Beadlock wheels are a specialized item for off-road truck enthusiasts. Designed for heavy wilderness terrain, beadlock wheels are protective devices that are used to prevent the tire bead separating from the rim. Normal road tires rely on air pressure to keep the beads attached to the wheel. For particularly treacherous conditions, some drivers will deflate their tires below recommended tire pressure minimums to increase the diameter of the tread that comes in contact with the terrain. Letting that much air out of the tire could lead to bead separation and the tire sliding off of the wheel. Beadlock wheels basically lock the tire tread to the wheel to prevent this from happening.
Cut away the outer rim from the steel wheels with a lathe or plasma cutter. Follow along the outer groove of the bead as close as possible.
Use the grinder to flatten the edge evenly before you begin to weld the beadlock ring to the newly shorn wheel.
Measure the inner rim to make sure that the bead will fit squarely to the inner beadlock ring. Make sure that the two fit parallel and remain even all the way around.
Measure the circumference of the wheel at the rim to check if the ring is centered and sits flush on the wheel.
Tack weld a couple of spots on the rim and check all measurements to make sure everything is still snugly set in place. If so, weld the ring to the wheel. To ensure there are no air holes, use the silicone to seal the weld shut.
Clean and paint the wheel.
Mount the tire to the new wheel and center it on the inner beadlock rim. Attach the outer beadlock rim over the tire.
Slide bolts into the beadlock to secure the inner and outer rims to each other. Attach the hardware bolts for the beadlock rims and tighten them shut together, locking the tire bead.
Fill the tire with air and check for any leaks.
