Beadlock Wheel Installation & Care Guide.
RVP Supply Technical Series · Wheel Care 01
Beadlock Wheel Installation & Care Guide
Correct bead placement, dry-thread ring torque, leak checks, and service intervals for RVP beadlock wheels.
Read before installation
Beadlock assembly is not the same as mounting a conventional wheel. If you are not experienced with beadlock wheels, tire mounting equipment, or calibrated torque tools, have the work completed by a qualified professional.
Confirm the combination before mounting.
Wheel size, offset, brake clearance, suspension clearance, tire construction, and intended use all matter. Verify the complete package before mounting a tire or driving the vehicle.
01 / Wheel fitment
Check size and offset
Confirm wheel diameter, width, bolt pattern, offset, hub fitment, and brake clearance for the exact vehicle.
02 / Tire approval
Use the correct tire
The tire must be approved by its manufacturer for the wheel size, vehicle load, speed, driving conditions, and intended street or track use.
03 / Clearance
Account for modifications
Certain combinations can require shorter sway-bar end links, careful brake-line repositioning, or a complete brake conversion.
Street use requires a street-approved tire.
RVP beadlock wheels are approved for street use when paired with the correct tire. A tire marked or designated for racing, drag-strip, off-road, or other limited use must only be used in the conditions approved by its manufacturer. The purchaser and installer are responsible for selecting the correct tire and operating it within its ratings and restrictions. RVP Supply is not responsible for damage or loss caused by an incorrect tire, improper installation, or use in conditions the tire manufacturer does not approve.
The outer bead belongs under the ring.
The inner tire bead seats conventionally. The outer bead does not. It must lie on the wheel’s outer beadlock mounting ledge so the beadlock ring can clamp it against the wheel.
Outer bead pushed into the conventional bead seat
This is a common tire-shop error: both beads are mounted as if the wheel were conventional, leaving the beadlock ring unable to clamp the outer bead as designed.
Outer bead flat on the beadlock ledge
The outer bead sits evenly in the wheel’s beadlock groove or mounting ledge. The ring is centered over it and clamps the bead evenly around the full circumference.
Mount carefully. Clamp evenly.
Use proper tire-mounting equipment, tire-approved mounting lubricant, an accurate pressure gauge, the correct socket, and a calibrated torque wrench. Do not use an impact gun to tighten beadlock ring bolts.
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Verify fitment and tire compatibility
Confirm the exact wheel-and-tire combination, intended use, clearances, and any vehicle modifications before beginning.
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Inspect and clean every mating surface
Inspect the wheel, ring, tire beads, and fasteners for damage. Clean the beadlock ledge and ring contact surface. Do not assemble damaged, contaminated, or mismatched parts.
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Mount the inner bead normally
Install the tire’s inner bead over the wheel and seat it using proper mounting practices and tire-approved bead lubricant.
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Place the outer bead on the beadlock ledge
Leave the outer bead outside the conventional bead seat. Position it flat and evenly on the outer beadlock ledge or groove around the entire wheel.
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Center the ring and hand-start every bolt
Place the ring evenly over the bead. Start all bolts by hand several turns to prevent cross-threading. Never use the bolts to force a badly positioned bead into place.
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Tighten incrementally in a star pattern
Cross from one side of the ring to the opposite side and bring the bolts up gradually. There is no required number of passes; continue incremental passes until all bolts reach the final dry-thread torque.
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Verify every ring bolt
Make one complete final check with a calibrated torque wrench at 19–20 ft-lb on clean, dry threads. The ring should remain even and parallel to the wheel.
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Inflate, inspect, and leak-check
Inflate only within the tire and wheel manufacturers’ approved limits. Confirm both beads and the ring remain evenly seated, then check the bead, ring, and valve stem with soapy-water leak solution.
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Install the wheel on the vehicle
Torque the vehicle’s lug nuts to the vehicle manufacturer’s specification. The beadlock ring torque is not the lug-nut torque specification.
Use the dry specification.
Correct torque is what produces controlled clamping force. More torque is not better and should never be used to pull an uneven ring flush.
228–240 in-lb · approximately 26–27 N·m
Illustrative tightening pattern
Cross the ring, then keep crossing.
Move to an opposite bolt instead of tightening continuously around the ring. Bolt count varies by wheel; the numbers below illustrate the cross-wheel method, not a required sequence.
Work up gradually. Do not take one loose bolt directly to final torque while the others remain loose.
The 19–20 ft-lb specification above is for clean, dry threads. If anti-seize is applied, do not automatically use the dry-thread value; obtain the correct adjusted specification for the exact fastener and lubricant before tightening.
