The 15 Basic Parts of a Wheel on a Car with Diagram

Even a Ferrari and a Ford Pinto utilize wheels, which are referred to as machines. Apart from the fire, the wheel is possibly the second-best invention throughout human history. Wheels and tires set limitations on the value of the vehicles and turn them into lawn decorations.

Regarding style and form, the size and style do vary, but the function received by each vehicle is the same. This differentiation does not negate the fact that the value of wheels cannot be undermined.

In this post, we will cover every part of a wheel, which includes the rim, tire, and hub. Learning about your vehicle can go a long way in extending the lifespan of the vehicle and making caring for it much easier.

Car Wheel Parts Diagram with Name

Car Wheel Parts Names List:

Parts of a Wheel

There are various parts of a car wheel, which include three main parts: the tire, the rim, and the hub. The width is covered by the tire, and the rim holds it, giving the wheel traction on the surface. The hub is the main section because that is where the wheel connects to the axle of the automobile.

#1. The Tire.

Clearly, we all understand where the tire rests and how it looks. The tires are indeed crucial for the car as well as for the quality of the ride. You are riding on air; hence, the tires help keep the ride smooth and comfortable.

Modern tires are about seventy years old, and before this time, they were solid rubber, which had very little cushioning. Safety is also another critical factor that makes having the right kind of tire on your car very important.

In icy, snowy, or wet conditions, the tires help grip the road and improve handling for more adverse conditions.

Related Post: Tire Parts: What are the Different Parts of a Tire?

#2. The Rim.

If the rim is the skeleton, the tire is the skin of the wheel assembly. Rims and tires are held together as the rim gives the tire support and form while allowing air to fill the tire. Steel and aluminum are the most common substances used for creating rims, which can be found in a multitude of styles.

They may come with either plastic bits that are more like caps placed on structures, or they can be in burnished chrome, as polished chrome looks better. The styling of the rim is different from one model of vehicle to another.

Trucks require stronger rims because they carry more weight them. Style will always be chosen to serve a purpose more than looking attractive. Functionality is more essential. The configuration and depth of the rim will decide what shape and dimension of the tire will be fitted to it.

#3. The Hub.

Hub is the term for the middle part of a wheel to which the rim is connected. It contains brake pads and calipers, and rotors too, which are attached to the axle to allow for the vehicle to move and stop.

The hub has the mechanics of the wheel, which serve as part of the car; therefore, the tire is affixed to the hub and from the center, which is five bolts with lug nuts extending. The spoke is the part of the car with mechanisms attached to its nice-looking surface, which make it connected to the car.

#4. Spokes.

Spokes are the structures that support the wheel’s hub and rim. They hold the wheel together. In conjunction with the hub, spokes craft the outboard face of the wheel.

With multi-piece wheels, the wheel face is made independently, then attached with bolts to the inner side of the barrel.

As much as spokes uniquely identify the wheels, they enhance the wheel’s aesthetic value. For decorative purposes, custom wheels are offered in different spoke styles, which may differ in number, width, shape, and design pattern. Some truck or trailer wheels may have solid faces with no spokes at all!

Due to engineering purposes, five-spoke wheels are popular because each spoke has the rotation support from two opposing spokes, which control the torsional vibration from being too excessive in extreme conditions. For engineering purposes, it’s also widely known that the less spokes a wheel has, the less mass it carries.

While the number of spokes on the car wheel doesn’t significantly impact the weight or performance of the car when compared to the construction material and methods used, the bearing drivers are free to choose the wheels they desire.

#8. Outer Lip.

The outer lip is the part of the wheel in front of the spokes. The dish comes into play only if it is a large area. The wheel is classified as a deep-dish wheel when the spokes are further in than the outer edge.

This is done purely out of vanity; however, as the face is more susceptible to impact damage, the deeper the dish becomes.

#9. Barrel.

The barrel is the part of the wheel that is the outermost and provides the structure necessary for the tire to be mounted.

The barrel is subdivided into numerous portions, the outer part having a circular rim that extends inwardly towards the axis in the horizontal plane with a center, which is called a drop center.

A wheel with a drop center nearer to the face of the wheel is referred to as a front mount wheel, while the one with a drop center nearer to the back face of the wheel is known as a reverse mount wheel.

The edges of the barrel are turned outward to form flanges. These flanges serve to prevent the tire from coming off the wheel. These flanges that point outward are considered the aesthetic face of the wheel.

#10. Beads.

Just inside the flanges are flat areas called beads. This is where the edges of the tire sit onto the wheel.

#11. Flanges.

Flared edges along the inboard and outboard sides of the rim. These help to prevent the tire from slipping off the wheel.

#12. Mounting Humps.

Small ridges that run along the inside of each bead rest. These help to prevent the tire beads from slipping and hold the beads in place against the wheel.

#13. Drop Center.

The narrowest part of the barrel is used to mount the tire on the wheel without overstretching the bead wires.

#14. Center Cap.

It covers the central bore externally and can be detached. On most vehicles today, some of them will serve as protection against damage to the lug nuts.

#15. Valve Stem.

The rim features a hole for inserting a valve stem when mounting a tire. This is a metal-air valve used to inflate the tire and monitor its air pressure.

Now you know the parts of a car wheel, for more information read car engine parts and car parts in detail.

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