Radial vs Bias Bead thickness

[Mrfreeze5]

Im working on assembling my extra wheels today and Im kinda of mixing and matching. Im running 8 bolt wheels with the 37" radials and HDPE beadlock inserts. I know the radials are for the 12 bolt rim, Ive been through that whole discussion before and I wont be running them over 30psi. I am concerned however about fitment with the insert. I need to know if I need to trim down my beadlock insert so as to not damage the tire and to get a correct seal with the wheel. Thanks!

[Mrfreeze5]

Or i suppose the measurement of a mag runflat vs a rubber would work too right? All I have to measure are a set of 2 piece rubber runflats without the small insert, so I cant get an accurate measurement.

And should the HDPE beadlock inserts be pretty difficult to get in the tire? I had to fight them quite a bit to get them in. There are not different sized aftermarket inserts for bias and radial are there? I bought these a few years ago and am just now putting them together, so I dont remember. Plus they came from USA6x6 which is now gone, so I cant really refence them.

[OldYelr]

How much will the HDPE insert be compressed? Subtract your tire's bead thickness X 2 from the wheel width (8"?) and compare that to the width of your beadlock. HDPE doesn't like to compress, and you only need to keep the bead in place. IMHO you want the HDPE insert no more than 1/4" larger than the above result.

[Mrfreeze5]

The measurements off what I have look like they should work fine, but when I try and bolt it together I can only get maybe 1-2 threads on the nut down before it gets really disagreeable. My other set of wheels/tires is the same setup, 8 bolts, radials and inserts, but the inserts came with the wheels when I bought them so I dont know who made them and Im trying to avoid tearing a wheel down to measure it. but they went together like a charm. I know cranking down on these things isnt the easiest thing ni the world, I used to be a HMMWV mechanic. this should be simpler than it is...







I feel like Im missing something simple.

[stjames151]

You have to take the measurement from the inside of the lip. An exact measurement is very difficult without broad calipers.

[BobCat5.0]

did you ever figure out the insert width? i have the same combo issue

[Mrfreeze5]

this thread is kinda moot for me now. I ended up selling my 4 8 bolt wheels for $275 and Im going to pick up 5 12 bolts today for $300. And I ordered 4 more radials with more tread, so Im pretty well set. I just need to get one more HDPE insert. Gotta find a vendor for it though. I dont want PVC and these came from UAS6x6 who is out of business.

But for my clarification, the difference in the bias and radial setup is just in the insert/runflat area right. the wheel widths are the same, but the internals are different widths to accomodate the bead thickness, correct?

What about aftermarket inserts? I havent seen anyone specify inserts for radial or bias, so how does that work with different setups like 36 bias with 8 bolt vs 37 radial with 12 bolt? Or other tires for that matter?

edit:

i just measured my inserts and theyre about 6-7/8". No wonder USA6x56 went out of business because there is almost 1/4" variance in the width around the circumference of these inserts. I wish I had noticed that earlier, fucking piece of shit company. And it took 2 months to get them delivered.