Knurling on the rims?

When I was looking for new rims and tires, my friend in the mainland kept saying to buy only “Methods rims” and kept saying the rims are design not to have the tires come off when you lower the tire pressure for off roading.

After looking around , I found the term “knurling” on the rims. And NOT all methods rims have this “knurling feature. Others brands also carry the “knurling rims.

So. I call him back, and he say “OK” with a picture of a thumbs up. Was a learning experience for both of us.

I did buy new rims , but not with the “knurling features. Most of the tire and rims shops in Hawaii I think do not carry them? Most people here in Hawaii maynot be aware of “ knurling on the rims”

Rare to see guys lower there tires pressures over here.

 

Method calls it, "Bead Grip".
It's not a guarantee against de-beading; just makes them more difficult to de-bead.

I'm not completely sold on the idea; and not necessarily through fault of the design. My thought is they may present more difficulty for a tire tech in properly seating a new tire and removing old tires; and potential for rim damage. LT tires can make it even more difficult, as LTs have a more robust bead construction. My advice would be to find a shop that has prior experience with "Bead Grip" wheels.

Toyo conducted tests about 20 years ago and found the main cause of out-of-balance assemblies was due to axial tire/wheel slippage from the use of too much lube when mounting; as much as 3".
"Bead Grips" resist lateral movement of the tire... If there is axial slippage of the assembly, my concern would be the 'knurls' cutting into the bead.

 

I had the same thought, if beadgrip, knurling make it more difficult for a tire to debead when you don't want the tire to come of the rim. Won't the same be true when you want the tire off the rim?

I have no experience with a tire machine or mounting tires, so I have no idea.

I wouldn't rule out the wheels that feature the beadgrip or knurling. Like you said a tire shop that has experience with those wheels would be best.

 

The de-beading tools have a lot of force directly applied at the lip/bead. It will take more effort to pop 'em off on the machine and on the trails.

 

https://www.methodracewheels.com/blogs/news/all-new-313-is-here?_pos=1&_sid=cb9f1e034&_ss=r

Photo shows the "knurling done to the rim". This helps prevent axial loading.

I worked in a tire shop as a teenager, but not much has really changed with the machines. You pop off the bead with the buster (pulls the tire away from the bead). You need to shift the tire around so the bead drops into the valley in the rim. The tire shop doesn't do anything different with mounting.

Knurls are against the bead once the tire is inflated.

Our old school cheap bead locks were a bunch of #10 screws around the bead, enough to go through the outer steel rim and into the bead of the tire not more than 1/2 way. Kept tires from spinning on the rim, popping the bead.

If you air down, please use full inflation before hitting the highway. Under-inflated tires overheat, with potential for sidewall blowout. Changing out tires, you would find carbon black (lots of black dust) inside tires. It was from underinflated side walls getting overheated.

Helped out in the BF Goodrich Truck groving tires for a few off-road races. Yep, new tires and we had the electric "U" tool to slice out hunks of beads. Different patterns for different events.

I wasn't aware of the manufacturers doing those knurls, learning something new every day.

I'm getting older, but wiser. Yes, I carry tire plugs and a compressor and air down for the Sand Pit.

 

I don’t think knurled wheels are needed. If/when I air down I start at 15 and go down from there. Never thrown a bead. Just gotta be mindful of side loads.

 

Learning is never ending and the new technology is always changing.
Here in Hawaii, even on sand. There was no need to air down. Never did in the last 30 years. But I seen a few vehicles struck and buried in sand, more because of open “diffs”.

If I did the trails and the miles and miles of off roading , lowing tire pressure it is the wise thing to do.

My good friend is one to drive miles and miles (hunter& fisherman ) from California. He is sold on the “Methods bead-grips.”