Beadlock Education

[WILDHOBO]

Helps my edumication as well so good thread to start. I’ll try the beads to start when I eventually get beadlocks. In the mean time I’ll drop in on a couple off-road shops and see who can or will balance them for me when the time comes.

Makes sense. Or any tire shop that doesn’t care that you have Beadlocks.

Sponsored

 

[Jteakus]

You will still need a way to unseat the inner bead when you get new tires. You may need to use a tire shop for that one.

 

[Svenable]

I currently have 2 sets of beadlocks, both are Hutchinson. I have had Allied in the past. I support the anti-seize for the clamping ring if the clamping bolts are many and small. Some break very easily if you exceed the torque spec. My current beadlocks do not have a clamping ring but are more like a split wheel.

My JT has 37's and I had a shop balance them like I would any tire. This is my daily driver. My JK is used rock crawling and I use balancing beads with 40's, 12 oz. per tire as recommended by the bead manufacturer. Both Jeeps drive just fine at highway speeds. I recommend you follow the instructions and bead weight listed by the specific bead manufacturer you use. I have used beads for about 20 years in my rock crawlers for convenience since I mount my own tires on the beadlocks and ruin tires more often than in my JT. I have had best luck with an off road shop balancing my JT tires mainly due to size and weight of the tire and wheel and they are familiar with the different rigs.

 

[WILDHOBO]

You will still need a way to unseat the inner bead when you get new tires. You may need to use a tire shop for that one.

There’s got to be a method for that. Not that I know what it is yet.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I currently have 2 sets of beadlocks, both are Hutchinson. I have had Allied in the past. I support the anti-seize for the clamping ring if the clamping bolts are many and small. Some break very easily if you exceed the torque spec. My current beadlocks do not have a clamping ring but are more like a split wheel.

My JT has 37's and I had a shop balance them like I would any tire. This is my daily driver. My JK is used rock crawling and I use balancing beads with 40's, 12 oz. per tire as recommended by the bead manufacturer. Both Jeeps drive just fine at highway speeds. I recommend you follow the instructions and bead weight listed by the specific bead manufacturer you use. I have used beads for about 20 years in my rock crawlers for convenience since I mount my own tires on the beadlocks and ruin tires more often than in my JT. I have had best luck with an off road shop balancing my JT tires mainly due to size and weight of the tire and wheel and they are familiar with the different rigs.

Thanks. I know someone who does Offroad racing as a career. He’s the one that recommended the battle born wheels I picked up. I love that they’re as light as the nomads I’m replacing. I’ve got an idea of someone that might do it.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

There’s got to be a method for that. Not that I know what it is yet.

Harbor freight has a tire changer tool but not sure of how high quality it is. The arms going down to the bead breaker look kinda chincy. There are others out there if you’re a surgeon with a tractor I’ve seen people do it like that as well.

 

[Svenable]

XB-550i HD Bead Breaker MADE-IN-USA for Tractor/OTR/Commercial/Industrial Tires
I've been using this for several years. Simple and works great.

 

[Free2roam]

.02¢ ditch those and buy a set of Icon Rebound pros. DOT certified too.

 

[GI Grandpa]

So I’m switching to Beadlocks. It’s not my daily driver, but it will see road travel. I’ll definitely use thread locker on the bolts, and I’ll check them super often. The wheels are Battle Born Sierras. They’re lightly used, but I purchased all new bolts from Battle Born.

My question is about balancing. I’m not a bead fan, not that I’ve used them. So I’ll try to have an open mind if that’s the best option. I’m mounting them myself, and do my own rotations. Do people take them to tire shops to have weights put on? Is balancing just ignored? From those of you with extensive headlock experience, please let me know how to handle this. Thanks.

I have been running Raceline Rock Monster Beadlocks for years on my TJ. First with 37s and now with 40" Cooper SST Pros that were mounted and balanced at my local 4x4 shop that I always use and I have never had a problem. I also drive the TJ all over. Colorado, Utah to the Rubicon and back, everywhere, it's not a trailer queen. On I70 going to Moab it will run 80mph with no vibration.

 

[Jteakus]

This is what I use. Picked it up at an auction for almost nothing. Same one I used in high school when I worked at the local tire and auto shop. Handy as a shirt pocket.

 

[Jteakus]

Or you can pull the ring off and have tire shop pop bottom bead, shouldn't be more than $25 for all four. Worry about that later when you need your next set of tires.
Post up when you are ready to mount, I will share tricks.

 

[rharr]

This https://www.vevor.com/other-c_11229...A38EgF6F0KVOBQVbQwLSvonGsNnJ5HLBoCWHQQAvD_BwE

Or this to break the bead
https://manual-bead-breaker.beadbus...jPD9NBmPea9fc3fHJjnZ8rMG84MGWM8RoCYOwQAvD_BwE

 

[RudeJeepin]

There’s got to be a method for that. Not that I know what it is yet.

A HiLift jack would do it. Or this...

There are slide hammer styled ones also.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Harbor freight has a tire changer tool but not sure of how high quality it is. The arms going down to the bead breaker look kinda chincy. There are others out there if you’re a surgeon with a tractor I’ve seen people do it like that as well.

What’s the tractor method? I have a small kubota.

 

[WILDHOBO]

.02¢ ditch those and buy a set of Icon Rebound pros. DOT certified too.

Those are I’m sure amazing wheels. I got these on a recommendation from someone that has done KOTH like 8 times professionally. I don’t think I’ll be disappointed.

Sponsored