A spare wheel assembly comprising a tire and a rim to which the tire is attached is disclosed. The rim includes a center mounting plate having a center bore, inner and outer opposed flanges, and a disk between the center bore and the flanges. The disk includes a pair of elongated, curved slots formed on opposite sides of the center bore. Each of the slots is an ergonomically-formed hand hold for receiving fingers of an operator's hand. The inner and outer opposed flanges of the rim define perimeters of the rim between which the tire is held. The curved slots are concentric with respect to the perimeter of the outer flange and with respect to the center bore. A centerline is formed radially through the assembly. The disk is positioned on one side of the centerline and the mounting plate is positioned on the other side of the centerline.

The invention is a car jack that uses a threaded ring to raise a jack, and then a compressing nut that compresses opposing jaws to hold a vehicle axle in place as a car tire is replaced.

The invention is a car jack that uses a threaded ring to raise a jack, and then a compressing nut that compresses opposing jaws to hold a vehicle axle in place as a car tire is replaced.

A dual tire mounting device having an inner hub mount, a plurality of spaced fins connected to and extending outwardly from the inner hub mount, and a plurality of U-shaped ribs aligned with and connected to the spaced fins. An outer ring is received within and connected to slots in the U-shaped ribs.

A gripper, a gripper station and a method for gripping an annular tire component, wherein the gripper has a plurality of gripper members distributed in a circumferential direction about a gripper axis and movable with at least a vector component in a radial direction perpendicular to the gripper axis over a main range with a radially inner endpoint and a radially outer endpoint. The gripper further has a limiter for limiting the movement of the plurality of gripper members in the radial direction to a subrange within the main range, wherein the subrange has an adjustable subrange position relative to the main range. The gripper has a synchronization member for synchronizing movements of the plurality of gripper members in the radial direction, wherein the synchronization member defines the main range, and wherein the limiter is arranged for limiting the synchronization member to define the subrange.

A gripper, a gripper station and a method for gripping an annular tire component, wherein the gripper has a plurality of gripper members distributed in a circumferential direction about a gripper axis and movable with at least a vector component in a radial direction perpendicular to the gripper axis over a main range with a radially inner endpoint and a radially outer endpoint. The gripper further has a limiter for limiting the movement of the plurality of gripper members in the radial direction to a subrange within the main range, wherein the subrange has an adjustable subrange position relative to the main range. The gripper has a synchronization member for synchronizing movements of the plurality of gripper members in the radial direction, wherein the synchronization member defines the main range, and wherein the limiter is arranged for limiting the synchronization member to define the subrange.

A drag wheel for trailers and other vehicles is described. The drag wheel includes a wheel. The drag wheel includes a support frame. The support frame includes a skid plate, a first support member, and a second support member. The wheel is rotatably engaged to the first support member and the second support member. The wheel is positioned between the first support member and the second support member. A forward portion of the wheel is covered by the skid plate, the first support member and the second support member.

A drag wheel for trailers and other vehicles is described. The drag wheel includes a wheel. The drag wheel includes a support frame. The support frame includes a skid plate, a first support member, and a second support member. The wheel is rotatably engaged to the first support member and the second support member. The wheel is positioned between the first support member and the second support member. A forward portion of the wheel is covered by the skid plate, the first support member and the second support member.