Beadlock Wheels - illegal on road

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M

Mag

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Location
East Riding of Yorkshire
My mate has had Terrafirma beadlock wheels fitted to his Disco 2 and he's had problems with the bolts shearing. I did some digging about online and it seems that this type of wheel needs to have the bolts torqued up regularly to stop bolts loosening and putting extra strain on the tight bolts which could then shear.
During my searches I saw lots of threads on different forums saying that beadlock wheels are illegal for road use and therefore would invalidate insurance.
Can anyone give me a definitive answer on this?

Thanks.
 
I have designed beadlockers rims that weld onto steel modulars. I haven't experienced during research in the states,,any issues with snapped bolts. Personally it depends on the grade of bolts used.

In terms of legality, there is nothing in the construction and use regs that make these wheels illegal. I am also aware of vehicles going through the mot with these fitted so once again no legal issues.

However it is down to the insurance company as to whether they are being difficult.

With respect to the Terrafirma items, at £1100 quid a set I would expect them to be perfect and up to the job.
 
Just because they have passed an MOT doesn't mean they are legal. They must conform to UK regulations and be E marked to show this, if they do not have an E mark or have not been tested by a regulatory body then they will be illegal. The wheel manufacturer is the only one who will give you a definitive answer
 
Thanks. A further complication is that the wheels (Terrafirma) can be used without the beadlock rings so the wheel itself will be E marked, it's once the rings are fitted that it could be an issue. Would the rings need to be E marked too?
 
I'd just tell your insurance company,and see what they say,

Arnt the wheels more secure if bolts down with beadlocks?
 
This from another site:-

Single Outer Beadlock Rims

Pros
Cheap(ish)
laugh.gif

Easy to get in UK
Sort of pretty much sort out the problem

Cons
Illegal for road use (confirmed with VOSA via 2x chats - breaches C&U regs)
Insurance company refused if fitted any cover
sad.gif
 
warrior said:
I'd just tell your insurance company,and see what they say,

Arnt the wheels more secure if bolts down with beadlocks?
Click to expand...

The practical issue (not the legal one) is that the 40 (ish ?) bolts on each wheel appear to need to be torqued up regularly as they tend to loosen slightly which causes other bolts to shear under additional pressure this causes. If not checked this could cause extremely rapid deflation and the possibility of a bead ring flying off.

I think that appropriate use of threadlock and a weekly check will solve this but it is the legality I'm trying to clarify.

I have contacted Terrafirma and await their response.
 
Are beadlock wheels not aimed at the competition/heavy off road market and not for daily road use. Is it just his toy or main transport aswell?
 
It's his only car and by his own admission he bought these wheels because "they looked good"!
He does some green laning but that's it, money is no object.

Had an answer from terrafirma saying that lots of people have bought them and they don't think they're illegal! Not exactly reassuring as it seems as though single rim bead lockers definitely are.
 
Mag said:
Had an answer from terrafirma saying that lots of people have bought them and they don't think they're illegal! Not exactly reassuring as it seems as though single rim bead lockers definitely are.
Click to expand...

yeah, but they are gonna say that, they want to sell more products.

Terrafirma sales person "thinking" they are not illegal, and being so are two different things.
The insurance company ate the ones who get the last word, if they say no, its no, at least till you find an insurer who will accept them.
 
He hasn't reached the point where he "needs" beadlock wheels at all; he occasional does some greenlaning.
He likes the look of the wheels and that's it. As for his Mud Terrains - as I said before money is no problem for him.
The only issue that is in any way relevant IS the legal side.
 
Mag said:
He hasn't reached the point where he "needs" beadlock wheels at all; he occasional does some greenlaning.
He likes the look of the wheels and that's it. As for his Mud Terrains - as I said before money is no problem for him.
The only issue that is in any way relevant IS the legal side.
Click to expand...

Oh I see. Well in that case, and I may be completely missing the point here, but why not just take them off? Sell them to someone else (and the legal headache that goes with it) and fit some nice modulars? In fact, I'm sure I remember seeing some where some one had welded plates in to the wheel to look like beadlocks, but the tyre is fitted as normal.
 
warrior said:
Are double beadlock wheel illegal then?
Click to expand...

Apparently not.

Dan_Trials said:
Oh I see. Well in that case, and I may be completely missing the point here, but why not just take them off? Sell them to someone else (and the legal headache that goes with it) and fit some nice modulars?
Click to expand...

You'll love this.... it came with standard alloys which were immaculate, he changed them for black steel modulars then, because I had fitted black Zu's to my Defender, he wanted some of those. The 4x4 place he went to told him that they don't make Zu alloys to fit a Discovery 2 (I know they do) and pointed him at the Terrafirma Beadlock wheels for approx £1k. He has decided to get rid of those now and get some black Zu's.

Those will be this truck's fourth set of wheels within 12 months. He's not an idiot by any means (in fact he's a total diamond) but he's easily led!
 
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