Wheels and Tyres Wheels and Tyres

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The road wheel fulfils many The road wheel fulfils many requirements, to minimise air requirements, to minimise air

loss and to transmit drive to the loss and to transmit drive to the road in conjunction with the tyre road in conjunction with the tyre

are to name a few. are to name a few.

Name other requirements of the Name other requirements of the road wheel:road wheel:

• To be easily removable

• Has to be able to withstand the forces which occur during driving – cornering, braking etc.

• Easy to clean

• Allow cooling to the brake disc

• Allow tyre fitting and removal

• Cheap to produce

Label the types of wheel design Label the types of wheel design below and state advantages of below and state advantages of

each type:each type:

Aluminum alloy wheel Aluminum alloy wheel

• Light in weight

• Allow good air flow to brakes

• Attractive appearance

Pressed steel rim Pressed steel rim

• Cheap to produce

• Easy to clean

• Strong – harder to scratch or damage

Wire spoked rim Wire spoked rim

• Attractive appearance

• Easy to remove and refit

• Strong and light in weight

• Good air flow to brakes

There are many different There are many different configurations of rim design. All configurations of rim design. All

of the aforementioned of the aforementioned requirements are a design requirements are a design feature in the road wheel. feature in the road wheel.

Name the differing types of rim: Name the differing types of rim:

• Two piece rim

Removable flange (spring flange) Flat rim

base

• Three piece rim. • Used on

commercial vehicles which used to have very stiff tyre sidewalls.

Removable flange (endless flange)

Flat rim

Locking rim

• Split rim

These bolts hold the two rims together and should not be removed until the tyre is deflated

Questions Questions

1. Name an advantage of aluminum rims over steel rims.

2. Name an advantage of steel rims over aluminum rims.

3. Name 2 requirements of a wheel. 4. Why are the bolts which bolt the split rim

together painted red? 5. Name a check which would be carried

out on a wheel during a service.

Answers Answers

1. Looks better, better cooling to brakes, lighter unsprung weight

2. Cheaper to produce, harder to damage, easier to clean

3. Enable tyre removal, has to be easy to remove/refit, allow cooling to brakes, withstand driving forces

4. To highlight the fact that they are not the wheel removal bolts – safety

5. Check torque of nuts/bolts, check rim for damage/buckling