Beadlock vs regular wheels - weight diff noticeable?

[Emanon]

I'm looking at Method 705s atm, and according to Method they're 25lbs. About 12lbs lighter than OE beadlock capable and with that much weight reduction there has to be a seat of the pants difference.

Along with less wear on those fancy Fox shocks ya?

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[Lion77]

If you have OEM alloys, probably not enough to notice, but going from OE bead locks to either 705's or 703's is quite noticeable. I'm the first on this forum to use 705's on a RR, lots of people have used the 703's, but personally I like the 705's aesthetics better and they are a tad light in weight than the 703's (~3lbs).

As stated, the 709 HD's are also pretty heavy, not really going to notice much difference between those and the OEM bead locks, in which case I personally would have just stayed OEM unless you really need the bead grip and like their look (they are good looking wheels). The bead grip juice alone might be worth the squeeze for trail rates who don't want to mess with actual locking rings / regular maintenance, but that's my opinion.

Of all the wheels on the market, the 705's offered me the best balance of all attributes I was looking for:

1. Low Weight with a minimum of 29 lbs or less.

2. Bead grip or something similar (KMC and a few others have their versions of it on a few wheels).

3. Off set no great than +30mm with a preference of being as close to the stock +55mm as possible.

4. Spoke design / aesthetics that I personally feel match the truck's modern "boxy-industrial" look. The RR is a relatively squared looking truck with moderately rounded corners and variety mild angles / sloping panels, so the trapezoidal spoke cutouts with rounded corners on the 705's I feel really complements the body style.

I would imagine the lighter wheels would help with SOME elements of shock longevity, particularly rebound, since there is less mass for the rebound bottom out control (i.e., when the shock decompresses with no load when your airborne, taking the full force of the spring) to manage if you jump the truck, aside from that, I doubt it will make much difference on the shocks themselves since they are still managing the entire sprung mass of the truck which is around 5,200 lbs + cargo (passengers, gear etc.).

 

[got3fords]

I am looking at a shelter green RR with beadlocks. After reading this thread, I was wondering if asking for non-beadlocks would be an option, and possibly save a few bucks. If so, what wheel would the dealer tend to put on?

 

[Kenbike]

I'll find out in about a week.......I'm not super keen on the looks of the beadlock capable OEM wheels so I found a set of 4 OEM regular Ranger Raptor wheels in "pristine" condition (we'll see! they are supposedly take offs with only 100 miles on them) on Ebay for $800.....(almost $900 with tax and shipping). Santa Ana wheel here in Orange County, CA has used ones for $250ish each but some have minor curb rash and light scratches which I don't want......and the local stellership wants $3,900 for a set of 4 new.........

trying to save a little weight while "improving" the looks of my truck......I'll keep the OEM beadlocks for now.......

and I have Falken Wildpeaks A/T 4W as I burned through the KO3's at 8,000 miles......my truck is tuned so the back tires where toast!...LOL

the Falken Wildpeaks A/T 4W weigh 53 lbs according to Tire Rack (285 / 70 R17 116T SL BSW)

and the KO3s weigh 56 lbs according to Tire Rack (LT285/70R17 116/113S load range C)

I'm hoping I notice a little difference......both in acceleration/braking and mpg!...I'm getting 10-11 mpg right now......but I drive it like I stole it!...LOL

I plan on taking a scale with me when I swap out the rims and weigh the existing set-up versus the new set-up.....I'll see how much weight saving I'm getting

DId you get the other wheels installed and how has it effected the truck?

 

[dolsen]

I am looking at a shelter green RR with beadlocks. After reading this thread, I was wondering if asking for non-beadlocks would be an option, and possibly save a few bucks. If so, what wheel would the dealer tend to put on?

I changed the bead lock capable wheels for the ford performance 17” wheels that come standard on the RR. It cost me $620 shipped to my door through tire rack

 

[got3fords]

I changed the bead lock capable wheels for the ford performance 17” wheels that come standard on the RR. It cost me $620 shipped to my door through tire rack

That's not all that bad. Good option.

 

[dolsen]

That's not all that bad. Good option.

Yea it’s something like 9-10 lbs less per wheel. I also just don’t like the look of those wheels. Quick crappy photo but you can see the wheels I’m talking about

 

[got3fords]

Yea it’s something like 9-10 lbs less per wheel. I also just don’t like the look of those wheels. Quick crappy photo but you can see the wheels I’m talking about

I agree, they look better. I wonder if they could just swap with my 5G wheels and save me $1500. Did you get black lug nuts?

 

[dolsen]

The black lug nuts can with the wheels

 

[JackpotRR]

DId you get the other wheels installed and how has it effected the truck?

