Are Beadlockers Legal in BC?

Question: Beadlockers generate a lot of discussion in the offroading world. Most maintain that "DOT approved" beadlocks are fine in BC, but I can't find any supporting legislation either way. The BC regulations are silent, but there might be something in federal legislation.

The best I can come up with is that, like anything else on a vehicle, they would have to meet federal safety standards, and something that's SAE or DOT compliant would qualify, but I don't even know where to start looking there.

Vehicle Equipment Standards

The federal government sets the standards for motor vehicles and their equipment. It is up to the provinces to enforce those standards. When thinking only of a traffic ticket, the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations and the Superintendent's Standards for the Approval of a Motor Vehicle apply.

I scoured both and was not able to find anything that I considered to be applicable that the police would use in enforcement at the roadside.

So, I reached out to the Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement's Vehicle Inspection Program. Here is what they told me:

Thank you for reaching out with your question about the use of bead lockers on highway vehicles. After reviewing the relevant BC regulations, including the Motor Vehicle Act (MVA) and the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations (MVAR), bead lockers are not specifically addressed.

Bead lockers are typically used to help secure the tire bead to the rim when a vehicle is operating off-road and running at lower tire pressures for better traction. However, most bead lockers come with a disclaimer from the manufacturer stating that they are "not for highway use," particularly when the tires are properly inflated for on-road driving.

Given this, the key takeaway is to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations regarding their use. If you have concerns or need further clarification, I would recommend contacting the manufacturer directly for more specific guidance regarding the use of bead lockers on public roads.

Thank you,

Vehicle Inspections Program Team

DIY Beadlockers

Some companies supply a kit where a steel plate is welded to the existing steel wheel and the beadlockers are bolted to it. These kits are illegal to use as part of on road vehicle here in BC.

The Superintendent's Standards say the following:

Wheels: homemade or remanufactured rim/wheel - reject if welded and not stamped certified by Transport Canada or The Tire and Rim Association

Regardless of how well the welding was done, without recertification this modification is unacceptable.

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