Discover 18 Key Parts of Car Wheel: Names, Functions & Diagram

The invention of the wheel is the first milestone in the era of transportation. It is a circular component that is intended to rotate on an axle bearing. The wheel changed the way of transportation. It started using in a variety of applications. Furthermore, it became an important part of the automobile. Various parts of a car wheel make a perfect assembly for an automobile. Its function is to transform the torque via the tire to the road. Due to that car runs on the road. In every vehicle, the wheel parts are responsible for moving the car from one place to another. Its size varies as per the vehicle type. But without the wheel, all the vehicles are expensive lawn ornaments.

Today, not only in the automobile, the use of wheels became common in different sectors. During the wheel selection, necessary to know every part of a wheel, its material, and its function. Because its material decides its characteristics and strength. It helps to improve their aesthetics.

Car Wheel Parts Diagram

Car Wheel Parts Names

Parts of a Wheel

Below are the different parts of the car wheel explained in detail.

Rim

Many people things that the wheel and rim are the same or vice versa. But in actuality both are different. Rim is a part of the wheel. The wheel is an assembly of a rim, hub, tire, valve, and more.

Rim is a cylindrical component that holds the tire on it. In the old design of wheel assembly, the tube is inside the tire.

But in modern tubeless tires, it is necessary to maintain proper fitting between the tire and rim to avoid leakage of air because there is no different tube present like the old assembly.

Material selection is important for a rim. To withstand the various forces and whole car weight is necessary to have better strength. The size of the tire depends on the size of the rim.

We can customize the rim and tire sizes as per our requirements. We can give different shapes and colors to the rims.

Barrel

The barrel gives the shape and surface for mounting the tire. Its surface helps to maintain and retain the air pressure inside the tire.

Outer Lip

It is a wheel’s outer edge. When we drive the vehicle in a pothole, due to the high impact, it gets bent. It happens due to not getting that much support from the spokes.

Drop Centre

The drop center is the central and narrow part of the barrel. It gives support to the tire. To mount the tire properly on the rim, one side of the tire gets inserted into the drop center. So that the other side can adjust to hold on to the edge of the rim.

Flanges

Flanges prevent the tire from slipping while a car running on the road. These are at both ends of the wheel. It also prevents slippage of the tire during harsh conditions like heavy rides, uneven roads, etc.

Beads

It helps to fit the tire on the wheel and create a seal. Beads and flanges are part of the wheel assembly.  

Mounting Humps

These are the ridges that go around both sides of the barrel. Humps lead to separate beads and hold the tire on the wheel. Slant edges of the hump help during the maintenance.

In some cars or sports cars, these edges are straight to prevent the tire from sliding off from the rim. It helps to make tires on the rim at high speed.

Hub

Hub is a central part of the wheel. On one end of the hub brake drum mounts and the other end wheel bearing. Hub has a center hole to engage with the axle. So, we can insert the hub into the axle, and with the stud, we can fix the wheel on the axle.

This part holds the rotor, brake pad, calipers, and others. So, we can run the vehicle on the road and apply breaks whenever required.

Centre Bore

The function of the center bore is to support the weight of the vehicle. It is at the center and on the wheels’ backside.

Centre disc or Plate

The plate is to fix every component of the wheel to the axle. It has a hole on its periphery to fix with the axle.

Spokes

Spokes are the structural member that connects the rim and hub. It is for the structural integrity of the wheel. In some vehicles, it is inbuilt with a rim, and in some vehicles it is separate.

It improves the aesthetics of the vehicle and makes it unique from other vehicles. We can customize it as per our requirements.

5 spokes wheel is common, but we can see the vehicle with 3 spokes and more than 5 spokes. Fewer spokes reduce the weight of the wheel assembly.

It helps to absorb impact forces during driving. So the material of the spokes plays an important role in their strength.

Bolt Circle

It is an area created by the lug bolt. It can vary as per the vehicle and manufacturer.

Valve

The valve mechanism in the car is to evaluate and monitors the air pressure inside the tire. It helps to avoid any damage or accident due to less air pressure inside the tire.

Rubber stems are commonly used in vehicles. Others are also there, which are made up of metal to increase aesthetics.

Centre Cap

The center cap is the center area of the wheel where all spokes come together. It fits on the center hole, and we can remove it. But in the steel rims, we can not remove the center cap.

We can drive a vehicle without a center cap. In modern vehicles, their logo is on the center cap. So it improves the aesthetics and covers the hole as well.

Lug Holes

Lugholes are the holes around the center bore. It is for the passing bolt to attach the wheel with the axle. We can fix the wheel assembly with the axle by the nuts. These lug holes vary as per the manufacturer. Some manufacturer uses 4 lug holes, and some use 5, 6, and 8.

Outboard Face

It is the outer side of the wheel after fixing the vehicle. It improves the aesthetics of the vehicle.

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