[Barbell_Cat_717]

I run my car at the track 2-3 times a month at the most doing mainly fun runs, roll racing and drag racing. My Cat is at stock power.

I was possibly looking into a spare set of track wheels for the track only. The Forgestar 17x10 D5 wheels look nice. The non beadlock ones are cheaper than the D5 beadlocks of course but are the beadlocks recommended or should I stick with the regular non beadlocks?

 

[OldMoparGuy]

I’ve read here that the bead locks are not necessary for us stock power guys. Cool factor is way high though and if you’re planning some gainful mods down the road maybe pay a little more for them now than sell and re-buy them later.

 

[Unavowed]

In the GM world people have been running low 9's for years on non beadlock 17's. They are lighter and less expensive than beadlocks. Unless you confirm that you are spinning the tire on the wheel, I wouldn't spend the extra money. When I see cars on beadlocks, especially 15", I just think poser, because most of them aren't running 8's.

 

[Barbell_Cat_717]

Appreciate the responses guys.

 

[Linda's Hell Cat]

It's TRUE....stock Power doesn't need beadlocks.

Linda

 

[GreenMachine15]

My philosophy,
Always build for the future and only buy once.
But, I have only owned cars bone stock for a few days lol. If your not going to build, then buy a cheap set of 17s and some MT.

If you see what is involved in a 15" conversion, that is not posing brother. That is the real deal.

I run a 17" beadlock and regret even wasting money on drag radials and wider wheels the first year.
I just can't believe how hard the car will hook now, even off the 2 step.

If the 15" conversion did not make it a permanent mod, I would be running it.

 

[Unavowed]

I run a 17" beadlock and regret even wasting money on drag radials and wider wheels the first year.
I just can't believe how hard the car will hook now, even off the 2 step.

Post a timeslip. Your 60' will tell the story.

 

[Doublewide]

At stock power, you don't "need" beadlocks. If you plan on 900whp or more down the road, go ahead and bite the bullet now so you don't regret later. Even if you don't have 9 second aspirations, the beadlock might still be a good option just for looks alone as they do look infinitely better than the non beadlock counterpart, imo.

 

[Unavowed]

Even if you don't have 9 second aspirations, the beadlock might still be a good option just for looks alone as they do look infinitely better than the non beadlock counterpart, imo.

Like 37" tires on a mall crawler that never goes off road.

 

[GreenMachine15]

Personal preference I guess.....
Like running 21's on a hellcat durango

 

[Unavowed]

 

[Xylander]

Personal preference I guess.....
Like running 21's on a hellcat durango

I'd laugh at anyone driving on the street in drag radials with beadlocks. Mainly because they're just pissing money into the wind at that point. Track tires on the street is a great way to kill track performance. I always separate my tire sets. Swap them at the track, take them off when done.

 

[GreenMachine15]

I'd laugh at anyone driving on the street in drag radials with beadlocks. Mainly because they're just pissing money into the wind at that point. Track tires on the street is a great way to kill track performance. I always separate my tire sets. Swap them at the track, take them off when done.

Who said they were driving beadlocks with drag radials?

 

[15 Cent WB_Scat]

The non beadlock ones are cheaper than the D5 beadlocks of course but are the beadlocks recommended or should I stick with the regular non beadlocks?

You did not mention the type of tire you plan to use.

1. Full Slick on a 17 inch wheel with a tube inside you should have a beadlock wheel or screws through the wheel into the tire bead. The reason is for safety. If you spin the slick on the wheel you could cut the valve stem on the tube causing a flat tire and potentially an accident.

2. Drag radial on a 17 inch wheel would be hard to spin on the wheel on a lighter high powered car. These cars are heavy and if you get great traction you might slip the drag radials a little. The good news is if the tire moves at all it will be ok. I think you would have to be able to hit the radials pretty hard before you move them.

Good luck and keep having fun with the Cat!

 

[Zo6defector]

Is your redeye a wide body? If it is a wide body, you don’t have a choice but to go with bead lock if you are going with a D5.

 

[Barbell_Cat_717]

You did not mention the type of tire you plan to use.

1. Full Slick on a 17 inch wheel with a tube inside you should have a beadlock wheel or screws through the wheel into the tire bead. The reason is for safety. If you spin the slick on the wheel you could cut the valve stem on the tube causing a flat tire and potentially an accident.

2. Drag radial on a 17 inch wheel would be hard to spin on the wheel on a lighter high powered car. These cars are heavy and if you get great traction you might slip the drag radials a little. The good news is if the tire moves at all it will be ok. I think you would have to be able to hit the radials pretty hard before you move them.

Good luck and keep having fun with the Cat!

Thanks and great points you shared there. The type of tire I would most likely use is 305-45-17 MT street R.

 

[Barbell_Cat_717]

Is your redeye a wide body? If it is a wide body, you don’t have a choice but to go with bead lock if you are going with a D5.

I have a regular body standard Cat so I'm good there with the non beadlock option with the D5 although not sure why they don't have the non beadlocks for the WB.

 

[Zo6defector]

Thanks and great points you shared there. The type of tire I would most likely use is 305-45-17 MT street R.

Do you have a wide body

I have a regular body standard Cat so I'm good there with the non beadlock option with the D5 although not sure why they don't have the non beadlocks for the WB.

Well that’s good for you. Glad to hear it. The guy told me that Forgestar doesn’t make the one without the bead lock with the correct offset which is why. I didn’t even ask if you could have them custom-made because they’re already expensive enough.

 

[Snowman]

I’m asking myself this exact same question for a track/occasional street set I want to buy. I’ll be running 315 Street R’s and putting somewhere around 925-950 to the wheels.

 

[Zo6defector]

I’m asking myself this exact same question for a track/occasional street set I want to buy. I’ll be running 315 Street R’s and putting somewhere around 925-950 to the wheels.

Honestly man, I probably would bead lock at that horsepower and torque. Better to buy once.