A wheel assembly comprising a rigid wheel including a radially outer rim wall presenting a polygonal shape with a plurality of outermost vertices connecting a plurality of planar faces, and a flexible tire mounted on the outer rim wall. The tire is supported by the vertices of the rim wall and is separated from the rim faces by a space, portions of the tire located between the vertices being configured to flex inwardly when subject to ground engaging pressure.

A multi-layer or multi-section foam insert replacement for a pneumatic inner tube emulates the effect of air pressure, across a wide range of temperatures and pressures, while maintaining the weight of a conventional air-filled pneumatic tube. Through the use of different density materials and/or the orientation and thickness of such materials, desirable handling properties are achieved. The multi-layer/multi-section foam insert can be produced by steam molding or extrusion of foam materials.

A wheel rim retainer includes an annular unit, a first end connecting member movably coupled at one end of the annular unit, and a second end connecting member movably coupled at an opposed end of the annular unit. The annular unit includes a plurality of hinged members movably coupled with each other in an edge-to-edge manner, wherein each of the hinged members has a width larger than a width of the wheel well. The second end connecting member is detachably coupled with the first end connecting member for encircling the hinged members around a hub surface of a wheel rim to cover a wheel well thereof so as to prevent a bead of a tire falling at the wheel rim when the tire is deflated.

A runflat device, and a method of fitting a runflat device. The runflat device can include a chain of segments which is flexible enough to be manipulated for fitting, while also being laterally stable to ensure correct positioning and to avoid misalignment when tightening onto a wheel. The fitting method initially expands the runflat device within the cavity of the tyre, retaining the runflat device securely in place against the inside of the tyre's tread area. This advantageously leaves the beads of the tyre unobstructed for fitting to a wheel.

A wheel assembly comprising a rigid wheel including a radially outer rim wall presenting a polygonal shape with a plurality of outermost vertices connecting a plurality of planar faces, and a flexible tire mounted on the outer rim wall. The tire is supported by the vertices of the rim wall and is separated from the rim faces by a space, portions of the tire located between the vertices being configured to flex inwardly when subject to ground engaging pressure.

A quick release mechanism for a wheel includes a hub and a clip, which interact with a wheel or roller that may or may not be part of the invention per se. The hub is disposable on a drive shaft such that it will rotate with the drive shaft. An optional hub cap is disposable on the wheel and has an opening that is complimentary to the geometry of the hub to allow engagement thereof such that the hub the hub cap rotate together. The clip is disposable on the hub in a closed or an open position so that the hub cap cannot or can be removed from the hub.

A runflat device can include a double sided beadlock. The runflat device can be fitted to any size and type of wheel, regardless of a shape and depth of a wheel well. The runflat device can be fitted using standard tools, and may be tightened by manipulation of a valve assembly.

A wheel assembly including a rigid wheel and a flexible tire. The rigid wheel includes a radially outer rim wall, a plurality of mounting elements, and a plurality of inflatable spacers between the mounting elements. The flexible tire may be mounted on the mounting elements of the rigid wheel such that portions of the flexible tire between the mounting elements are separated from the outer rim wall by spaces between the mounting elements and are configured to flex inwardly when subject to ground engaging pressure. The inflatable spacers limit the amount of inward flex of the inwardly flexible portions of the flexible tire.

A wheel rim retainer includes an annular unit, a first end connecting member movably coupled at one end of the annular unit, and a second end connecting member movably coupled at an opposed end of the annular unit. The annular unit includes a plurality of hinged members movably coupled with each other in an edge-to-edge manner, wherein each of the hinged members has a width larger than a width of the wheel well. The second end connecting member is detachably coupled with the first end connecting member for encircling the hinged members around a hub surface of a wheel rim to cover a wheel well thereof so as to prevent a bead of a tire falling at the wheel rim when the tire is deflated.

A wheel assembly including a rigid wheel having a radially outer rim wall presenting a polygonal shape with a plurality of outermost vertices connecting a plurality of planar faces, and a flexible tire mounted on the outer rim wall. The tire is supported by the vertices of the rim wall and is separated from the rim faces by a space, portions of the tire located between the vertices being configured to flex inwardly when subject to ground engaging pressure.