Abstract: A wheel separator and method for packaging vehicle wheels and the like comprises a multi-ply panel of corrugated fiberboard having at least three liner sheets and two filler layers therebetween. One of the panel faces is generally flat with a plurality of annularly shaped grooves arranged in a spaced apart pattern. Each of the grooves has a base, and opposite sidewalls which extend through at least two adjacent ones of the liner sheets and the associated intermediate filler layer. The groove base is an annular ring cut from the exterior one of the two liner sheets, and is supported by the remaining liner sheets and filler layers. The groove sidewalls are spaced apart a distance substantially commensurate with the thickness of the associated vehicle wheel rim to closely receive the same therein, such that adjacent wheels are prevented from laterally contacting each other, and axial rotation of the wheels is alleviated to avoid cutting vertically through the separator.