A universal temporary wheel is provided that has a universal aperture pattern that is adapted to mate with different configurations of lug bolt patterns to enable the wheel to be used with various wheel hub configurations having various lug bolt patterns. The universal temporary wheel can be installed while a damaged wheel is being repaired to allow an automobile or other vehicle to be moved. Because the universal temporary wheel has a universal aperture pattern, the wheel can be used with a variety of wheel hub configurations and lug bolt patterns, thereby eliminating the need to stock a variety of temporary wheels having various aperture patterns.

A universal temporary wheel is provided that has a universal aperture pattern that is adapted to mate with different configurations of lug bolt patterns to enable the wheel to be used with various wheel hub configurations having various lug bolt patterns. The universal temporary wheel can be installed while a damaged wheel is being repaired to allow an automobile or other vehicle to be moved. Because the universal temporary wheel has a universal aperture pattern, the wheel can be used with a variety of wheel hub configurations and lug bolt patterns, thereby eliminating the need to stock a variety of temporary wheels having various aperture patterns.

A wheel width direction (Y) cross-section of a well portion (11A) includes a hump portion (H1) and a hump portion (H2) that protrude to the outside (Z1) in a wheel radial direction (Z), and a curved surface (11s) that connects hump portion (H1) and hump portion (H2) and is sunken to the inside (Z2) in the wheel radial direction (Z). The curved surface (11s) is formed as a series of circular arcs (11e, 11f, 11g) that have centers of curvature (O1, O2, O3) that are further to the outside (Z1) in the wheel radial direction (Z) than the curved surface (11s).

A wheel for vehicle 1 is provided with a disc 10 and a rim 20 and has a braking device 30 housed therein. An annular flange portion 41 protruded inward from a bead seat portion 22 in a radial direction of the wheel 1 is disposed at an end of the rim 20 on a side opposite to the disc 10. The flange portion 41 has an inclined surface 41a on a side opposite to the disc 10. The flange portion 41 is inclined toward the disc 10 in a direction toward a central axis L of the wheel 1. The inclined surface 41a acts to reduce air resistance at the wheel 1 while the vehicle is running and guides a portion of an underfloor airflow to an inner space of the wheel 1 to secure an amount of air for cooling the braking device 30.

A wheel for supporting tires for vehicles which is made of composite material based on carbon fiber, which includes an insert which is made of metallic material at its central region configured to be fixed to the hub of the respective vehicle. The insert is coupled between external contoured laminated shells made of composite material, with the interposition of at least one interface film having a thickness that can vary between 0.05 mm and 1.0 mm.

The interface film is made of a material preferably chosen from among epoxy polymers, polyurethane polymers, acrylic polymers, silicone polymers, polyamide polymers, glass fibers, and combinations thereof.

A shaped preform component (200A) for a spoke portion (108A) of a composite wheel (100), the shaped preform (200A) comprising: an elongate body (215) configured to be located in a spoke (108) of a composite wheel (100), wherein the shaped preform component (200A) is formed from a cured composite fibre material having a compressibility of <2% volumetric under moulding conditions of 50 bar hydrostatic pressure and a temperature of 60 to 150 C., and wherein the density of the cured composite fibre material is selected to form a counterbalance mass for a mass addition (300) to the composite wheel (100).

A shaped preform component (200A) for a spoke portion (108A) of a composite wheel (100), the shaped preform (200A) comprising: an elongate body (215) configured to be located in a spoke (108) of a composite wheel (100), wherein the shaped preform component (200A) is formed from a cured composite fibre material having a compressibility of <2% volumetric under moulding conditions of 50 bar hydrostatic pressure and a temperature of 60 to 150 C., and wherein the density of the cured composite fibre material is selected to form a counterbalance mass for a mass addition (300) to the composite wheel (100).

A method for manufacturing a vehicle wheel includes: a casting process of manufacturing the wheel in a one-piece body having a forming end and a temporary flange protruding at inner and outer sides of the wheel, respectively, wherein the one-piece body further includes a resonance chamber forming groove; a primary shape machining process of forming a stepped part at an outer circumferential side of the resonance chamber forming groove; a flow forming process of bending the forming end to be seated on the stepped part; a friction stir welding process of integrally bonding a portion where the forming end and the stepped part are in close contact with each other; a fine machining process of removing the temporary flange; and a sound-absorbing hole machining process of forming a sound-absorbing hole for communicating between the resonance chamber and an interior space of a tire in the forming end.

A method for manufacturing a vehicle wheel includes: a casting process of manufacturing the wheel in a one-piece body having a forming end and a temporary flange protruding at inner and outer sides of the wheel, respectively, wherein the one-piece body further includes a resonance chamber forming groove; a primary shape machining process of forming a stepped part at an outer circumferential side of the resonance chamber forming groove; a flow forming process of bending the forming end to be seated on the stepped part; a friction stir welding process of integrally bonding a portion where the forming end and the stepped part are in close contact with each other; a fine machining process of removing the temporary flange; and a sound-absorbing hole machining process of forming a sound-absorbing hole for communicating between the resonance chamber and an interior space of a tire in the forming end.

A wheel assembly comprising a wheel disk and a tread member disposed around the wheel disk. The wheel disk can have a substantially conical shape when in an unloaded state, but be flexible such that it can deform under load to optimize and/or maximize contact area between the tread member and a driving surface.