There’s a reason every serious Dodge enthusiast eventually searches the phrase “15x11 beadlock wheels for Hellcat.” The supercharged HEMI delivers astounding straight-line power, but factory 20-inch wheels and 305-series tires struggle to put it down consistently. Enter the WELD Racing RT-S S71—widely regarded as the most reliable forged wheel for late-model Mopar drag racing. By stepping down to a lightweight 15-inch diameter, adding an 11.33-inch footprint, and locking the tire bead with a track-legal ring, S71s let Widebody owners launch harder, lower ETs, and repeat bracket-friendly times night after night.

Why 15-inch Beadlocks Beat 20-inch Street Wheels on the Strip?

More sidewall, more wrinkle, more traction:
A 15-inch hoop leaves plenty of room for a tall tire sidewall. When you stage and bring the RPMs up, that extra rubber flexes—“wrinkles”—and helps the tread dig in rather than spin. It’s the same physics that top NHRA Stock, Super Stock, and Pro Mod teams have used for decades.

Reduced rotating mass:
WELD forges the S71 from heat-treated 6061-T6 aluminum, then machines the spokes, hub pad, and beadlock ring for maximum weight savings. A 15×11.33 S71 with the ring installed weighs roughly 19 lb. Compare that with many cast 20s that tip the scales at 35–40 lb each, and it’s easy to see why the car accelerates harder and brakes easier.

Effective gear reduction:
Because the overall tire diameter shrinks compared with a stock 315/35R20, the driveline behaves as if you swapped to a deeper rear gear. The Hellcat’s eight-speed TorqueFlite or modern ZF automatic immediately finds the meat of the torque curve—no driveshaft or differential modifications required.

Beadlock security:
Lower tire pressures are critical for traction, but they also invite the inner bead to spin on the rim. WELD’s scalloped aluminum beadlock ring clamps that bead in place with beadlock bolts, so you can drop pressure into the low teens (or high single digits with radials) without risking wheel-spin inside the tire.

WELD Racing S71 15×11.33 Beadlock Technical Specs

• Diameter: 15 inches

• Width: 11.33 inches

• Bolt pattern: 5 × 115 mm (factory Mopar LX/LC)

• Backspace: 6.625 inches—engineered to clear factory Widebody suspension links

• Construction: three-piece forged aluminum (spun barrels + CNC-machined center)

• Finish: polished or black centers, clear-coated natural aluminum ring

• NHRA acceptance: legal to 7.49 sec quarter-mile times

• Grab your set: https://dragracingwheels.com/weld-racing-rt-s-s71-15x11-33-5x115mm-bp-6-5in-bs-black-drag-wheel-medium-pad-black-single-beadlock-mt-71mb-511w65f/

Despite the massive footprint, these wheels retain OEM hub-centric fitment for vibration-free highway driving and accept standard shank-style lug nuts. The forged barrels also dissipate heat faster than cast, reducing fatigue during repeated hot-lap sessions.

Common Tire Pairings That Customers Run:

Most Widebody racers mount a 315/60R15 or 325/50R15 drag radial from Mickey Thompson, Hoosier, or Nitto. Those sizes offer:

• A sidewall tall enough to wrinkle under launch

• A tread width that sits square on an 11-inch rim—no pinched shoulders

• Make sure to double check clearance for your specific application.

For ultra-sticky prep or lightweight VHT tracks, a bias-ply slick such as a 29.5/10.5-15 can also be used, but radials tend to offer better high-speed stability for 140+ mph trap speeds.

Vehicle Applications—15-inch Brake Conversion Kit is Needed:

The WELD Racing RT-S S71 15×11 beadlock (6.625-in backspace, 5×115) was designed specifically for late-model flared-fender Mopars:

• 2020–2023 Charger Hellcat Widebody

• 2018–2023 Challenger Hellcat Widebody

• 2018–2023 Challenger Redeye & Super Stock Widebody

• 2018–2023 Challenger Scat Pack Widebody

• 2018 Challenger Demon and 2023 Demon 170

Because these vehicles share knuckle geometry and rear axle width, the wheel clears without spacers once a proper drag-brake (small-rotor) conversion is installed. Up front, many owners choose WELD S71 17×4.5 or 18×5 skinnies for minimal rolling resistance and maximum weight reduction.

Real-World Example: 9-Second Widebody Consistency.

Social-media standout @9o6 pilots a 2019 Hellcat Widebody Challenger on exactly this wheel combo—15×11 S71 beadlock rears with WELD skinnies up front. Running E85 and a mild pulley upgrade, his car repeatedly clocks low-9-second ETs while still driving to and from events. Thousands of street miles later, the wheels remain straight and true, underscoring WELD’s reputation for forged durability.

Cast Replicas vs. Forged Originals—Why WELD Wins?

Replica cast wheels may copy the multi-spoke WELD Racing S71 profile, but that resemblance ends at looks. Cast aluminum contains air pockets that weaken under shock loads and carry 30–50 percent more rotating mass. Forged wheels start as a solid billet compressed under thousands of tons of pressure, rearranging the grain structure for superior strength-to-weight. That metallurgy is why NHRA, NMCA, and Street Car Takeover competitors trust WELD—one cracked casting can cost you more than a race.

If you own a Widebody Hellcat, Scat Pack, Redeye, Super Stock, Demon, or the new Demon 170, the WELD Racing RT-S S71 in 15×11.33 beadlock wheels is the closest thing to great traction aid you can bolt on. Lighter, stronger, and engineered specifically for your chassis, these wheels unlock 60-foot consistency and quarter-mile gains that no tune or pulleys alone can match.

Pair them with sticky 315–325 drag radials, verify brake clearance, and get ready to watch your elapsed times tumble. When the Christmas tree drops, you’ll appreciate why racers worldwide trust WELD to carry them into the winner’s circle—run after run, season after season.