WHEELS

What are wheels?

 A wheel is defined as a circular object fixed on an axle with bearings, which provides
motion to the vehicle.
 It is a circular block of a hard and durable material at whose centre has been bored a
circular hole through which is placed an axle bearing about which the wheel rotates
when a moment is applied by gravity or torque to the wheel about its axis

 The various requirements of an automobile wheels are:

1. It must be strong enough to perform the functions such as to take vehicle load, provide
a cushioning effect and cope with the steering control.
2. It should be balanced both statically as well as dynamically.
3. It should be lightest as possible so that the unsprung weight is least.
4. It should be possible to remove or mount the wheel easily.
5. Its material should not deteriorate with weathering and age.

Components of a Wheel:

 The centre bore is the opening that allows the wheel to fit on the axle. This is the part
of the wheel that attaches the wheel to the vehicle and bears the weight of the vehicle.
When you buy aftermarket wheels, you must ensure that the centre bore is at least the
size of the OEM wheel. This generally isn’t a problem as most manufacturers make
wheels with a large centre bore in order to fit as many vehicles as possible. When the
 centre bore is larger, hub-centric rings are used to fill the gap. Centre caps will cover
the centre bore with style.
 The hub is the central part of the wheel that attaches the entire wheel to the axle and
the braking system.

 The rim of a car's wheel is the skeletal body of the tire. It supports the rubber
tire, which wraps around it, and houses the hub.

 Going out from the centre bore is the centre disc. This is the portion of the wheel into
which the bolt holes are machined to create the bolt circle. This area is the point of
contact to the axle seat, the lug bolts and the lateral surface of the rotor. Everything on
the wheel connects in some manner to the disc.

 The lug holes create the bolt circle with 4 or more openings. The diameter of the bolt
circle is called the bolt circle diameter and abbreviated as BCD. The amount of holes
and the diameter of the bolt circle is what defines the bolt pattern. Now that we’ve got
the centre covered, let’s move outward in our wheel anatomy.

 The spokes connect the centre disc to the outer ring of the wheel. The spokes give the
wheel structural integrity and are one of the major elements of style in wheel design.

 The outer lip is the portion of the wheel in front of the spokes. For the most part, the
dish only comes into play when it is a large area. When the spokes are significantly
distanced from the outer edge, the wheel is considered a deep dish wheel. This is done
purely for aesthetic reasons. As the dish gets deeper, the face is more vulnerable to
damage from impact.

 The very outer portion of the wheel is the barrel. The barrel is what creates the
structures necessary for mounting the tire. The barrel has many parts. The smallest
inside diameter of the barrel is the drop centre. If the drop centre is close to the front
face of the wheel, it is a front mount wheel. If the drop enter is close to the back face
of the wheel it is a reverse mount wheel. The barrel edges are flared to create the
flanges. The flanges keep the tire from slipping off. The outer facing flanges are part
of the cosmetic face of the wheel.

 Just inside the flanges are flat areas called the beads. This is where the edges of the
tire sit onto the wheel. Mounting humps circle the barrel on both the car side and the
 cosmetic side of the wheel. These ridges separate the beads to keep the tire from
slipping away from the edge of the wheel.

Tyre nomenclature
 Tire Type

The letter "P" at the beginning of the "Tire Size" tells us the tire is a P-Metric tire, referring
to tires made to certain standards within the United States, intended for Passenger vehicles.

If a tire size has no letters at the beginning, this indicates a Euro metric tire. P-Metric and
Euro-Metric tires may have different load capacities.

The letters "LT," either at the beginning or at the end of the tire size indicate the tire was
designed for light trucks. Vehicle manufacturers equip some light trucks with "LT" type
tires. These tires generally require higher inflation pressures than passenger tires.

 Tire Width

Is the width of the tire measured in millimetres from sidewall to sidewall.

The first three-digit number in the tire size refers to the tire width. For instance, in a size
P215/65 R15 tire, the width is 215 millimetres.
  Aspect Ratio

Is the ratio of the height of the tire's cross-section to its width. The two-digit number after the
slash mark in a tire size is the aspect ratio. For example, in a size P215/65 R15 tire, the 65
means that the height is equal to 65% of the tire's width. The bigger the aspect ratio, the
bigger the tire's sidewall will be.

 Construction

The letter "R" in a tire size stands for Radial, which means the layers run radially across the
tire.

 Wheel Diameter

Is the size of the wheel measured from one end to the other. It tells us the size of the wheel
that the tire is intended to fit. A size P215/65 R15 tire is made for a wheel with a 15"
diameter.
  Load Index
Indicates the maximum load that the tire can support when properly inflated. You'll also find
the maximum load on the tire sidewall, in both pounds and kilograms.
 Speed Rating
Tells you the maximum speed capability of a tire. Often speed ratings are matched to the top
speed capability of the vehicle. For example, a tire with an H-speed rating has a maximum
speed capability of 130 mph or 210 km/h. Goodyear does NOT recommend exceeding
legally posted speed limits.
 DOT Symbol
The letters "DOT" on the sidewall indicate that the tire complies with all applicable Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards in the United States.
 Tire Identification Number
The series of letters and numbers following the letters "DOT." The TIN consists of up to 12
numbers and letters to identify the factory location and the week and year the tire was
manufactured.
 UTQG
Stands for Uniform Tire Quality Grading, a rating system developed by the U.S. Department
of Transportation to provide consumers with information to help them purchase tires based
on their relative treadwear, traction and temperature capabilities.

