Stock Beadlocks to lighter wheels

[cleffe]

I've read the beadlocks are 36-37 pounds each. Is this with or without the rings? If you switched from beadlocks to lighter wheels (~24-25lbs) did you notice a big difference? I'm primarily interested in improving the immediate off the line acceleration and braking?

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[Aonarch]

Yes they are about 36-37 lbs with the beauty rings.

You will absolutely feel a difference with 24 lbs wheels if you keep the same tires.

The further out the weight from the center of the circle (hub) the more of an impact. Most of the weight of the stock beadlock capable wheel is by the beauty ring, which means moving to a lighter wheel without all of that weight at the face of the rim, will net a larger difference than a similar looking wheel that is simply lighter all over.

 

[Lion77]

I noticed quite a bit of a difference went going from OEM beadlocks to Method 705's @ 25.2lbs per wheel and I have the Pro Cal tune, so even with 455 HP it's noticeable. Eventually I'm planning on either running 34" tires or maybe going the opposite direction and sticking with 33's and going to Pirelli XTM AT's in stock size that are 3lbs lighter than the factory KO3's to really minimize the rotating mass while keeping the girp-level of the KO3's.

Between the tires and wheels....that's 55lbs less rotating mass! Decisions decisisons, more clerance or more hoonigan? I'm thinking hoonigan / rally build since the XTM's don't come in 34" and they do have much better turn-in than the KO3's (aka much sharper and more precise steering, but similar off-road traction), so on-road steering / handling will improve without sacrifice off-road, keeping that overall versatility...unless they release that tire in a 285/75 size before then.

On a side note, I've also come to realize the tread width has a bigger visual impact that tire diameter, the AT4W's and XTM's are both nearly 1" wider tread than the OE KO3's which are only 8.8" vs. 9.7". OE KO3's are freakishly skinny for the class and size of tire, guessing it's a fuel economy thing.

 

[dolsen]

I went from stock bead locks to the ford racing 17” wheels and stock KO3’s. I think they’re 9-10 lbs less per wheel. Only cost me $620. Acceleration is greatly improved. Braking, is also improved but to a much lesser degree.

 

[Blue Ridge Raptor]

I went from stock bead locks to the ford racing 17” wheels and stock KO3’s. I think they’re 9-10 lbs less per wheel. Only cost me $620. Acceleration is greatly improved. Braking, is also improved but to a much lesser degree.

Any pics of he Ford racing wheels you refer to?
I will be needing to replace OEM tires in about 6 months & strongly considering switching out of the heavy OEM beadlocks. My RR is cactus gray so am looking for something toward the black/gray color spectrum.

 

[dolsen]

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