Your Dodge RAM is ready for an adventure, but are your wheels ready to go with it? When you’re driving on rocky trails, sandy dunes, or muddy backroads, standard wheels can be a problem. If one of your tires blows out or the bead comes loose, your epic off-road trip could turn into a rescue on the side of the road. When the pressure is very low, beadlock wheels lock the bead of your tire to the rim, which keeps air from escaping. If you own a Dodge RAM and want your truck to be dependable and able to handle rough terrain, you’ll love 18-inch beadlock wheels. They have the right amount of strength, style, and function.
Why 18-inch beadlock wheels are great for Dodge RAM trucks
Dodge RAM trucks are rigid, so they need tough parts to work well. There are several advantages to the 18-inch diameter that smaller or larger options lack. 18-inch wheels are better than smaller ones because they have enough sidewall height to absorb shocks without losing the strength needed to hold up your RAM’s heavy weight.
The size also ensures there is enough room for the brakes to function correctly on newer RAM models with larger brake systems. Some owners have trouble fitting smaller diameter wheels, but you won’t have that problem.
When you let air out of your tires to improve traction on sand or rocks, regular wheels can cause the tire bead to separate from the rim. This will cause your tire to go flat right away, which could leave you stuck miles from help. Beadlock wheels eliminate this risk by utilizing a mechanical clamp ring that secures the tire bead in place, regardless of air pressure.
The best 18-inch beadlock options are ALPHA and PHANTOM.
The ALPHA and PHANTOM wheels are the two most popular 18-inch beadlock wheels on the market. Both designs are built to last and work well, but they also have their distinct looks.
Heavy-duty trucks like the Dodge RAM need wheels that can handle tough jobs. The ALPHA 18- inch beadlock wheels are robust and can do these jobs. Their engineering focuses on weight distribution and stress management, which are crucial when carrying a lot of gear and navigating rough terrain.
The PHANTOM 18-inch beadlock wheels are different because they look good and work well at the same time. These wheels look good and work well.
Both options are designed to work perfectly with the Dodge RAM’s suspension geometry and load needs, so you can get the best performance whether you’re towing a trailer or driving on rough ground.
What Beadlock Technology Is and How It Can Help
The basic idea behind beadlock technology is simple but effective: it uses mechanical means to keep the tire bead in place. A traditional wheel keeps a tire in place with air pressure. You could lose traction if you lower the air pressure. The tire could move or come off the bead completely.
The outer ring of beadlock wheels bolts down over the tire’s outer bead. This creates a mechanical link that doesn’t need air pressure to work. You don’t have to worry about the tires breaking if you run them at very low pressures, like 5–8 PSI.
The benefits go beyond just keeping the tires. When you let air out of your tires, they touch the ground more, which makes them much better at gripping sand, snow, and other loose surfaces. Your tires can bend around rocks and other things, which makes it less likely that they will go flat and gives you better grip.
Dodge RAM owners can drive on rough terrain with more confidence thanks to this technology. Beadlock wheels keep your tires in place, whether you’re crawling over rocks in Moab or crossing sandy washes in the desert.
Things to keep in mind when you install and care for
Installing beadlock wheels is trickier than installing regular wheels. Following the exact bolt torque specifications and checking them often, especially after the first few drives, is very important. Most companies recommend re-torquing the beadlock ring bolts every 100 miles, with occasional re-torquing thereafter.
The extra work is worth it because of the benefits. You only need to use a torque wrench now and then, which isn’t much of a cost for the peace of mind and power that 18-inch beadlock wheels give your Dodge RAM.
Use the Right Wheels to Get the Most Out of Your RAM
With 18-inch beadlock wheels, your Dodge RAM goes from being a good truck to an unstoppable off-road vehicle. The ALPHA and PHANTOM wheels are two of the options that come with proven beadlock technology, the right size, and high-quality construction that will get you ready for any terrain.
Don’t let bad wheels get in the way of your fun. When you buy 18-inch beadlock wheels, you can relax knowing that your tires will stay on, no matter what. Beadlock wheels give your Dodge RAM the parts it needs to live up to its legendary performance.
