all but 2 styles of real beadlocks are illegal. The two types that aren't are OE Hummer and some new ones (very $$$) that just got previewed in 4wheel & offroad. As far as using them on the street I don't know how they feel or work. I do know the mechanics behind wheel and tire design/application and have assembled 4 different sets of bead locks for some friends.
To trust a beadlock on the street it must have a machined center on it, this is a little groove to hold the tire centered in the wheel. Without this groove getting the tire to mount true will be nearly impossible, as will balanceing it. Also without this groove all of the force of the truck, tire, wheel, driving, and road conditions, will be excerted on the bolts holding the outer ring on, there is ALOT of forces there. With the groove the forces only stress the bolts tension load. This force is created from side loading, and air pressure. Much safer. And checking the ring bolts often, once a week is not too much, will make the usability on the street go up.
You can run your tires at (not recomended) 0 psi but the wheel will quickly eat through the side of the tire, and you can still blow off the inside bead with even with beadlocks (except for the 2 DOT approved styles mentioned above). The proper air pressure on the trail is a trial and error figure. If the tire is wrinkled under the wheel on flat ground it needs more air, beadlocked or not.
As for the Can I get a ticket, it depends. Some cops know what beadlocks are, and some know how to check. Some cops don't know, care or check. You do have to tick an officer off pretty well to get them looking fot DOT numbers on wheels, or anything else.
my .02$ from an Arizona point of view and expierence.
