Abstract: A composite wheel assembly and method of construction thereof is provided. The composite wheel assembly includes a wheel having an inwardly facing surface, an outwardly facing surface, a generally cylindrical barrel portion, and a plurality of apertures formed about a central hub aperture. At least one wheel cladding is fixedly bonded to at least one of the inwardly facing surface, the outwardly facing surface, and the generally cylindrical barrel portion. The wheel cladding increases the stiffness and/or strength of the wheel between about 2-16% or greater as compared to the wheel not having the at least one cladding.

Abstract: A wheel assembly including a cover portion permanently attached to a wheel. The wheel includes a wheel central hub portion, a wheel outer peripheral rim portion, a plurality of wheel spoke portions extending between the wheel central hub portion and the wheel outer peripheral rim portion, and a plurality of wheel turbine openings disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of wheel spoke portions. A cover portion is configured to overlie a portion of the wheel portion. The cover portion is configured to overlie one or more of the wheel central hub portion; the plurality of wheel spoke portions, and the plurality of turbine openings or the wheel outer periphery. An adhesive is disposed between an outboard surface of the wheel and the inboard surface of the cover portion to permanently secure the cover portion to the wheel portion. When the cover portion is secured to the wheel, substantial portions of the plurality of wheel spokes, the wheel central hub, or wheel outer periphery remain exposed.

Abstract: A wheel assembly including a wheel and a wheel clad. The wheel includes a wheel outer rim portion, a wheel inner hub portion adapted to receive an axle therethrough, and a plurality of wheel spokes extending radially between the wheel outer rim portion and the wheel inner hub portion. The wheel has an outer surface having a plurality of wheel turbine openings therein. The wheel turbine openings have a first area. The wheel clad includes a clad outer rim portion axially aligned with at least a portion of the wheel outer rim portion, a clad inner hub portion axially aligned with at least a portion of the wheel inner hub portion, and a plurality of clad spokes extending radially between the clad outer rim portion and clad inner hub portion. The clad has a plurality of clad turbine openings each having a second area. The second area is substantially less than the first area. The clad/wheel assembly has a drag coefficient of substantially less than that of the wheel by itself.

Abstract: A wheel assembly including a cover portion permanently attached to a wheel. The wheel includes a wheel central hub portion, a wheel outer peripheral rim portion, a plurality of wheel spoke portions extending between the wheel central hub portion and the wheel outer peripheral rim portion, and a plurality of wheel turbine openings disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of wheel spoke portions. A cover portion is configured to overlie a portion of the wheel portion. The cover portion is configured to overlie one or more of the wheel central hub portion; the plurality of wheel spoke portions, and the plurality of turbine openings or the wheel outer periphery. An adhesive is disposed between an outboard surface of the wheel and the inboard surface of the cover portion to permanently secure the cover portion to the wheel portion. When the cover portion is secured to the wheel, substantial portions of the plurality of wheel spokes, the wheel central hub, or wheel outer periphery remain exposed.

Abstract: A wheel assembly including a cover portion permanently attached to a wheel. The wheel includes a wheel central hub portion, a wheel outer peripheral rim portion, a plurality of wheel spoke portions extending between the wheel central hub portion and the wheel outer peripheral rim portion, and a plurality of wheel turbine openings disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of wheel spoke portions. A cover portion is configured to overlie a portion of the wheel portion. The cover portion is configured to overlie one or more of the wheel central hub portion; the plurality of wheel spoke portions, and the plurality of turbine openings or the wheel outer periphery. An adhesive is disposed between an outboard surface of the wheel and the inboard surface of the cover portion to permanently secure the cover portion to the wheel portion. When the cover portion is secured to the wheel, substantial portions of the plurality of wheel spokes, the wheel central hub, or wheel outer periphery remain exposed.

Abstract: A composite wheel assembly and method of construction thereof is provided. The composite wheel assembly includes a wheel having an inwardly facing surface, an outwardly facing surface, a generally cylindrical barrel portion, and a plurality of apertures formed about a central hub aperture. At least one wheel cladding is fixedly bonded to at least one of the inwardly facing surface, the outwardly facing surface, and the generally cylindrical barrel portion. The wheel cladding increases the stiffness and/or strength of the wheel between about 2-16% or greater as compared to the wheel not having the at least one cladding.

Abstract: A wheel including an inner hub portion configured to receive a vehicle axle therethrough and defining an axis of rotation at a center thereof. A plurality of wheel spoke portions extend generally between the inner hub portion and an outer rim portion. A clad spoke overlies each of the wheel spoke portions. Each of the clad spokes includes an outboard surface overlying an outboard side of the wheel spoke portion, a leading side surface overlying a leading side surface of the wheel spoke portion, and a trailing side surface overlying a trailing side surface of the wheel spoke portion. At least a segment of one of the leading side and trailing side surfaces of the clad spoke has a non-planar shape. A foam adhesive is disposed between the wheel spoke and the clad spoke and may overly the inboard surface of each of the wheel spokes.