 Traction grades indicate the wet traction of a tire under a controlled test. A tire with
an "AA" rating offers outstanding traction in wet conditions.

Traction Grades

AA

C
 

 Temperature grades indicate the ability of the tire to withstand and dissipate

destructive heat. A tire with a higher temperature grade can operate at higher speeds.

Temperature Grades Speeds in mph

A Over 115

B Between 100 and 115

C Between 85 and 100

 
Treadwear grades are based on standardized government tests to help predict the expected
treadwear of a tire. For example, a tire with a treadwear grade of 200 should last twice if
a tire with a treadwear grade of 100.

Wheel nomenclature
 On the inside of your wheel, we can find markings like this:

6 ½ J x 15 H2 5/112 ET39
Let’s see what each of these symbols mean.

 6½

Inner width of wheel in inches (6 ½ x 25.4mm= 152.4mm).

 J

Indicates the shape of the wheel on the place where the tyre bead sits on the wheel.

 x

Indicates that the construction of the wheel is one-piece.

 15

Nominal wheel diameter in inches (15 x 25.4mm= 381mm).

 H2

Type of wheels flange. Wheels flange is a bulge on the wheel in the place where the tyre
bead lies on the wheel. It prevents the tyre from falling inside of the wheel.

 5/112

First number is the number of bolts (in our case 5). The number 112 indicates the so-called
PCD (Pitch Circle Diameter/bolt diameter) which is the diameter of an imaginary circle
drawn through the centre hole of the screws on which the wheel is mounted.
  ЕТ39

ET is the offset, that is the distance between the centreline of the wheel and the plane of the
hub-mounting surface of the wheel. The offset is measured in millimetres and can be positive
or negative. In our case it is positive: 39 mm.
Manufacturing methods of Wheels:
Different types of wheels are formed by different types of manufacturing methods. The
wheel structure and the wheel material determine the manufacturing process used.
Some common methods used to make aluminium and alloy wheels are as follows:

Casting:

This is the simplest method of manufacturing a wheel. Molten metal is poured into a mould
to create the wheel. With gravity casting, the pressure of gravity pushes the metal into the
mould. Pressure casting uses additional pressure to compress the metal into the mould. Low
pressure casting uses air to force the molten metal into the mould and compress the metal.
Counterpressure casting uses the suction force of a vacuum to pull the molten metal into the
mould. Casting is used to create a one-piece wheel structure.

Flow Forming

This combines a casting process with a stretching process. First the metal is poured into a mould and then heat and high-
pressure rollers are used to shape, stretch and form the wheel. This process creates a thin but dense metal. That means light,
but strong.
Forging

This process is popular with aluminium and some aluminium alloys. An aluminium billet (a block of metal) is the starting
point. The billet is then crushed into shape using an unbelievable amount of pressure. This creates a wheel structure that is
dense, strong, and light.

Rotary Forging

This process was pioneered by TSW Wheels and is being used by Motegi Racing Wheels as well. It is similar to standard
aluminium forging but with a twist. While the billet is being forged, the forge is spinning at high speeds. This forces the
molecules to form strong chains. This structure results in a wheel that is stronger than a conventionally forged aluminium
wheel
 TREAD AND TREAD PATTERNS
 The tread is the part of the tire that contacts the surface of the road. And if you look at
different tires on the market, you'll notice a great deal of variety in their tread patterns.
 There are various tread patterns that enhances a vehicle with grip and handling for
specific driving conditions. Just like in a detective novel, you could identify a make of
tire by the tracks it leaves on the road.
Every tire tread has four constituent parts:

 Ribs are the raised section of the tread pattern, made up of tread blocks;
 Grooves are deep channels which run circumferentially and laterally around the tire;
 Tread blocks are the raised rubber segments that contact the road surface;
 Sipes are small, thin slots moulded into the tread blocks.
DIRECTIONAL TREAD PATTERN

SYMMETRICAL TREAD PATTERN

ASYMMETRICAL TREAD PATTERN

 FLOW OPTIMISED ASYMMETRICAL TREAD PATTERN

Float Axles
They are of two types:
-Full floating axle
-semi-floating axle
-3 quarter floating axle.
A full-floating axle carries the vehicle's weight on the axle casing, not the half shafts;
they serve only to transmit torque from the differential to the wheels. They "float" inside
an assembly that carries the vehicle's weight. Thus, the only stress it must endure is
torque (not lateral bending force)
a semi-floating design carries the weight of the vehicle on the axle shaft itself; there is a
single bearing at the end of the axle housing that carries the load from the axle and that
the axle rotates through.
Advantages:
1.Convertible
2.safer
3.High load capacity
Disadvantages:
1.Expensive
2Heavy