Ring gap
Even matters more than flush
Tire-bead thickness can leave a visible gap between the ring and wheel. The gap should be reasonably even; do not exceed 20 ft-lb trying to eliminate it.
Replacement hardware
Do not guess the bolt size
Use the supplied ring bolts. Contact RVP Supply for exact replacement bolt sizing and specifications before substituting hardware.
Monitor the wheel after installation.
A beadlock assembly should be treated as a serviceable system. Pressure trends, ring condition, and bolt torque should be checked regularly—especially after initial installation and track use.
- First few days: run pressure toward the higher end of the tire manufacturer’s approved operating range to help confirm the assembly is holding air. Never exceed the tire or wheel pressure limit.
- After pressure is stable: set pressure according to the tire manufacturer, vehicle, load, and intended use. Continue checking it with an accurate gauge.
- Leak check: use soapy-water solution at the outer bead, ring perimeter, and valve stem. Bubbles that continue forming indicate a leak that must be corrected.
- Bead sealer: it may be used when necessary after confirming clean, properly seated, undamaged surfaces. It is not a substitute for correcting poor bead placement, a damaged tire, a damaged ring, or improper assembly.
- Never service under pressure: do not loosen or remove beadlock ring bolts while the tire is inflated. Fully deflate the tire before disassembly or any correction to bead placement.
Verify all ring bolts, the ring gap, bead position, tire pressure, and vehicle lug-nut torque.
Recheck every ring bolt at the dry-thread specification and inspect for pressure loss or any change in ring position.
Verify ring torque before the first pass. If it was not checked beforehand, inspect and re-torque before making another pass. A small tire-to-wheel witness mark can also help reveal tire movement.
Stop using the vehicle as soon as safely possible and inspect immediately. Verify ring torque and locate the leak; if the bead or ring is uneven, fully deflate the tire before service.
Inspect pressure, ring condition, bead position, and fasteners periodically and any time the tire is serviced or the wheel experiences an impact.
Professional help is available.
Some performance tires require more care to mount than a conventional street tire. Difficulty during mounting does not change the correct bead position or justify forcing the assembly together.
Special note for some 17-inch Mickey Thompson tires
Certain 17-inch Mickey Thompson tires can be more difficult to mount and fully seat on a 17-inch wheel. That installation difficulty does not affect performance once the tire is fully and correctly seated. If the bead will not seat correctly, get assistance from a qualified tire professional or refer to the RVP Supply Bead Seating Guide when available. Never exceed pressure limits or use the beadlock bolts to force the tire into place.
RVP Supply mounting service
Complimentary mounting with a complete package.
Mounting is available at no charge when the RVP wheels and tires are purchased together in the same order.
- IncludedTire mounting and standard rubber valve stems
- Not includedBalancing
- Not includedTPMS sensors, transfer, installation, or programming
Balancing is excluded because tire-manufacturer guidance and preferred balancing methods vary, and some tires are specifically marked not to be balanced. Follow the instructions supplied with the exact tire.
Pre-drive checklist.
Complete every item before putting the vehicle into service.
- Correct wheel size, offset, and clearances confirmed
- Tire approved for the wheel, vehicle, load, and intended use
- Inner bead seated conventionally
- Outer bead positioned on the beadlock ledge under the ring
- Ring centered, even, and not visibly distorted
- Every dry ring bolt verified at 19–20 ft-lb
- Bead, ring, and valve stem checked for leaks
- Tire pressure set within approved limits
- Lug nuts torqued to the vehicle manufacturer’s specification
- One-week ring-bolt recheck scheduled
Common questions.
Should the ring sit completely flush against the wheel?
Not necessarily. Tire-bead thickness may leave a visible gap. The ring should look even and parallel; do not exceed 20 ft-lb to force it flush.
Can I use anti-seize on the ring bolts?
Anti-seize is recommended for serviceability but is not required. Because 19–20 ft-lb is a dry-thread value, obtain the correct lubricant-specific torque before tightening lubricated fasteners.
What size are the beadlock ring bolts?
Bolt size can vary. Do not substitute based on appearance or an assumed thread size. Contact RVP Supply for the exact replacement hardware specification for your wheel.
What lug-nut torque should I use?
Follow the vehicle manufacturer’s lug-nut torque specification. The 19–20 ft-lb value applies only to the RVP beadlock ring bolts on clean, dry threads.
Can a beadlock wheel be driven on the street?
RVP beadlock wheels are approved for street use with the correct street-approved tire. The tire must have the correct sizing and load/speed ratings, and it must be used only in conditions approved by its manufacturer. Follow all tire restrictions and applicable local laws.
Is balancing included with complimentary mounting?
No. Complimentary mounting applies only when RVP wheels and tires are purchased together and includes standard rubber valve stems. Balancing and all TPMS services are excluded.