Abstract: A wheel assembly including a cover portion permanently attached to a wheel. The wheel includes a wheel central hub portion, a wheel outer peripheral rim portion, a plurality of wheel spoke portions extending between the wheel central hub portion and the wheel outer peripheral rim portion, and a plurality of wheel turbine openings disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of wheel spoke portions. A cover portion is configured to overlie a portion of the wheel portion. The cover portion is configured to overlie one or more of the wheel central hub portion; the plurality of wheel spoke portions, and the plurality of turbine openings or the wheel outer periphery. An adhesive is disposed between an outboard surface of the wheel and the inboard surface of the cover portion to permanently secure the cover portion to the wheel portion. When the cover portion is secured to the wheel, substantial portions of the plurality of wheel spokes, the wheel central hub, or wheel outer periphery remain exposed.

Abstract: A wheel assembly including a cover portion permanently attached to a wheel. The wheel includes a wheel central hub portion, a wheel outer peripheral rim portion, a plurality of wheel spoke portions extending between the wheel central hub portion and the wheel outer peripheral rim portion, and a plurality of wheel turbine openings disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of wheel spoke portions. A cover portion is configured to overlie a portion of the wheel portion. The cover portion is configured to overlie one or more of the wheel central hub portion; the plurality of wheel spoke portions, and the plurality of turbine openings or the wheel outer periphery. An adhesive is disposed between an outboard surface of the wheel and the inboard surface of the cover portion to permanently secure the cover portion to the wheel portion. When the cover portion is secured to the wheel, substantial portions of the plurality of wheel spokes, the wheel central hub, or wheel outer periphery remain exposed.

Abstract: A wheel including an inner hub portion configured to receive a vehicle axle therethrough and defining an axis of rotation at a center thereof. A plurality of wheel spoke portions extend generally between the inner hub portion and an outer rim portion. A clad spoke overlies each of the wheel spoke portions. Each of the clad spokes includes an outboard surface overlying an outboard side of the wheel spoke portion, a leading side surface overlying a leading side surface of the wheel spoke portion, and a trailing side surface overlying a trailing side surface of the wheel spoke portion. At least a segment of one of the leading side and trailing side surfaces of the clad spoke has a non-planar shape. A foam adhesive is disposed between the wheel spoke and the clad spoke and may overly the inboard surface of each of the wheel spokes.

Abstract: A wheel for a vehicle includes an inner hub portion that is configured to receive an axle therethrough and which defines an axis of rotation at a center thereof. The wheel includes an outer rim portion. A plurality of wheel spoke portions extend generally between the inner hub portion and the outer rim portion. The inner hub portion, the outer rim portion, and the plurality of spoke portions cooperate to form a wheel outer surface having a plurality of turbine openings. The outer surface of the wheel defines a wheel reference plane that is oriented generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The wheel outer surface is the side that face away from a vehicle. Each of the plurality of wheel spoke portions has an outer side adjacent the wheel outer surface, an inner side opposite the outer side, a leading side surface and a trailing side surface.

Abstract: A wheel for a vehicle includes an inner hub portion that is configured to receive an axle therethrough and which defines an axis of rotation at a center thereof. The wheel includes an outer rim portion. A plurality of wheel spoke portions extend generally between the inner hub portion and the outer rim portion. The inner hub portion, the outer rim portion, and the plurality of spoke portions cooperate to form a wheel outer surface having a plurality of turbine openings. The outer surface of the wheel defines a wheel reference plane that is oriented generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The wheel outer surface is the side that face away from a vehicle. Each of the plurality of wheel spoke portions has an outer side adjacent the wheel outer surface, an inner side opposite the outer side, a leading side surface and a trailing side surface.

Abstract: A wheel assembly including a cover portion permanently attached to a wheel. The wheel includes a wheel central hub portion, a wheel outer peripheral rim portion, a plurality of wheel spoke portions extending between the wheel central hub portion and the wheel outer peripheral rim portion, and a plurality of wheel turbine openings disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of wheel spoke portions. A cover portion is configured to overlie a portion of the wheel portion. The cover portion is configured to overlie one or more of the wheel central hub portion; the plurality of wheel spoke portions, and the plurality of turbine openings or the wheel outer periphery. An adhesive is disposed between an outboard surface of the wheel and the inboard surface of the cover portion to permanently secure the cover portion to the wheel portion. When the cover portion is secured to the wheel, substantial portions of the plurality of wheel spokes, the wheel central hub, or wheel outer periphery remain exposed.

Abstract: A wheel assembly including a wheel and a wheel clad. The wheel includes a wheel outer rim portion, a wheel inner hub portion adapted to receive an axle therethrough, and a plurality of wheel spokes extending radially between the wheel outer rim portion and the wheel inner hub portion. The wheel has an outer surface having a plurality of wheel turbine openings therein. The wheel turbine openings have a first area. The wheel clad includes a clad outer rim portion axially aligned with at least a portion of the wheel outer rim portion, a clad inner hub portion axially aligned with at least a portion of the wheel inner hub portion, and a plurality of clad spokes extending radially between the clad outer rim portion and clad inner hub portion. The clad has a plurality of clad turbine openings each having a second area. The second area is substantially less than the first area. The clad/wheel assembly has a drag coefficient of substantially less than that of the wheel by itself.

Abstract: A motorcycle wheel assembly comprises a wheel having opposite outer surfaces, and a pair of claddings covering the opposite surfaces to provide an aesthetic covering on both sides of the associated wheel assembly. The claddings cooperate and engage one another to securely attach to the associated wheel, to provide alignment therebetween, to provide a wheel assembly having the aesthetic appearance of a solid wheel and other aesthetic improvements.