How Rims Work and Why They Matter

The rim is the "outer edge of a wheel, holding the tire". It makes up the outer circular design of the wheel on which the inside edge of the tire is mounted on vehicles such as automobiles. For example, on a bicycle wheel the rim is a large hoop attached to the outer ends of the spokes of the wheel that holds the tire and tube. In cross-section, the rim is deep in the center and shallow at the outer edges, thus forming a "U" shape that supports for the bead of the tire casing.

Characteristics :

Design: The first pneumatic tires for bicycles were simple tubes in shape secured to the wooden outer concave surfaced circumference of the wheel by glue and air pressure pressing them against it The surface for receiving the tube was not very secure thus causing the tires to sometimes come off the rims. Bicycle manufacturer and inventor, Thomas B. Jeffer developed an improved tire with a wire that was embedded in the rubber of the tire, and the wire could be tightened onto the rim.

Type: Depends on the type of vehicle and tire. There are various rim profiles, as well as the number of rim components.

Modern passenger vehicles and tubeless tires typically use one-piece rims with a "safety" rim profile. The safety feature helps keep the tire bead held to the rim under adverse conditions by having a pair of safety humps extending inwardly of the rim toward the other tire bead seat from an outer contoured surface of the rim.

Material: Various metals can be used for the rim. Commonly seen are alloy (magnesium and aluminum) mag (magnesium), aluminum, and chrome. Teflon coatings are sometimes also applied for an extra layer of protection.

Vehicle performance: Because the rim is where the tire resides on the wheel and the rim supports the tire shape, the dimensions of the rims are a factor in the handling characteristics of a vehicle. For example:

Overly wide rims in relation to the tire width for a particular car may result in more vibration and a less comfortable ride because the sidewalls of the tire have an insufficient curvature to flex properly over rough driving surfaces. Oversized rims may cause the tire to rub on the body or suspension components while turning.

Production

A standard automotive steel wheel rim is made from rectangular sheet metal. The metal plate is bent to produce a cylindrical sleeve, and then the two free edges of the sleeve are welded together. At least one cylindrical flow spinning operation is carried out to obtain the desired thickness profile of the sleeve—and the desired angle of inclination relative to the axial direction in the zone for the outer seat. The sleeve is then shaped to obtain the rims on each side with a radially inner cylindrical wall in the zone of the outer seat and with a radially outer wall inclined at an angle corresponding to the standard inclination of the rim seats. The rim is then calibrated.

How Rims Work

Wheels are a defining characteristic of all cars and allow a vehicle to actually roll – clearly, you wouldn’t get far without them. Many people focus on wheels for their aesthetic appearance, but they play a vital function in how your car drives. With so many sizes and styles available, you may wonder what the difference is, how wheels work, and if the differences matter.

Why wheels matter?

From a technical perspective, wheels provide a means of affixing tires to the vehicle in order for the engine to put its power to the ground. The engine creates power, which then moves through the drivetrain down to the wheels. Wheels bolt to the wheel hub and rotate around the axles. Friction is necessary to turn the wheels and propel a car forward, and is provided by the tires touching the ground. The wheel transfers power from the axle/hub to the tires, providing the leverage needed to move the car. The amount of leverage created depends on how large the wheel is in relation to the power that the engine generates.

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