We have spoken to several police and traffic police officers across the country to look for a precise answer to the law that was broken during the execution of pearl locks, but non-compliance is the next explanation we heard. Away from the plate, of course. So why don`t they stick to it? We recently had a Nissan Patrol GU that came to our store. It rests on Mark`s 4×4 gantry axles and drives 315 tires, but everything is legal and has been modified for these modifications. Anyway, everything is settled on my side and it was quite simple, but for the client, it was a pretty annoying situation when he paid about $35,000 to make it legal. Most of these problems are avoided through regular maintenance and an understanding of the impact that modifications can have on your vehicle, but this will not mitigate the legal effects of using these wheels. In the next few pages, we`ll focus on beadlock wheels – the pros and cons, the situations they can get you out of and, most importantly, what it means to get caught running – the good, the bad, the ugly. I take my hat off to those who spend a lot of money to make sure their changes are legal. He had fitted rims that he had been told were ADR approved, but when we checked them, we could not confirm the correct markings on them, so the customer will equip his old rims with a good set of tires that will be perfect. There are a few theories, but most of them can be debunked by looking at other approved wheels. One theory is that the tire is mechanically connected to the wheel, which puts extra pressure on the sidewall of the tire, although the Hummer H1s are legally sold here with an internal beaded lock that does just that. The only real difference is the way the tire physically seals; In an inner pearl lock, such as a Hummer H1, the tire still seals on its outer edge, with an inner part reinforcing a typical pearl, but an outer beaded lock sealing on the inner edge of the bead (where it was not designed for sealing) with an outer part that reinforces the outer edge.

Simply put, the wheel works differently than tire manufacturers and the government thinks a wheel should work. Another problem is the multi-part construction of a pearl lock, which creates potential points of failure, although multi-part tram wheels and split rims are legal on the road, and these can have the same problems. If a sharp steering input on a non-beaded wheel can pull the tire cord off the wheel, a bead lock will hold it in place. This advantage also extends to difficult driving at low speeds. Think about the shock absorber load a tire is exposed to when it slides and clings to a rocky outcrop, and you`re well on your way to understanding the benefits of a pearl-locking wheel. In Australia, laws tend to be approved rather than rejected. Beadlock wheels have simply not been approved, nor do they meet the standards that have already been approved, so they cannot be used legally by default and therefore the exploitation is illegal. A manufacturer could challenge ADRs, but would it sell enough bead-locking wheels to cover the cost of redefining standards? And would it really make a difference for people who already choose to run the glove for better off-road performance? Probably not. There is no free lunch, and pearl wheels are no different. While they may seem like a miracle cure that will solve your tire pressure problems, the reality is that there are many drawbacks. Before we get into the gist of why bead locks help off-road, it`s important to go over the basics of why we want lower tire pressure.

Finally, while you`re undoubtedly a grumpy outback adventurer with red dirt running through your veins, we all need to start somewhere, and many seasoned veterans don`t understand what it actually means to make your «bag-out» tires and why it`s the secret sauce for a great day on the slopes. So turn your wheel nuts and lock your hubs, ladies and gentlemen. It`s time for beading. The client likes to test their skills on challenging off-road tracks. To his credit, he did everything legally, but it seems that it didn`t really help. If you`re asked to get pearl locks, you`ll likely face an injury notice stating that «the light vehicle doesn`t meet the standard,» as well as a few demerit points for your problems and a $112 fine. Attaching beaded locks for off-road use is all well and good, but if you`re doing hot laps on Chapel Street in your sandy Mole 79 and the local police turn on their blue and red party lights, what are you really being beaten up for? And that`s the part that hurts.