I keep having problems with my tires getting low. I took one in the shop and they said it was a dirty bead. I've got the same tire leaking again along with both in the rear. I've been having to go through a lot of mud lately and I can't find ANY puncture wounds.

Do the beads get dirty easily with stock tires and wheels? Would aftermarket alum. wheels help a lot?

I've got a 2004 Scrambler.

 

the mud can get between the rim and the tire, and then drys causing a break in the bead....so that is probably your problem

 

Is this very common with these rims? Would a set of aftermarket wheels help prevent this? Which ones?

 

i had the same problem with the stock rims and tires. I ended up getting 25" Holeshots Atrs on series 5 ITP wheels. Mostly for the riding I do, but was sick of pumping up flats. My new tire/rim combo doesnt have a problem. The stocks must not have a great seal on the bead. I dont think aluminum rims would fix it, but new tires probably would

 

I think I am going to go with ITP mud lights in the rear and front with their C series aluminum rims. Stock size tires since I slide around a lot and like the look of the smaller fat rear tires. When my 489's are worn out of course.

 

basically what i have except substitute mud lights for holeshot atrs. check out my site, i have pics with the bigger tires. best hop-up for the scrambler in my opinion

 

if you ride in rocky area's like creek beds a lot you don't want aluminum rims.

 

why not. steel rims will bend easier, aluminum tend to crack but normally requires more force to do it. i nailed a big (2' round) rock about 15-20mph and didnt mess up either the tire or rim. aluminum is the way to go if you have the money

 

you are correct but the alum. rims will crack before a steel rim will bend enough to not hold a bead

 

I don't get near rocks. I like Aluminum for a rim material, always have. I've got 16.5x14" Weld rims on my K5 blazer and the factory alums on my Ram Cummins. I like alums. Plus, they are lighter and might improve mileage/braking/acceleration by a marginal amount, as long as I go with a tire that weighs the same or less than the factory tires. Every little bit helps. I like the look of aluminum too, steel is ugly.