Aev wheels or Hutchinson

[jktowhere]

Granted its not even a match for the price.

What I wonder, for expedition / overland style (mtns in co, death valley etc) are the bead locks pointless? I like the idea of being able to roll on a flat if needed, but really are the worth it for over landing? Should I just go aev wheels?

 

[sickchilly]

I was looking at Hutchinsons for the longest time. I believe they are the only DOT legal double bead lock. However, I never could get over the price. Then, I started looking at weight at that just killed it for me. The Hutchinsons are extremely heavy. And I'm running 37's, maybe 38's one day and they are heavy enough in their own. So I went with AEV bead locks. For most people and situations, I don't think bead locks are really necessary. The only time I air down enough to need them is in deep snow. And I have slipped a bead in that situation back when I had stock wheels.

 

[marshal]

I would avoid AEV wheels if you're looking at purchasing a traditional beadlock. It's not that they're poor in quality or anything, but there are better stronger options available on the Internet. All aluminum beadlocks that are made as a beadlock from conception meet DOT specifications

Consider these:
Walker Evans
Spyderlock
American racing ATX slab
Trail ready (only USA made beadlock)
Race line
KMC
Method

Also consider Staun beadlocks. They use a traditional wheel to maintain 100% unquestional legality

 

[shogun]

I think this is one of those dead horses but, there is no "DOT Legal" anything. They dont make law, they simply dream up standards, sorta like UL.

Now, onto wheels;

An important consideration in aluminum is cast vs forged. Pretty simple for off-road use. Cast breaks, cracks, chips, whack the side of the wheel on a rock and you may not be using that wheel on the way out. Forged is much stronger, but also it will bend long before it breaks. I have seen racing pics of a Porsche forged wheel bent like a pretzel, but didnt break.

You are correct, an apples/oranges comparison. AEV wheel is pretty, but functionally no different than any other cast alloy on the market. The Hutchinson is the real-deal.

(I have rolled a tire off when not aired down)

 

[udoxx]

I think this is one of those dead horses but, there is no "DOT Legal" anything. They dont make law, they simply dream up standards, sorta like UL.

So, they would be DOT compliant but are they street legal?

 

[anotherguy]

The above is spot on about wheel construction, but it is important to note that the Hutchinsons are cast alloy as well.

I went back and forth between the Hutchnson's and just regular old AEV's for my jeep and decided on the AEV's for now. I think that ultimately, you have to sit down and really look at the type of travel you will be doing amd where you will be doing it. The hard part is being truly honest with yourself about what your needs are and shoving the "I am Ferdinand Magellan" thoughts aside. What parts of your travel will necessitate airing down that low? Are you wanting the ability to more easily change a shredded tire on the trail? Have you considered then negative effect that increases in unsprung weight have on acceleration for the times when you aren't on dirt? That and do you just plain want them?

I think a lot of us end up building machines that, while they will definitely get put to use, will never come close to being used to their full potential. I went with the AEV's because I don't anticipate needing to air down that low, carry a spare, and at present, don't have plans to go anywhere that I feel carrying an extra unmounted tire is a necessity, and didn't want to reduce acceleration as I will be adding enough additional weight to the vehicle to begin with. That and most of the time when I see bead locks, it is in rock crawler type vehicles which is a pretty good hint. I need my vehicle to get me home, get me to fuel, get me to food, get me to a campsite, etc. it's a means to an end, namely seeing the world. I tend to avoid the stuff those wheels were designed for as it is often a great place to damage a vehicle.

All that said, if you are planning on getting the AEV bead locks, the Rock Monsters are only $100 a wheel more for what I feel is a superior product.

 

[TenaciousTJ]

My vote is for the Hutchinsons. I have aired mine down to 2lbs and floated on top of 4 ft of snow where when I jumped out of my Jeep, I was buried up to my waist.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[jktowhere]

Thanks!

Really, I try to avoid the truck killing rocks. It was more of just having the option with the Hutchinson. Weather its worth it or not for tire blow outs, sand, snow etc etc.

 

[Rovertrader]

I'm a bit old school, but I vote for steelies with Staun internal bead locks, worth a look...

And, I have used the Hutchinson and Walker Evans, and would say both to be top notch!

 

[Inline6]

Either will do the job. If purchasing new wheels they are not much more in the grand scheme of things. That bit of extra piece of mind is worth it to me.

As for which one, I run them both. I've had AEV wheels on the TJ for many years, no issues. I now have AEVs on the JK, again no issues. The TJ got new running gear and I went with Hutchinson.

The AEV wheels are a bit easier to put together, but the hutchinsons are not that hard. I actually might of got them done quicker, less bolts.

So why beadlock, why not? There are many things we add to our jeeps that we don't or might not need.

 

[shogun]

So, they would be DOT compliant but are they street legal?

No idea, check state laws.

Hmmm, maybe I guess. The Hutchinsons I was referencing are forged (WA-0541), see USMC IFAV.

Beadlocks? Definately. Like I mentioned, I was PAX in a pickup driving on a rough (but not technical) dirt road with rocks, along the traverse of a hill, regular tires/wheels. Rolled a tire right off the wheel. You dont need to be "rock crawlin" to have use for beadlocks.

Steel? Yes. For me its either forged alloy or steel. Forged, as I pontificated on, is extremely strong while steel is easily hammered back into shape. That leaves cracked/chipped cast alloys out of the picture.

 

[lysol]

My vote is for the Hutchinsons. I have aired mine down to 2lbs and floated on top of 4 ft of snow where when I jumped out of my Jeep, I was buried up to my waist.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

I think I'm set on Hutchinsons...

 

[Rock-Tech Offroad]

As stated comparing the AEV wheels to the Hutchinsons makes little sense. Both AEV and Hutchinson make a great product for our rigs. Ultimately your application will dictate which is a better fit for you. I like the fact that the AEV wheels are designed specifically for our vehicles. Not just a generic wheel that happens to bolt up. As for the Hutchinson, the individual wheel weight and offset are the biggest turn-offs for me.

 

[mvbeggs]

+1 for the Walker Evans

+1 on the performance of the Walker Evans. They are very heavy though. My 37's and the Walker Evans are about 115lbs/ea. :Wow1:

I have aired them down to 5psi...inadvertetly. When airing down, got a piece sand in between the valve stem cap and the valve. At a stop someone pointed out that my tire looked low. Got the gauge out and was surprised to see 5 psi.

 

[Ex Jay]

If the question is beadlock vs non beadlock then there are plenty of pro/cons lists all over the internet, and you'll need to decide that for yourself.

If the decision was hutchinson vs AEV beadlock then you have to decide whats more important to you, looks vs cost vs fit.

The number one priority for myself is driveability so the AEV wheel (beadlock or not) is my first choice due to the proper backspacing and overall fit.