Abstract: A wheel rim for a pneumatic tire having a pair of annular tire bead retaining flanges and a well located adjacent one of the flanges beneath the normal seating position of an associated tire bead. A well-filling ring can be located in the well to fill the well and provide support for the beads of a tire mounted on the rim.

Abstract: A wheel rim assembly comprising a rim having a well disposed between tire bead seats, a well cover band arranged to extend circumferentially around the well so as to prevent a tire bead from entering the well, the cover band being split at one side of its circumference, and a link of deformable material to connect the ends of the band, link having sufficient rigidity to hold the ends of the band against circumferential displacement relative to one another after deformation of the link to secure and tension the band around the well.

Abstract: A split rim assembly, the one-half of the rim being furnished with both bead seating portions, one of said bead seating portions extending substantially parallel to the rim axis and merging into a ramp which is engageable by the toe of the bead of an associated tire to seal the tire/rim cavity. The diameters of the bead seating portions may be the same or alternatively the diameter of the outboard bead seating portion may be less than the diameter of the inboard bead seating portion.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire and wheel rim assembly capable of being run in a deflated condition comprises a wheel rim having a pair of bead seats, a circumferential well disposed between the bead seats, and closure means for the well defining in combination with one of the bead seats a circumferential notch. A pneumatic tyre comprising a tread, sidewalls and beads for seating on the bead seats of the wheel rim is mounted on the wheel rim, one of the beads being provided with an extended toe portion which projects into the notch to restrain the bead from axial inward displacement.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire and vehicle wheel assembly, the wheel being of the split-rim type without a tire mounting well in the base portion of the rim. A support member is provided extending radially fr0m the base portion of the rim to contact and support the tread region of the tire when the tire is wholly or partially deflated. The support member is preferably of L-section so as to have a cantilever flange to contact the tire and is preferably heat-conductive. A lubricant is preferably included in the tire cavity which will be between the tire and support member when the former contacts the latter. The support member is preferably adjacent one of the bead seats of the rim to serve the secondary purpose of retaining the tire bead on said seat. The support member may be an integral, radially outer part of the wheel disc or a separate, annular component surrounding the base portion of the rim.

Abstract: A divided or one piece wheel rim comprising two tire bead retaining flanges with inclined bead seating portions and a substantially flat well base portion positioned therebetween. A radially inwardly tapering groove being provided adjacent the toe portion of an associated tire bead.