Adapter for a rolling assembly having an axis of rotation comprising a tire having two beads, a rim with rim well (13) between two rim seats (12) each with an axially outer end, and width W between axially outer ends of these rim seats. The adapter, coupled between each bead and each rim seat, has two axially outer ends (2) each comprising seat (3) and bearing face (4) in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation. Body (5) connects outer axial ends (2) and comprises a main reinforcement, face (16) in contact with each seat (12) and with well (13) and positioned radially on the inside. The adapter has a total axial width L between each seat (3), and 60%W/L20%. Body (5) comprises immobilizing element (8) to wedge the adapter in the rim well (13).

Vehicle rim for mounting of a tire, comprising: an axially central part (20) comprising a disc; two lateral parts (31, 32), at least one of the lateral parts being separate from the axially central part, each of the lateral parts having a rim seat to receive a bead of a tire, the axially central part and the two lateral parts being made from a rigid matrix; an intermediate part (41, 42) that forms the only mechanical link between the axially central part and each lateral part that is separate from the axially central part, this intermediate part being made of a flexible matrix, the Young's modulus of uniaxial extension of the flexible matrix being greater than and equal to 50 MPa and less than or equal to 400 MPa; wherein the Young's modulus of uniaxial extension of the rigid matrix is greater than or equal to 5 GPa.

A rim well with integrated flange made of fiber composite as well as to a method for manufacturing same. The flange is formed by inwardly directed protuberances of fiber layers of the rim well, wherein the fiber layers transition to the flange from the rim well without interruption of the fibers. The manufacture is carried out by depositing fiber material on a mold, which corresponds to the contour of the rim well and has a radially circumferential or segmented groove. The fibers are deposited such that the fibers of at least one fiber layer have protuberances directed into the groove. A multipart mold, which makes it possible to reduce the width of the groove and thus a deformation of the protuberances, is preferably used.

An adapter for a rolling assembly comprising a tire having two beads (B), a rim (J) with two rim seats (7), said adapter connecting one of the beads and the rim. The adapter has an axially inner end (10) comprising inner reinforcer element (16), and an axially outer end (15) comprising outer reinforcer element (15), respectively mounted on a rim seat (7). Body (11) connects said outer end (9) to said inner end (10). Main reinforcement connects said outer reinforcer (15), and said inner reinforcer (16), a substantially cylindrical adapter seat (18) receiving one of said beads (B), an adapter bearing face (21) substantially contained in a plane perpendicular to the rion otataxis. The reinforcer element (15) of the axially outer end (9) is entirely situated axially outside the bearing face (21), and in that the body (11) comprises, opposite the adapter seat (7), an annular seat reinforcer (19).

The invention relates to a device (3) for protecting a wheel rim (2) of a motor vehicle, wherein: an outer side of a rim flange (4) is covered by the device (3): the device (3) consists of a ring (5), the diameter of which is matched to that of the rim flange (4); and the ring (5) has a circumferential tongue (5.2) for fastening the device (3) to the rim flange (4), which tongue can be clamped between an inner side of the rim flange (4) and a side wall of a tyre (1). The device (3) is intended to be held securely on the wheel rim (1) even at very high speeds and correspondingly large forces acting on the device (3). No changes to the wheel rim (1) are necessary, and installation is simple. This is achieved in that the single ring (5) is produced from a hard material and has a continuous radial gap (6) and in that end faces (5.3) of the ring formed by the gap (6) can be connected by means of a clamping screw (8).

A chin ring heat shield for a wheel assembly is provided. The chin ring heat shield is arranged to provide a shield between convection and radiation heat from braking components and a tire of the wheel assembly. The chin ring includes a first, radially extending, flat portion extending from a first chin ring end and a second, concave portion extending generally axially away from the first portion to a second chin ring end. The axial length from the first chin ring end to the second chin ring end is sufficient to block a line of sight between the braking components and the tire when the chin ring is mounted between the braking components and the tire.

A composition for a vehicle wheel member and an article using the same are provided. The composition includes 100 parts by weight of thermoplastic polyurethane, 1 to 30 parts by weight of a plasticizer, and 400 to 1,680 parts by weight of metal particles. The composition has a density of 3 g/cm.sup.3 or more. The thermoplastic polyurethane has a Shore A hardness of 59 to 92.