A vehicle wheel traction assembly for use in freeing a stuck vehicle includes a plate having a plurality of ridges engaged thereto and extending from a first face thereof. A second face of the plate can be positioned upon a surface proximate to a drive wheel of a vehicle to increase traction of the drive wheel relative to that of the drive wheel directly upon the surface. A handle is engaged by a pivot pin to the second face of the plate proximate to a first end thereof. The pivot pin is biased toward a first terminus of the handle. The handle is rotatable between a deployed configuration, wherein a second terminus of the handle is positioned distal from the plate, and a stowed configuration, wherein the handle extends between the first end and a second end of the plate.

An axle-free wheel comprising: an outer rim member having a ground interface on an external surface thereof and an outer ball race or rolling race on an inner surface thereof; an inner rim member having an inner ball or rolling race on an outer surface thereof.

A wheel assembly to be coupled to a hub of a vehicle may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle and an outer rim surrounding the inner rim. The wheel assembly may include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim and tread assemblies carried by the outer rim.

A wheel assembly may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle, and an outer rim surrounding the inner rim. Gas springs may be operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim and permitting relative movement therebetween. The wheel assembly may also include a sensor configured to sense the relative movement between the inner and outer rims.

A removably attachable fender flare system has an inner flare and an upper flare and a lower flare, which are removably attachable to the inner flare. The upper and lower flare may have traction protrusions to provide traction to free a stuck off-road vehicle. The inner flare may be in direct contact with and coupled to the off-road vehicle, providing a location to secure the upper and lower flares. The upper flare and lower flare may couple to a groove, which runs the length of the inner flare, from front to back. Further, the lower flare may couple to the upper flare, securing the fender flares.

A system is provided for retractably deploying traction of a wheel. The system includes a set of grippers, each gripper having a cleat and a radially disposed strut. The system further includes a set of first poles, each first pole coupled to one of the struts, the first pole configured to support motion of its corresponding strut between a parked position and an engaged position, wherein, in the engaged position, the corresponding cleat is axially disposed and engaged against the tread of the wheel and, in the parked position, the corresponding cleat is disengaged from the tread of the wheel. The system includes a first faceplate configured to rotate with the wheel. The system further includes a cleat deployment mechanism having a second faceplate rotatably coupled to the first faceplate, and a set of second poles, each second pole coupled to one of the struts and to the second faceplate.

A vehicle wheel assembly includes a wheel, a tire, one or a plurality of protruding elements positioned fully or partially within the tire and a deployment mechanism configured to deploy said one or a plurality of protruding elements out of the tire to a deployed position utilizing pressure within the tire, and configured to retract said one or a plurality of protruding elements from the deployed position to a retracted position.

A wheel for a non-motorized vehicle (e.g., a shopping cart) can include a housing assembly and a tread assembly. The housing assembly can be configured to sealingly house electronics or other components. The tread assembly can removably mate with the housing assembly such that the electronics or other components remain closed and/or sealed within the housing assembly when the tread assembly is mated or unmated with the housing assembly.

An axle-free wheel comprising: an outer rim member having a ground interface on an external surface thereof and an outer ball race or rolling race on an inner surface thereof; an inner rim member having an inner ball or rolling race on an outer surface thereof.

A wheel assembly may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle, and an outer rim surrounding the inner rim. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim and permitting relative movement therebetween. The wheel assembly may also include a rigid inboard cover ring coupled to an inboard side of the outer rim and extending radially inward toward the inner rim. A flexible inboard seal may be coupled between the rigid inboard cover ring and the inner rim.