Abstract: A vehicle wheel is defined by a substrate including a face and a rim portion. The face defines a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly between a central portion of the face and the rim portion and defining a mating portion. An applique is affixed to the wheel at the mating portion. A polymer over-coating that is substantially transparent extends over the applique and the wheel substrate defining a continuous polymer surface over the applique and the wheel substrate.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel is defined by a substrate including a face and a rim portion. The face defines a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly between a central portion of the face and the rim portion and defining a mating portion. An applique is affixed to the wheel at the mating portion. A polymer over-coating that is substantially transparent extends over the applique and the wheel substrate defining a continuous polymer surface over the applique and the wheel substrate.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel includes a face portion including a central portion defining a Wheel axis and a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly from the face portion. A rim portion circumscribes the wheel axis and is interconnected to the face portion by the plurality of spokes. The face portion and the rim portion define a first surface and a second surface. The first surface includes a paint finish defining a first gloss rating and the second surface includes a paint finish. defining a second gloss rating that is different than the first gloss rating presenting a multi-gloss paint finish to the wheel.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel and method of manufacturing the vehicle wheel is disclosed. A first polymeric coating is applied to a surface of an alloy substrate that defines the vehicle wheel. The first polymeric coating defines a first coloration. An intermediate clear polymeric coating is applied over the first polymeric coating. A second polymeric coating is applied over the first polymeric coating with the second polymeric coating defining a second coloration that is distinguishable from the first coloration. A laser scans a pattern over the second polymeric coating resulting in ablation of the second polymeric coating rendering the first polymeric coating visible through the intermediate clear polymeric coating defining a pattern of exposed first polymeric coating. Thus, a two-tone appears is present between the first coloration and the second coloration in the shape of the pattern scanned by the laser.

Abstract: A wheel assembly includes a rim element having an annular configuration defining an axis, and a spider defining a central element circumscribing the axis with a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly between the central element and the rim element. Adjacent of the spokes define an opening therebetween and are interconnected by a web circumscribing the opening. A cover defines a connector that is disposed over the spider concealing a portion of the spider and opening circumscribed by the web. The web defines a receptor configured to engage the connector thereby retaining the cover to the spider.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel is defined by a substrate including a face and a rim portion. The face defines a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly between a central portion of the face and the rim portion and defining a mating portion. An applique is affixed to the wheel at the mating portion. A polymer over-coating that is substantially transparent extends over the applique and the wheel substrate defining a continuous polymer surface over the applique and the wheel substrate.

Abstract: A wheel assembly for a vehicle includes a face portion and a rim portion. The face portion is formed from an alloy and defines a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly between a central portion and a proximal bead element. The rim portion is formed of a composite material that defines an annular wall extending between the proximal bead element and a distal bead element. The face portion defines a mating member that is disposed in mating engagement with a rim seat defined by the rim portion. The mating member and the rim seat define a receptor for receiving a pin with said pin including shear resistors oriented to counteract shear forces F between said face portion and the rim portion.

Abstract: A road wheel for a vehicle includes a face portion and a rim portion. The face portion is formed from a metallic alloy and defines a central portion plurality of spokes extending between the central portion and a proximal bead element. The rim portion is formed from a composite material and defines an annular wall circumscribing a wheel axis extending to a distal bead element from said face portion. The proximal bead element is defined by the metallic alloy and the distal bead element is defined by the composite. The face portion and the rim portion are interconnected in interlocking engagement.

Abstract: A road wheel for a vehicle includes a face portion and a rim portion. The face portion is formed from a metallic alloy and defines a central portion plurality of spokes extending between the central portion and a proximal bead element. The rim portion is formed from a composite material and defines an annular wall circumscribing a wheel axis extending to a distal bead element from said face portion. The proximal bead element is defined by the metallic alloy and the distal bead element is defined by the composite. The face portion and the rim portion are interconnected in interlocking engagement.

Abstract: An alloy wheel is formed having a three dimensional configuration defining a face and recessed surfaces. The face of the wheel is machined providing a smooth surface at the face and defining an edge between the smooth surface of the face and the recessed surfaces. A nozzle element for projecting a plasma jet toward the wheel is provided. The plasma jet is projected toward the smooth surface of the face, the edge, and toward at least a portion of the recessed surfaces forming an alloy oxide at least on the face and the edge disposed between the face and the recessed surfaces. A first polymeric coating is applied over the face, the recessed surfaces and the edge disposed between the face and the recessed surfaces.

Abstract: A cast aluminum wheel includes a rim element having an annular configuration defining an axis and a central element extending radially outwardly between the axis and the rim element. The rim element includes a wall extending circumferentially around the axis between a proximal bead and a distal bead. The central element includes a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly toward the proximal bead and meets proximate the axis with adjacent of the plurality of spokes defining a cooperative feature therebetween for providing stiffness to the wheel. The spokes progressively increase in volume in a direction toward the axis from the rim element thereby providing increased mass of the spokes proximate the axis relative to the rim element.

Abstract: A wheel assembly for a vehicle includes a face portion and a rim portion. The face portion is formed from an alloy and defines a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly between a central portion and a proximal bead element. The rim portion is formed of a composite material that defines an annular wall extending between the proximal bead element and a distal bead element. The face portion defines a mating member that is disposed in mating engagement with a rim seat defined by the rim portion. The mating member and the rim seat define a receptor for receiving a pin with said pin including shear resistors oriented to counteract shear forces F between said face portion and the rim portion.

Abstract: A road wheel for a vehicle includes a central portion and a rim portion. The central portion defines a wheel axis and is formed from a first material. The central portion includes a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly from a lug member defined by the central portion. Each of the spokes is interconnected to a link disposed at a distal end of the spokes. The rim portion is formed from a second material and defines a tubular wall being coaxial with the wheel axis. The rim portion including an interlock configured to receive the link for interconnecting the central portion with the rim portion.

Abstract: A cast aluminum wheel includes a rim element having an annular configuration defining an axis and a central element extending radially outwardly between the axis and the rim element. The rim element includes a wall extending circumferentially around the axis between a proximal bead and a distal bead. The central element includes a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly toward the proximal bead and meets proximate the axis with adjacent of the plurality of spokes defining a cooperative feature therebetween for providing stiffness to the wheel. The spokes progressively increase in volume in a direction toward the axis from the rim element thereby providing increased mass of the spokes proximate the axis relative to the rim element.

Abstract: A road wheel for a vehicle includes a face portion and a rim portion. The face portion is formed from a metallic alloy and defines a central portion plurality of spokes extending between the central portion and a proximal bead element. The rim portion is formed from a composite material and defines an annular wall circumscribing a wheel axis extending to a distal bead element from said face portion. The proximal bead element is defined by the metallic alloy and the distal bead element is defined by the composite. The face portion and the rim portion are interconnected in interlocking engagement.