Are BeadLock rims street legal?

[JohnJohn]

This may be a dumb question but, are BeadLock rims street legal?

 

[JohnJohn]

Never mind. I found my answer. I should have searched first. Sorry.

 

[Tgure]

Yes they are unless where you live has specifically written a law to make them illegal. ;D

 

[SaddleUp]

This question has been raised many times and so far no one has been able to come up with any laws that conclusively state that they are not legal. I personally don't know anyone that has ever received a ticket for having them including myself although mine have only been on for a couple of months.

 

[wildbill]

They must be DOT approved and then there legal. Bill %)

 

[SaddleUp]

They must be DOT approved and then there legal. Bill %)

And where does it say they need to be DOT approved to be legal?

 

[asmith140]

most states that have a saftey inspection program require dot approved wheels. It's a non stock item and must meet o.e. specs.
ART

 

[Projp]

Set back and relax, here we go again

 

[BUCKETOBOLTS]

You can still find logging trucks or dump trucks with old split rims on them. So why is a bead lock not legal? :-X


Just adding a little fuel to the fire...

 

[Broncoholics]

You will not find one law in any state that says that beadlocks are illegal to run on the street. And, just because they are beadlocks doesn't mean they don't have a DOT stamp on the wheel. I ran Centerline Hellcats that were DOT approved. They were sent to Champion who beadlocked them. But, they still have a DOT stamp on each wheel. ;D ;D %)

 

[ElJefe]

You can still find logging trucks or dump trucks with old split rims on them.

Oye vey... every time...

I have an 67 International Travelall in my driveway that still has the original 16.5" split rims on it. And they are DOT approved. Just like the split rims that are on the logging trucks and dump trucks... DOT approved. Why are they DOT approved... because the companies that manufactured them spent the money to have them tested to prove that they meet DOT specs for OTR use.

Why do most beadlocks NOT have a DOT approval stamp in the wheel... because the companies that manufactured them wont spend the money to test them. And the after market beadlock conversions... do you think Centerline is going to stand in your defense if one beadlock welds fails and you run over a kid crossing the street. Hell no. Does this matter... who knows. Are they as strong as standard wheels... possibly. Are they as safe as standard wheels... possibly. But we don't know because they haven't been tested.

As far as legality goes... who cares. You should be far more concerned about liability. Why do they ALL come with disclaimers stating that they are for offroad use only... ask your lawyer. What happens if you get in an accident and one of your fancy super duper ultra strength beadlock wheels fails, even as a result of the accident, not the cause of the accident... you get a huge target painted on you by every one elses insurance company and spend the rest of your life working for someone else because you knowingly put parts on your truck that where strictly prohibited on a vehicle driven on public roads from the manufacturer. Parts that are considered so important to safety that they carry their OWN approval from the DOT. And in this situation I guarantee that you WILL be guilty until you prove yourself innocent... which may be difficult when the manufacturer is testifying for the prosecution.

In today's society of sue happy bastards trying to get ahead on your dime, where a coffee scalded crotch is worth $1,000,000, do you really want to take the chance.

 

[SaddleUp]

Oye vey... every time...
Why are they DOT approved... because the companies that manufactured them spent the money to have them tested to prove that they meet DOT specs for OTR use.

Wrong. The DOT doesn't test wheels from the manufacturers. All they do is set the standards. Since most beadlocks do not fit into the standards (They simply don't have a set to go by for them) the tire manufacturers do not list them as approved wheels for their tires.
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/571.110.htm

 

[Steve]

They must be DOT approved and then there legal. Bill %)

Nope, not true at all... Other than to say that, I'll stay out of this go-around for this question. BEADLOCKS ARE NOT ILLEGAL!!! %)

 

[ElJefe]

Wrong. The DOT doesn't test wheels from the manufacturers. All they do is set the standards. Since most beadlocks do not fit into the standards (They simply don't have a set to go by for them) the tire manufacturers do not list them as approved wheels for their tires.
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/571.110.htm

I never said that the DOT tested anything... and it's probably in all of our best interest that they don't. I said that the manufacturers have them tested [independently], and they comply with DOT set stanards.

And I couldn't care less about the legality of it, I'm not going to risk putting my future in jeopardy and my family on the street in a negligent liability lawsuit, because I guarantee that you will get 9 out of 10 people have had some sort of incident involving a kid and lifted truck, that would love to stick it to the guy with the obnoxiously loud, lifted truck with all the parts that were never approved for street use, regardless of whose fault it really was. That's the society we live in now, like it or not.

