14 fastlane
techtorque
BEAD LOCKS
Typically, bead lock devices are used
on high horsepower cars with funny
car tyres, although they’ve come into
vogue on high horsepower DOT (tyre)
racecars. The clamping ring on a bead
lock along with the nuts and bolts
increase the weight of the wheel,
which in turn, increases unsprung
and rotational weight. The point is
bead locks add reinforcement to the
extremely soft sidewalls found on
several different applications.
According to Mickey Thompson Tyres:
“Mickey Thompson recommends that
wheel widths should not exceed 1”
wider than the tread width. If you
elect to use rim widths 1-2” wider than
the tyres tread width, M/T strongly
suggests increasing the number of
rim screws to 16 per side or beadlocks.
Beadlocks only are recommended on
any wheel widths that exceed 2” wider
than the tyre tread width or if speeds
exceed 200 MPH. Some M/T tyres have
“Beadlocks Recommended” stamped
on the sidewall of the tyre.”
M/T goes on to state: “If continued
or excessive (more than ½” to 1”
per run) wheel/slip is experienced,
Mickey Thompson recommends the
use of “Beadlock” wheels for ET
Street Radials. Bead screws are not
recommended and could lead to tyre
failure and or damage.”
Circle track cars have used
bead locks such as this for
years. Summit offers all sorts of
examples in the online catalog.
Of course, you can also purchase
wheels already setup for bead
locks (and that includes drag
cars). They all have one thing in
common: The bead lock safely
secures the tyre bead to the rim.
and tyre surface with acetone. The
cleaner the surface, the better the
bond. Apply the glue and wait for it
to tack up before setting the bead
on the rim. Brake cleaner will work
to clean up the excess residue on the
outside of the wheel and the tyre.
When mounting the tyre (tubeless),
it’s still a good idea to apply soap
to the inside of the tyre to seal the
sidewall. What about tubes? High
Tack still works. But in this case,
simply appliy a light dust of talcom
powder of the inside of the tyre
before installing the tube.
The tried and true method of
physically screwing the tyre
bead to the wheel rim has
been around for decades.
These Moroso tyre screws
(part number 90100) out of the
Summit catalog are designed
specifically for the job. See the
text for info.
You’ll find bead locks on
everything from Top Fuel
cars through Pro Stock
on down to drag radial
combinations. According to
Mickey Thompson, for drag
radials, when the wheel width
is 2-inches wider than the tyre
width, you need a bead lock
Finally, a tyre that has been glued
on the wheel rim can be dismounted
just as easily as one that hasn’t been
glued. While the High Tack prevents
the tyre from rotating on the rim,
it won’t stop a tyre machine from
breaking the bead. When remounting,
just be sure to clean up the tyre and
the rim (once again, acetone or brake
cleaner cleans it).
SOURCES
Turn, Turn, Turn
Jerry Bickel Race Cars, Inc.
141 Raceway Park Drive
Moscow Mills, MO 63362
Phone: 636-356-4727
Mickey Thompson Tyres
4600 Prosper Drive
Stow, OH 44224-1038
Phone 330-928-9092
The downside to bead locks
is the fact they add mass to
the wheel. You can’t get away
without them on something
like a Fuel car, but for a lower
horsepower sportsman car
there are other options.
GLUE
Another option that has gained in
popularity is the use of glue t