The sleazebag that had the non-beadlock wheels for sale on ebay sold them 6 months ago......he messaged me back telling me this after I messaged him asking when they would ship......anyway....this scammer never replied after that and I had to get ebay involved and they refunded my money today!

I ended up buying these: https://www.ebay.com/itm/325444194643
they are Roush R wheels and fit like a glove with a +25 offset......so they're about 3/4" out further but I don't really notice but it does look better IMO! and I do have a 2" "level/lift" spacer lift in the front from here: https://fordrangerlifts.com/shop/ols/products/xn-2024-ranger-raptor-2-level-lift-eb2t-5348cc

that's actually my truck after the lift was installed as I sent him the after pics...

Yes I notice a difference.....the OEM beadlock wheels are heavy!....36-37 lbs I think....compared to 31.5 lbs for the Roush R wheels......It feels more "peppy".....like I can spin the wheels from a stop easier......but it's also tuned with the Ford Performance tune.....braking seems more "confident" as well......and they seem to have balanced better as it rides smoother with the exact same air pressure......

I'm happy I made the switch!........looks more "updated" and I like the different look then all the broncos and regular Raptors that have OEM beadlock wheels.......

Only complaint.....they look a bit Bronze in certain light......bit with enough grey that it ties in with the graphics grey tones...

 

[RaptorME]

I have those on my Marsh Gray and they do have almost a bronze tinge to them but that works well with the color of my truck.

 

[got3fords]

The sleazebag that had the non-beadlock wheels for sale on ebay sold them 6 months ago......he messaged me back telling me this after I messaged him asking when they would ship......anyway....this scammer never replied after that and I had to get ebay involved and they refunded my money today!

I ended up buying these: https://www.ebay.com/itm/325444194643
they are Roush R wheels and fit like a glove with a +25 offset......so they're about 3/4" out further but I don't really notice but it does look better IMO! and I do have a 2" "level/lift" spacer lift in the front from here: https://fordrangerlifts.com/shop/ols/products/xn-2024-ranger-raptor-2-level-lift-eb2t-5348cc

that's actually my truck after the lift was installed as I sent him the after pics...

Yes I notice a difference.....the OEM beadlock wheels are heavy!....36-37 lbs I think....compared to 31.5 lbs for the Roush R wheels......It feels more "peppy".....like I can spin the wheels from a stop easier......but it's also tuned with the Ford Performance tune.....braking seems more "confident" as well......and they seem to have balanced better as it rides smoother with the exact same air pressure......

I'm happy I made the switch!........looks more "updated" and I like the different look then all the broncos and regular Raptors that have OEM beadlock wheels.......

Only complaint.....they look a bit Bronze in certain light......bit with enough grey that it ties in with the graphics grey tones...

They look good!

 

[JackpotRR]

They look good!

thanks! The OEM beadlocks just look "blah" to me IMO......plus you see them on every fullsize Raptor and Bronco in my area......my truck came with them and I really wanted the regular RR wheels instead......but after looking online and on Ebay I realized they were just too pricey to justify the switch.......and I also blame this forum for pushing me into wanting lighter rims!....I blame all of you!!...LMAO!!......and I guess I thank to thank this forum for helping me find the Roush R wheels as well!........I thought about listing the OEM beadlocks on here but they were kinda beat-up a little bit with curb rash......I sold them to Santa Ana wheel for $125 each.......they have some similar listed for $250 each.......I didn't want to dealer with shipping and meeting a bunch of lookylous!......

 

[got3fords]

thanks! The OEM beadlocks just look "blah" to me IMO......plus you see them on every fullsize Raptor and Bronco in my area......my truck came with them and I really wanted the regular RR wheels instead......but after looking online and on Ebay I realized they were just too pricey to justify the switch.......and I also blame this forum for pushing me into wanting lighter rims!....I blame all of you!!...LMAO!!......and I guess I thank to thank this forum for helping me find the Roush R wheels as well!........I thought about listing the OEM beadlocks on here but they were kinda beat-up a little bit with curb rash......I sold them to Santa Ana wheel for $125 each.......they have some similar listed for $250 each.......I didn't want to dealer with shipping and meeting a bunch of lookylous!......

Yeah, I'm am not a huge fan of the beadlock compatibles either. Especially since they weigh so much more.

 

[Lion77]

I like my 705s way better than the OE beadlocks it originally came with. 25.2lbs per wheel + beadgrip + asthetics vs. 36lbs per wheel, not dot legal if configured as true beadlock + another 1k in rings + regular maintenance + even more weight...you get the idea.

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