Hardcore 4×4 enthusiasts will already know the benefits that lower tire pressure offers, such as improved ride quality and better traction. However, this also increases the risk of de-beading the tire. While beadlock wheels address this issue by clamping the tire’s bead, they require frequent maintenance, speciality tools/parts, increase rotational mass, and crucially, are not legal for on-road use. Icon Alloys claim to have “reinvented the wheel” as they introduce their Rebound Pro with patent-pending InnerLock technology. The new product offers the best of both worlds by using a robust bead retention system to keep the bead secured to the wheel, whilst also remaining road legal. So, what exactly is InnerLock Technology?
InnerLock is an innovative way of capturing the tire bead and retaining it onto the wheel. The technology uses a series of O-ring-sealed, hardened alloy pins inserted radially on the inner side of the tire bead to create a barrier that prevents the tire from unseating during extreme side loads. Additionally, InnerLock wheels are “lightweight, strong, don’t require bolt retorquing, and are DOT compliant.” It’s fair to be dubious of new technology. After all, no one wants mechanical failures in the backcountry. However, Icon promises that InnerLock technology is “used, abused, lab approved,” with engineers subjecting the Rebound Pro wheels to thousands of miles of real-world abuse throughout harsh and unforgiving environments. Testing didn’t stop there, though. After on-vehicle testing, the Rebound Pro was sent to an independent contractor for precise lab testing, specifically the FMVSS No. 139 Tire Bead Unseat Resistance Test (modified to 10 psi). InnerLock Technology proved to be highly effective “by exceeding the mechanical limits of the machine (over 7,600-pound load) without ever de-beading the tire.” I’m often sceptical when companies state a product is “thoroughly tested” without providing any further information, but Icon has clearly gone above and beyond to validate the effectiveness of their new product.
The Rebound Pro may showcase innovation, but they still uphold Icon Alloys’ established objectives and are subsequently “designed with suspension in mind.” Thus, the wheel has been engineered to maximize caliper clearance and optimize wheel position for unhindered suspension travel and steering function. Moreover, backspace and wheel offset dimensions have been strategically developed to reduce scrub radius, improving handling and ride quality. Further still, the new wheel has been strength tested to yield a 3,200-pound load rating (making it one of the strongest wheel options on the market).
The Rebound Pro is the obvious evolution of traditional beadlock wheels and will no doubt become a very popular choice among 4×4 enthusiasts and overlanders. I’m ordinarily cautious when promoting new-to-market technology, but with such rigorous testing, both in-house and externally, I’m confident these wheels will uphold Icon Vehicle Dynamics’ reputation for quality and performance.
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