Abstract: A composite styled wheel has a rigid wheel backbone with a plastic overlay on an outboard face thereof. The wheel backbone is positioned in a lower mold to define a mold cavity therebetween, and an upper mold seals through apertures in the wheel backbone. The lower mold has a ring-shaped forming surface that selectively abuts the outboard flange edge of the wheel backbone, and a riser which selectively engages the wheel backbone, and selectively positions the outboard flange edge a spaced apart distance from the forming surface to define a venting space therebetween. A reactive urethane mixture is injected into the mold cavity to fill at least a portion of the same, and flow the mixture through the venting space to evacuate air from the mold cavity.

Abstract: An elastomeric guard member for use with a vehicle wheel is disclosed. The wheel includes a wheel disc and rim. The wheel disc defines a plurality of circumferential openings. In prior art wheel assemblies, debris was apparent at the wheel openings. The elastomeric guard member is positioned in a circular configuration within the space to retard water and debris from entering the space and to present a better visual appearance.