In general... if you tinker with wheels/steering/brakes and have anything that wasn't originally a manufacturer part or has been DOT approved, and god forbid something happens, I hope you have either a really really good lawyer or live close to the mexican border.

 

[Amac70]

im going to hijack for a second any one that refrences the mcdonalds coffee case needs to find out the facts firsts. other then that run your beadlocks if your the first to get a ticket for it im sure everyone in the 4x4 comunity will let you cry on their shoulders.

 

[70bronco]

I found this a while back on a website while looking for beadlocks...I wish I could remember the name of the site. %)

CA law regarding beadlocks

Regarding the legality of conventional bead locks in California, I contacted very helpful Public Affairs Officer Chris Johnson. Now, understanding that the California Vehicle Code book is very big (over 1,600 pages!), and has many changes every year, Officer Johnson did his best, with the help of "Commercial" officers, NITSA and DOT to answer my question:

"Are conventional bead locks against the law?" His qualified answer is, "As best I know, no, conventional bead locks are not illegal."

Officer Johnson and I both are interested in learning more from you. Please call him (714, 567-6000) or me, if you have been cited specifically for bead locks or know the exact facts for someone who has. In defense of both of us, rumors are unacceptable. We need the facts, ma’am, just the facts.

 

[SaddleUp]

I found this a while back on a website while looking for beadlocks...I wish I could remember the name of the site. %)

CA law regarding beadlocks

Regarding the legality of conventional bead locks in California, I contacted very helpful Public Affairs Officer Chris Johnson. Now, understanding that the California Vehicle Code book is very big (over 1,600 pages!), and has many changes every year, Officer Johnson did his best, with the help of "Commercial" officers, NITSA and DOT to answer my question:

"Are conventional bead locks against the law?" His qualified answer is, "As best I know, no, conventional bead locks are not illegal."

Officer Johnson and I both are interested in learning more from you. Please call him (714, 567-6000) or me, if you have been cited specifically for bead locks or know the exact facts for someone who has. In defense of both of us, rumors are unacceptable. We need the facts, ma’am, just the facts.

I recall reading that. If I recall correctly this question had been posed to a few other states as well with similar responses.

 

[68ford]

i was allways told that enything wheel and tire related had to be dot approved, beadlocks are not dot approved so that would tell me they are not legal. in so cal here there alot of tire shops, probably 90 percent that ive been told will not mount or ballance beadlocks, between those 2 things i feel confident saying they are not legal.
just call omf or champion, im sure they will tell you.

 

[Steve]

And I couldn't care less about the legality of it, I'm not going to risk putting my future in jeopardy and my family on the street in a negligent liability lawsuit, because I guarantee that you will get 9 out of 10 people have had some sort of incident involving a kid and lifted truck, that would love to stick it to the guy with the obnoxiously loud, lifted truck with all the parts that were never approved for street use, regardless of whose fault it really was. That's the society we live in now, like it or not.

In general... if you tinker with wheels/steering/brakes and have anything that wasn't originally a manufacturer part or has been DOT approved, and god forbid something happens, I hope you have either a really really good lawyer or live close to the mexican border.

So, from this rant, I assume your Bronco is bone stock; no lift, stock size tires, etc.? If not, what's to keep someone from suing you for that? C'mon man, if you let fear of lawsuits determine what you do, you've already lost. Anyone can sue anyone for anything; running beadlocks, modified steering, etc. does NOTHING to either increase or decrease your chance of being sued. Build your EB correctly, drive safely and HAVE INSURANCE, and don't worry about this BS.

And if for some reason beadlocks are somehow different than other parts, and inherently dangerous enough to cause a crash, please enlighten us instead of keeping it a secret. %)

i was allways told that enything wheel and tire related had to be dot approved, beadlocks are not dot approved so that would tell me they are not legal.

NOOOOOOOOOOOO! There is no law, either state or federal, requiring either tires or wheels to be DOT approved. Unless there's a law against something, it's not illegal. This subject has been beat to a bloody pulp on Pirate, and one vendor has a standing offer of cash for anyone in any state who can find a law making beadlocks on the street illegal; he hasn't paid yet and the offer has been out there for over two years.

BEADLOCKS ARE NOT ILLEGAL ON THE STREET.

 

[david heater]

GJ is right, The shop I believe, is Rockstomper and Scott has done a lot of work trying to find a law code anything that says these are a big NO NO
And lets face it, if California does not have it on the books who would!
other then that I will no shut up