It takes but a few clicks through the Hutchinson Industries website to realize they are serious about wheels. Their wheels are designed to meet and exceed the highest standards for applications ranging from public transport to armored military vehicles. As such, their engineering considerations include everything from IED survivability to the effects of extreme heat on fire and emergency trucks. Their ability to then design wheels for civilian off-road use is pretty straight forward. Their Rock Monster three-piece beadlock wheels have been a favorite of off-road enthusiasts for years. DOT and street compliant, the Hutchinson beadlock system allows drivers the ability to run significantly lower air pressures without compromising the tire’s ability to securely stay in place.
The Hutchinson beadlock system is not complicated by any stretch. Central to the design is a heavy rubber inner layer flanked by the two-pieces of the aluminum wheel itself. With the two wheel components bolted in place, the tire bead is held captive against the wheel by the rubber inner sleeve. This not only holds the tire bead in place, it greatly improves air retention, one of the common complaints with other beadlock systems. Other advantages include easier tire mounting and simplified field repairs.
Available in a wide variety of bolt patterns and designs to best compliment a number of popular vehicles, Rock Monster Beadlock wheels retail for roughly $400 per wheel. Simple solutions are often the best, and Rock Monster wheels are if anything––simple.
