A bead lock for locking the bead portion of a pneumatic tire against the outer periphery of a vehicle wheel is adapted to seat in the vehicle wheel. In a first embodiment, the bead lock includes first and second annular members. The first annular member includes an endless band of aeromatic polyamide fibers. The second annular member has radially inner and outer portions and interconnecting resilient side portions. The first annular member is received and retained within a circumferentially extending slot formed in one of the outer portions to urge the side portions against the bead portions of the tire. The second embodiment includes a pair of locking rings, a pair of resilent sealing rings and a clamping mechanism for selectively clamping the locking and sealing rings and the bead portions together against the outer periphery of the wheel. In a third embodiment, the bead lock includes a pair of endless bands of aeromatic polyamide fibers embedded within an inflatable annular member having radially inner and outer portions and interconnecting side portions. The inner and outer portions comprise a matrix in which the bands are embedded. In all three embodiments each bead lock prevents displacement of the bead portion of the tire from the outer periphery of the wheel in the event of a partial or total deflation of the tire.