PRESENTATION

ON

WHEEL AND
TYRES

INTRODUCTION

WHEEL
The wheels are one of the most significant parts of a car
- generally, four of the most significant parts. Without
wheels, cars would be dramatically less efficient, as
they would have to use some other form of locomotion
such as treads, or perhaps walking.
The earliest automobile wheels consisted of a metal
hoop to which was affixed a solid rubber tire. This rim
was attached to a hub via wooden spokes.
Progress in technology brought two very significant
advances; Metal spokes (which were too heavy and
costly) and pneumatic, or air-filled, tires. The pneumatic
tire absorbs a considerable amount of shock and
significantly increases traction on uneven surfaces
because it conforms to the road surface.

ANATOMY OF WHEEL

Different parts in a wheel are:

Center Bore

Structurally, the empty space inside the center bore is one of

the most important points on the wheel. This hole fits over the
end of the axle when the wheel is bolted on. It is this fit
between the axle seat and the center bore that truly holds the
weight of the car, as lugnuts only serve to keep the wheel on
the axle.

Plate

Around the center bore there is generally a substantial piece of

metal interrupted only by the bolt holes. We call this the plate.
The plate is the core of the wheel, the point of contact to the
axle seat, the lug bolts and the lateral surface of the rotor.
Everything else on the wheel is connected back to the plate.

Spokes
In

essence, the spokes are the structures between the plate and the outer
edge of the wheel. They are designed to tie the wheel together, support
the outer edge and resist impacts.

Dish
Although

it also refers to the outer part of a 3-piece wheel, the dish is

generally thought of as that portion of the wheel that comes out beyond the
spokes. A wheel where the spokes are sunk inches below the lip is a
deep-dish wheel.

Bolt Circle

The bolt circle is the circle described by the centres of the lug bolts. It's
diameter is inexplicably called the Bolt Circle Diameter, or BCD. The
number of bolts plus the BCD comprises the bolt pattern

Valve Stem

Somewhere on the wheel a small hole must be drilled for a valve stem,
that universal mechanism by which we fill our tires with air. Just that small
hole will often make one side of the wheel lighter than the other side
enough so that a good spin balancer will often have to compensate for it.

Other parts of the wheel anatomy include the following:-

Barrel
Drop Center
Flanges
Beads
Mounting Humps
o Concepts with respect to wheel anatomy:

Offset
o The centreline is the line running around and through the barrel of the
wheel, marking the centre of its width. The mounting face, or axle pad
is the flat surface on the back side of the wheel's plate, which stays in
contact with the car's rotors when the wheel is tightened on. The
distance between these two locations, measured in millimetres, is the
offset.
Backspacing
o Backspacing is simply the space between the mounting face and the
inboard flange of the wheel

DIFFERENT TYPES OF WHEELS

Alloy Wheel

Alloy wheels are now standard on most cars because they offer both
cosmetic and performance advantages. Unlike steel wheels, aluminium
alloy can be cast and worked in many different designs, giving cars a
much more individual look, and offering owners the chance to customize
even more. The aluminium/nickel alloy is much lighter than steel and
makes for more agile performance and better acceleration. A car with
alloys on is generally much more fun to drive.

Steel Wheels

Steel wheels are heavier than aluminium, so when you put steel
wheels on a car that has had alloy wheels, you tend to find that the
extra weight dampens acceleration and agility, lowers the car's
centre of gravity and in general makes it drive more like a tank.
Obviously this can be undesirable for summer performance
applications, but in the winter the effect can be a significant physical
and psychological advantage. Heavier wheels will make tires bite the
snow harder, and when driving in snow, having a car with dampened
acceleration and agility, an artificially low centre of gravity and a
sense of solidity and heaviness can be a very good thing.

Rally Wheels

Rally wheels are just one step away from the ordinary steel
wheels normally found on base-model passenger cars and light
trucks, which are made of two or more pieces of stamped sheet
steel welded together. Rally wheels are made of heavier steel and
generally have a spoke design rather than just looking like (and
being) a bevelled disc of sheet metal with round or oval holes cut
out of it. They are made of heavier gauge steel, which makes them
weigh more, but also adds structural integrity. They are a costeffective and reliable upgrade from steel wheels for off road
vehicles.

Mag Wheels

Mag Wheels, or "Mags", are technically speaking wheels made

from magnesium, typically for racing purposes. The term has
expanded to cover any kind of wheel made of a metal or alloy,
usually aluminium in whole or in part, which is cast and milled or
forged rather than being stamped out of steel and welded as the
basic wheels for cars are today.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF WHEEL SPOKE DESIGN

5-spoke

3-spoke

Multi-spoke

Diamond-spoke

Split-spoke