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Wheels and Tires:
A Brief Look At How the wheel Assembly Works
One of man's earliest inventions is the wheel and it remains a fairly simple contraption, but a lot has changed since its inception. In short, an automobile wheel consists of two parts:  the disc (the center of the wheel) and the rim (the outer edge of the wheel.) The disc is connected to a round hub, which rotates around the spindle. The hub is connected to the steering system via the steering knuckle. Without that connection, you wouldn't be able to control the wheels with the steering wheel. A large hole in the center of the wheel allows the wheel to seat on the spindle. Lug studs and nuts secure the wheel in place. Wheel bearings between the hub and spindle reduce friction created as the hub spins around the spindle.
Securing the tire to the wheel But how does a tire secure itself to the wheel? First, you must find the properly sized tire. The rim diameter and rim width determine the range of tire sizes that will fit on the wheel. We'll show you how to buy the right kind of tire a little later on.
Once you find the correct tire, you'll notice that on each side of the rim, two wheel flanges stick up to fasten the bead (or inside edge) of the tire to the rim. The bead rests on the bead seat, When the tire is inflated, the tire's internal pressure, pushes the tire bead against the wheel flange, creating an airtight seal. Without proper air pressure, the tire will wear abnormally.
Safety ridges help keep the tire in place (seated) in the advent of a flat tire or blowout
Wheel bearing assembly
 The wheel bearing assembly can be thought of a series of concentric circles, each part fitting inside another part and working together. The assembly consists of four basic parts:
*Outer race
*Cage
*Wheel bearings
*Inner race
The outer race is a sturdy metal band that surrounds the other parts of the assembly. The outer race is pressed into the hub. Wheel bearings reduce friction created as the hub rotates around the spindle. The actual wheel bearings are housed in a retainer called the cage. Wheel bearings can either be round ball bearings or of a longer cylindrical, roller design. The cage is sandwiched between the inner and outer races.
The inner race looks like a slightly smaller version of the outer race and functions as the bottom or innermost layer of the wheel bearing assembly. The inner race rests on the spindle. Special heat resistant grease is packed around the assembly and capped with a grease seal that protects the assembly from dirt and water as well as prevents the loss of lubrication. |
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Article Pages
1. An Introduction to Wheels and Tires
2. Tires
3. Learning To Read Your Tires
4. Manipulating The System
5. Valves
6. Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS)
7. Tire Inspection
8. Tire Wear Guide
9. Tire Rotation
11. Wheel And Rim Construction
Hot Topics
-> 4 Things You Can Start Doing Today To Extend The Life Of Your Tires
-> New Tires Guide
-> Tire Safety Tips
-> What Does It Mean When My Wheels Are Imbalanced?
-> Wheel Balancing
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