Ford Performance functional beadlock rings finally installed!

[Raffi5593]

You can remove the factory beauty rings off of the beadlock capable wheels and run the wheels without them.

It would probably be advisable to have the tire balance checked without the beauty rings installed to make sure the balance is ok. If the balance is off, they can rebalance them while checking them.

Sounds good, one day ill get spacers and remove the rings at the same time then have it balanced after.

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[RacerX]

May I ask how are they fitted on the OEM Raptor Wheels? I see the number of bolts on the OEM beauty rings and the number on the Ford Bead Locks. Never fitted them before, so I’m not aware of their mounting procedure or install.

 

[Hawkpilot10]

Are they street legal in any states?

 

[Blue Ridge Raptor]

Are they street legal in any states?

This would be my concern too.
FWIW, none of the trucks at the Raptor Assault ran beadlocks - although in retrospect the trails weren’t that harsh.
i think the truck looks great with any of the OEM options, functional or non-functional beadlocks.

 

[telenerd]

Looks good. I was thinking about doing those for my Bronco. My raptor I just plan on running the stock rims for now. I regularly take my Bronco and Raptor off-road and have no problems with 12-15psi for the dunes and off-road in the stock rims. The beadlocks would allow me to go down to single digits which would be nice for rock crawlin.

The silver rings you got are also great at hiding rock rash when you start to get on more serious trails. I was never a fan of the painted rings for this reason.

 

[RANGER/HOBB]

Are they street legal in any states?

No there are some states that don’t allow them on the road.

 

[RANGER/HOBB]

Thank you for taking the time to post this.

 

[Badclam]

Are they street legal in any states?

They are not DOT approved for street use. So no. Not illegal as much as not approved. There are so many wheels that are not true bead-locks, that are made to look like real bead-locks, I don't know how you'd get caught? I've never heard of anybody being cited for running them on the street? I've run them on and off road for years because I live on the coast, and ditch to the dunes on the way home from work all the time. I have a portable ARB compressor to air back up for the road.

 

[Hawkpilot10]

Hutchinson Bead lock rims are only DOT Aprroved rims.

https://www.hutchinsoninc.com/rock-monster-internal-double-beadlock-system/beadlock-technology/

 

[stovall977]

They look very cool, I assume you plan on airing way down for deep sand? What pressure do you plan to use? Do you plan to do routine maintenance by completely removing the rings regularly to keep them from freezing in place from beach salt corrosion? Did you install stem extensions?

My local Discount Trie store really doesn’t like true beadlocks , I had them mount snow tires on my BLC wheels (with the decorative trim rings removed) and they actually asked about them. Here is mine with no rings at all, the look is very similar to yours. I did not bother to paint the circumference where the rings were, these wheels will get beat up if I install chains….

Thanks.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

Love the GFC topper! How do you like it?

 

[Lion77]

There are a few advantages to having the factory bead lockers even if you don't need to air down below 20 PSI with the rings installed, which is why I wanted them: 1. FORGED. The factory bead lock is machined from a forged billet blank, just like AR-15 receivers, Forged Mil spec is more impact, wear and stress resistant than standard billet blanks (or forged alloys on high performance cars, which I had on my 2016 GT).

If you do run the truck hard, I think your less like to seriously damage a wheel on impact or bend one if you slide into something, come down hard from a jump or hit a big rut / rock unexpectedly. Sure, the tires are large diameter and should absorb a lot, but having that forged wheel isn't going to hurt even if you don't use the actual bead lock function.

Plus, you can get a bit creative and take the beauty rings off, have them cera-coted (ceramic paint) in a color of your choice to add some cheap but nice looking "bling". I plan to do Metallic Dark Bronze for mine as I think the darker metallic bronze would look good with the black wheel and shelter green paint.

The other nice thing is that the beauty rings add a nice "rim protector" that's disposable. Replacing a scraped-up plastic beauty ring is a lot cheaper and easier to do than repainting a rock-rashed wheel (well unless you really hit it hard it may damage the spokes, but the tire and beauty ring provide a lot of protection) kind like high performance car tires have a "rim protector" which is extra rubber around the bead that sticks out past the edge of the wheel.

Just my opinion, but if you're in the market still, I think the bead lockers have a lot of merit for the slight increase in cost for those reasons besides actually using the bead lock function. Plus, if you ever change your mind and decide you DO want the bead lock function, it's a LOT cheaper to buy the rings for $900 and rebalance the tire / wheel than spend 3k on new wheels, shipping and mounting / balancing.

 

[stovall977]

Agreed. The simulated beadlock ring "beauty ring" that comes on the forged beadlock capable wheels is not plastic though..

 

[Lion77]

What's it's made of? I assumed it was an ABS or glass reinforced nylon. Seems to be made of some common polymer. Maybe lexan?

 

[stovall977]

What's it's made of? I assumed it was an ABS or glass reinforced nylon. Seems to be made of some common polymer. Maybe lexan?

It’s either cast aluminum or steel. I believe steel. They’re heavy!

 

[Catalyst]

They are aluminum.

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