I was thinking of adding beadlocks to my car. My question is...can I add them to my existing wheels. I have heard that you can, but are they durable and good looking. Also, what is the price and are beadlocks worth it?

Sorry about the double post!! I gave me an error, so I did it again without knowing it worked the first time.

Yes, you can add beadlocks to your existing wheels. OMF does a great job and they look very nice also. They usually run $150 - $175 per wheel. While your at it you might think about wheel stiffeners on the back side of the wheels. HUGE difference in strength.

Champion beadlock also does them (Owner of OMF used to work at Champion) they are about $15 dollars per wheel cheaper but you have to ship the wheels there and back.

Thanks for the reply Alan. I live in Phoenix, so wouldn't I have to ship my wheels to OMF too? Do you think it is nessesary to put beadlocks on a light car...around 1400#'s?

If you slide your car alot or drive it aggressively I would definately say that beadlocks are worth it. I've seen a couple of buddies tip over a car by hitting a hole while sliding and popping the tire off the bead.

The looks should just help make your decision even easier.

KG's car is really light and he runs them on the rear. They may cost a lil bit of money but its cheap insurance in my book. $350 could save you from buying new arms, rims, and a new cage Hell, even tires (did you see the pic of the inside out paddle in SS a while back?).

i dont slide alot and im gettin em on my new car on all 4, ive seen the guys at the drags just hit a whop wrong and blow a bead and allmost flip car weight not mattering its worth the little extra cash

And for an extra 50/ wheel you can have the reinforcement rings added to the back of the wheel to protect your investment.

They are worth it...

Here is the web site.
http://www.championwheel.com/
LATER DON~~~

Are there negatives to bead locks?

Air loss?
Maintenance?

I am also thinking about them. Wondering about the practicality.

The day you lose a bead in the middle of a slide or turn - you will wish for them. I know..

As for the weight of the car.. If your hitting whoops, jumps, and love to slide - Id say they are required for any weight.

Defining what you need can be extremely difficult. Beadlock wheels will give a higher level of safety. It's kinda like do you need a 5 point harness, or HID lights, or "X" bracing throughout the cage, etc. I would put a greater consideration as to use and driving style than the actual weight of the car. If you enjoy, or intend to jump a buggy, or run hard pack I would say that beadlocks should be mandatory.

Beadlocks is one additional upgrade of safety for your car. I would say it is an individual thing that needs to be considered for your driving style.

Look at it this way....

You never ponder the expense of booze for your trip to the dunes, whatever it takes is the frame of mind, pure necessity.

Beadlocks should be thought of in the same way. OK, so you run more air pressure to take care of the problem. What if the tire pressure runs low, and you don't notice it until you land sideways, causing the tire to pop off the bead, and the rim digging into the sand and rolling the car. Hit your head on one of the bars just once, and you will wish that you spent the $350 on beadlocks.

Most duners are spending $20,000 and up on their buggies. What is $350 when it's all said and done? Just leave out the XM radio and glow lights!

I can attest to the need for bead locks. Two weeks ago, I rolled a front tire off the rim - twice, both times after 1AM. I have a light car and was running about 15 PSI, but obviously it wasn't enough!

get beadlocks. they are worth the extra money .

Go beadlocks or go home!

What other company make beadlocks

I believe Douglas makes them as well.

Douglas is a pain in the ass to get anything out of anymore.. back ordered for ever..

http://www.omfperformance.com makes alot of rims as well as lots of sizes.

There are others as well. Bogart makes em and there is a place in Santee that can make you custom rims and bead locks for about 100 less then Douglas.

I need a top set of beadlocks

Blatant whoring, wheres my noose!

Hey Chummin, got any more info on the guys making the custom wheels? Were the beadlocks alone $340 or was that for the whole wheel?

Thanks for the great info guys. I think I will go with the beadlocks on the back wheels at least for now. Tatum said they would do it for $350. They can put my wheels in the CNC lathe and do all the machining themselves. That saves me on any shipping costs of other companies.