A spoke wheel includes a rim for supporting a tire having rim guards, a hub located radially inwardly with respect to the rim, and a plurality of spokes integrally connected with the rim and the hub at outer and inner ends, respectively, and extending radially with respect to the hub; a laterally outer surface of the outer end of each spoke and a laterally outer peripheral edge of the rim are located laterally inwardly with respect to a tip of a laterally outer rim guard; outer ends of main spokes among the spokes are provided with convex portions projecting laterally outwardly and extending in the radial direction, and a lateral position of a laterally outer tip of each convex portion lies in the range between a lateral position of the laterally outer peripheral edge of the rim and a lateral position of the tip of the laterally outer rim guard.

The disclosure is directed to a wheel having a rim that is at least partially made from several layers of fiber-reinforced plastic, and a wheel center having multiple spokes extending from a wheel hub, which constitutes an axis of rotation, to the rim in a radial direction. According to the disclosure the rim comprises a rim well extending in transversal direction between an inboard flange and an outboard flange suitable to receive a tire to be mounted thereon. The wheel includes a circumferential collar that extends from the outboard flange radially inwards towards the axis of rotation and that has an outboard collar face that constitutes an aerodynamic surface.

The disclosure is directed to a wheel having a rim that is at least partially made from several layers of fiber-reinforced plastic, and a wheel center having multiple spokes extending from a wheel hub, which constitutes an axis of rotation, to the rim in a radial direction. According to the disclosure the rim comprises a rim well extending in transversal direction between an inboard flange and an outboard flange suitable to receive a tire to be mounted thereon. The wheel includes a circumferential collar that extends from the outboard flange radially inwards towards the axis of rotation and that has an outboard collar face that constitutes an aerodynamic surface.

A streamlined tailfin pivotably attached to a shaft-shaped member disposed on a vehicle provides for reduced drag in winds varying in direction impinging thereon.

A wheel disc adapted for use in a fabricated vehicle wheel comprising a steel wheel disc defining an axis and including a center mounting portion, an outer rim connecting flange, a plurality of radially outwardly extending spokes connecting the center mounting portion to the outer rim connecting flange and a ventilation opening provided between each pair of adjacent spokes. A width defined by a center wall of the spoke is tapered inwardly along a substantial portion of a radial length thereof as the center wall of the spoke extends generally from the center mounting portion to the outer rim connecting flange or wherein a width defined by outer walls of the spoke is tapered inwardly along a substantial portion of a radial length thereof as the outer walls of the spoke extends generally from the center mounting portion to the outer rim connecting flange.

A wheel disc adapted for use in a fabricated vehicle wheel comprising a steel wheel disc defining an axis and including a center mounting portion, an outer rim connecting flange, a plurality of radially outwardly extending spokes connecting the center mounting portion to the outer rim connecting flange and a ventilation opening provided between each pair of adjacent spokes. A width defined by a center wall of the spoke is tapered inwardly along a substantial portion of a radial length thereof as the center wall of the spoke extends generally from the center mounting portion to the outer rim connecting flange or wherein a width defined by outer walls of the spoke is tapered inwardly along a substantial portion of a radial length thereof as the outer walls of the spoke extends generally from the center mounting portion to the outer rim connecting flange.

A wheel and a rim with a weight reduction inner flange are provided. The rim includes an inner flange, a middle portion and an outer flange which are all annular and connected end to end to form an annular rim, in which the inner flange or the outer flange includes multiple groups of edge weight reduction sockets arranged side by side on one side of the inner cavity of a hub, and multiple groups of inner weight reduction sockets arranged side by side are provided inside the edge weight reduction sockets on the rim; a group of edge weight reduction sockets includes a first edge weight reduction socket and a second edge weight reduction socket at the edge of the inner flange or the outer flange, and the first edge weight reduction socket is in the shape of a right-angled triangle having round angles.

A wheel and a rim with a weight reduction inner flange are provided. The rim includes an inner flange, a middle portion and an outer flange which are all annular and connected end to end to form an annular rim, in which the inner flange or the outer flange includes multiple groups of edge weight reduction sockets arranged side by side on one side of the inner cavity of a hub, and multiple groups of inner weight reduction sockets arranged side by side are provided inside the edge weight reduction sockets on the rim; a group of edge weight reduction sockets includes a first edge weight reduction socket and a second edge weight reduction socket at the edge of the inner flange or the outer flange, and the first edge weight reduction socket is in the shape of a right-angled triangle having round angles.

An aerodynamically optimized drag-reduction means and method for optimal minimization of the drag-induced resistive forces upon a terrestrial vehicle wheel, where the drag-induced resistive moments on wheel surfaces pivoting about the point of ground contact are reduced, and the vehicle propulsive forces needed to countervail the resistive forces on the wheel are reduced. The drag reduction means includes: a streamlined wheel cover positioned on a vehicle to shield the faster moving upper wheel surfaces from headwinds; a streamlined wind-deflecting fairing positioned on a vehicle to shield the faster moving upper wheel surfaces from headwinds; an engine exhaust pipe disposed on a vehicle whereby exhaust gases deflect headwinds to shield the faster moving upper wheel surfaces of an automotive wheel; an automotive spoked wheel having streamlined oval-shaped wheel spokes arranged in one or more rows for greater axial strength; a streamlined tailfin rotatably attached to a wheel spoke, which thereby may pivot about the spoke in response to varying crosswinds; and a tire having streamlined tread blocks arranged in an aerodynamic pattern.

Presented are hybrid metal and fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite wheels for vehicle wheel assemblies, methods for making/using such wheels, and motor vehicles equipped with such wheels. A wheel for a motor vehicle wheel assembly includes a wheel face with multiple spokes that are circumferentially spaced about and project radially outward from a central hub. The central hub rotatably attaches to the vehicle's body, e.g., via a corner module. The wheel face is fabricated, e.g., as a one-piece structure, from an FRP material. A wheel barrel, which circumscribes the wheel face, includes an annular rim that mounts thereon an inflatable tire. The wheel barrel is fabricated, e.g., as a one-piece structure, from a metallic material. Multiple overmold through holes and/or inset tabs are circumferentially spaced about the annular rim. The FRP material extends through and/or surrounds the overmold through holes/inset tabs and thereby mounts the wheel face to the wheel barrel.