality. The Australian government has not yet approved beadlock rims, and they don’t conform to the standards of rims that are approved, essentially placing them in the not legal category.

As such, you could run the risk of being stopped for running them, served an infringement notice, and handed some demerit points and a fine.

What about Queensland? Are beadlock rims illegal in QLD? The answer is yes, they are against the law. They’re not legally able to be driven on the road, which places them as illegal.

Some cars are sold with internal beadlock rims, such as Hummer H1s, which are entirely legal. External beadlocks secure the inner edge of the bead with an external part that re-enforces the outer edge changing the anatomy of a standard tyre, and this is where the law draws the line for now.

Authentic vs Imitation Beadlock Rims

Real beadlock wheels will have a 30-32 bolting system on the outside edge to hold a metal piece lining the outer edge of the tyre. In contrast to these, imitation beadlocks look exactly like the real deal, except they are standard wheels in every other sense.

Imitation beadlock rims appear like beadlock with outer ring and bolt heads. This outer ring also adds some stability to the outer edge of the wheel, making this a touch more durable than the standard wheel when driven on rocky terrain.

Pros of Beadlock Wheels:

• Protect your tyres from damage
• Prevent air from leaking out of the tyres
• Give a more aggresive look to your truck or 4WD
• Relatively easy to mount and install
• Air-down tyres for extreme traction power

Cons of Beadlock Wheels:

• Illegal for on-road use, they are strictly for off-road use
• Expensive compared with imitation beadlock wheels
• Hardware can loose if wheels are banged in the rocks regularly

Do You Need Special Tyres For Beadlock Rims?

4×4 truck drivers can fit beadlock rims onto any tyres without needing to source out special ones to fit these rims on. However, purchasing All-Terrain or Mud-Terrain tyres with deep tread patterns is recommended to give you the best traction on off-road terrain.

Our top 4×4 tyre picks for beadlock rims are:

• Maxxis AT-811 RAZR AT and Maxxis RAZR MT772
• Falken Wildpeak AT3W and Falken Wildpeak MT01
• Nitto Terra Grappler and Nitto Ridge Grappler

Anyone with a 4×4 truck and a passion for cruising off-road will have thought about beadlock rims. The decision of authentic vs limitation is one to consider as well, given the legal aspects of it in Australia.