Abstract: A metal wheel which produces an unusual visual effect when rotated employs a disc member extending between a center hub and outermost rim in angular relationship to the wheel's axis of rotation. The rim is provided with a continuously varied weighting feature to neutralize the centrifugal imbalance that would otherwise be produced.

Abstract: A wheel having a hub centered upon an axis of rotation is provided with a disc member extending outwardly from the hub and centered upon a plane that intersects the axis at an angle between 47 and 87 degrees and terminates in a rim member having a radially measured thickness which progressively varies between diametrically opposed thick and thin regions which are in reversed relationship on opposed surfaces of the wheel.

Abstract: Disclosed are improved wheels and tires for simulating the appearance of larger-diameter wheels mounted within low-profile tires. The improved tires are intended to be mounted on wheels with an extended outer flange. An embodiment of the tire comprises an outboard tire wall, an inboard tire wall, a tread therebetween, a laterally extending wheel protector, a ledge, and a flange seat. The flange seat is optionally contoured to match the inner face of an outer flange of the improved wheel.

Abstract: A vehicle rim with symmetry of revolution intended for mounting a tire, including a first seat intended to receive and retain a first bead of the tire; a mounting groove; and a second seat intended to receive and retain a second bead of the tire, the second seat being of an average diameter smaller than the average diameter of the first seat, characterized in that the maximum radial depth of the mounting groove (Hmax) is such that the second bead can negotiate the first seat.

Abstract: A rim material having a non-uniform thickness, a rim manufactured from the rim material, and a method for manufacturing the rim from the rim material. The rim material includes a first material portion which forms an axially curved portion of the rim after the rim material is formed to the rim and a second material portion which forms an intermediate portion between adjacent axially curved portions after the rim material is formed to the rim. The first material portion has a thick parallel-surface portion including opposite surfaces parallel to each other. The parallel-surface portion has a width greater than a maximum amount of an axial dislocation of the parallel-surface portion expected to occur when the parallel-surface portion is formed to a corresponding curved portion. The second material portion has a thickness varying portion. The thickness varying portion includes a surface having a configuration defined by a line including a straight line and/or a slightly curved line.

Abstract: Disclosed are improved wheels and tires for simulating the appearance of larger-diameter wheels mounted within low-profile tires. The improved tires are intended to be mounted on wheels with an extended outer flange. An embodiment of the tire comprises an outboard tire wall, an inboard tire wall, a tread therebetween, a laterally extending wheel protector, a ledge, and a flange seat. The flange seat is optionally contoured to match the inner face of an outer flange of the improved wheel.

Abstract: A tire wheel comprising a disk and a rim for mounting a pneumatic tire joined to the peripheral edge of the disk. The rim includes a rim body joined to the disk and rim flanges joined to both width direction sides of the rim body. The disk is offset to one side with respect to the width direction center of the rim. The rim body has a rim body portion extending from a join position between the disk and the rim body to a boundary position between the rim body and the rim flange on the other side. The rim body portion consists of three equal sections into which the rim body portion is equally divided along the center axis of rotation of the wheel. The equal section positioned closer to the rim flange on the other side is thinner in average rim thickness.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved wheel and tire for simulating the appearance of a larger-diameter wheel mounted within a low-profile tire. The wheel has an inboard side and an outboard side. The outboard side includes a wide outer flange which extends around the outer circumference of the wheel. The outer flange and/or the outboard face of the wheel is preferably detachable from the remainder of the wheel. The inboard side may include a wide inboard flange which is preferably detachable. The flanges preferably cover a substantial portion of the wall of the outer tire within which the wheel is mounted. A design, preferably comprised of, for example, a plurality of protrusions, indentations, and slits, extends across at least a portion of the outboard face of the wheel, including the outboard face of the extended outer flange.

Abstract: A rim material having a non-uniform thickness, a rim manufactured from the rim material, and a method for manufacturing the rim from the rim material. The rim material includes a first material portion which forms an axially curved portion of the rim after the rim material is formed to the rim and a second material portion which forms an intermediate portion between adjacent axially curved portions after the rim material is formed to the rim. The first material portion has a thick parallel-surface portion including opposite surfaces parallel to each other. The parallel-surface portion has a width greater than a maximum amount of an axial dislocation of the parallel-surface portion expected to occur when the parallel-surface portion is formed to a corresponding curved portion. The second material portion has a thickness varying portion. The thickness varying portion includes a surface having a configuration defined by a line including a straight line and/or a slightly curved line.

Abstract: A vehicle rim includes a rim body and a safety rim. The rim body includes a hub and a tire locking frame coaxially mounted with the hub, wherein the tire locking frame has an outer circumferential wall and two locking flanges radially extended from two side edges of the outer circumferential wall for substantially interlocking with two beads of the wheel tire respectively. The safety rim, having a running surface, is radially and outwardly extended from the rim body, wherein a circumference of said safety rim is larger than a circumference of each of the locking flanges of the tire locking frame and is smaller than a circumference of the tread of the wheel tire, such that the safety rim functions as a safety wheel to support the rim body for running the running surface on the road surface when the wheel tire is popped out from the rim body.

Abstract: A tire and wheel assembly that permits hand-mounting of the tire on the wheel is provided. The following parameters are identified in a specific relationship so as to provide a tire that permits such hand mounting: Ct is the circumference of the wheel well, from the mounting side flange, H is the radial height of the rim flange, and Y is the axial width of the rim flange, and M represents an amount of additional length, preferably about 80 millimeters.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved wheel and tire for simulating the appearance of a larger-diameter wheel mounted within a low-profile tire. The wheel has an inboard side and an outboard side. The outboard side includes a wide outer flange which extends around the outer circumference of the wheel. The outer flange is preferably integral with the outboard face of the wheel and covers a substantial portion of the outboard wall of the tire within which the wheel is mounted. A design, preferably comprised of, for example, a plurality of protrusions, indentations, and slits, extends across at least a portion of the outboard face of the wheel, including the outboard face of the extended outer flange.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved wheel and tire for simulating the appearance of a larger-diameter wheel mounted within a low-profile tire. The wheel has an inboard side and an outboard side. The outboard side includes a wide outer flange which extends around the outer circumference of the wheel. The outer flange and/or the outboard face of the wheel is preferably detachable from the remainder of the wheel. The inboard side may include a wide inboard flange which is preferably detachable. The flanges preferably cover a substantial portion of the wall of the outer tire within which the wheel is mounted. A design, preferably comprised of, for example, a plurality of protrusions, indentations, and slits, extends across at least a portion of the outboard face of the wheel, including the outboard face of the extended outer flange.

Abstract: A wheel having a rim with first and second rim seats, at least the first rim seat having a generatrix, the axially outer end of which is on a circle of diameter less than the diameter of the circle on which the axially inner end is located, the first rim seat being extended axially outward by a low protrusion or hump and axially inward by a bearing surface intended to receive a tread support ring, and a wheel disk, joined on the side of the first rim seat to the radially inner wall of the rim, characterized in that the rim bearing surface includes first and second support zones separated by a circumferential groove which opens radially outward.