16.5" Weld-on Beadlocks

[johnnywagon]

I have a line on a serious deal on some 16.5" Swampers, but I'm leary on the whole 16.5" safety bead thing. If I buy the tires (38x12.5 SX's) I'll need rims. From what I see I would need a special double weld-on bead lock for the 16.5's???

[earl87gta]

only if you plan on airing down. they dont have the saft beed so they come off easy. you only need to lock the outside bead to be ok. but duble beedlocks are nice and easyer to change tires on. i had recentered hummer wheels on my 72 blazer and loved them. you can get a set of doit your self bead locks for 100 maybe even less.

[Burt4x4]

As much wheeling as you do I would only consider 16.5 with a beadlock of somekind, my offroad performance is sooo much better with 10psi or so.
When I put the 1tons in I had to get new wheels/tires cuz 6lug to 8lug. I researched for the best way and the cost effective way to get beadlocks. everyone kept saying get H1s, get H1s..so I did. Got 5 Humvee wheels..I think they were 50bucks each. Now they come with 7" of backspacing so I decided to buy USA6x6 pressed centers to convert the backspacing down to about 4". Had my buddy plasma cut out the old center and then weld in the new centers from 6x6. I also bought the PVC inserts to take advantage of the Double Beadlock capabilites. You can run thease at 0psi and not loose a tire, not recomending 0 but it could be done.
Anyway my life is kinda upsidedown this year so I have only wheeled ONCE this year and my traction was GREAT.


See the pressed centers(the part of the wheel that has the big holes in it) are welded on the inside.


I realy like the fact I can unbolt the wheel and change the tire myself. One of my tires was accedentally mounted backwards, I just unbolted the ring, seporated the wheel, fliped the tire....WALLLA done.
Anyway the only negative part of doing this porject was work with and waiting for USA6x6 to fofill my order..took like freaking 4months to JUST GET PARTS!!!!! I wasn't even asking them to build me wheels...JUST PARTS
That is my .02c on 16.5" wheels
Burt

[earl87gta]

here i a pic of my recenterd h1 wheels with 44s on them.

[johnnywagon]

Thanks guys.

[earl87gta]

I think Im going to have a set of stazworks wheels made for the burb this time.

[Dieselwrencher]

When I was cruising on this site the other night, I stumbled across this site: http://www.diy4x.com/beadlocks.htm
I don't know if these will work for you but these guys look to have great products and seem to be really reasonably priced.

[bigtruck81]

and dont forget, Kert does CUSTOM locks too!

[earl87gta]

Ya I would like a set with the USMC EGA on them to match my avatar