In the first part of a new series looking at all aspects of car design, Peter Stevens ponders the importance of wheels and tyres to both engineering and aesthetics -
The important thing for a designer to remember is that wheels are principally engineering components; their secondary purpose may be style-related as an indicator of the car’s purpose. And their weight is crucial to the ride, handling and feel of the car’s steering. How often do we readThe centre of the wheel where it bolts to the hub is the most highly loaded part of the wheel.
It is a simple engineering fact of life that an 18 or 19in wheel is the best compromise between tyre stiffness, air volume and wheel weight. Very large diameter wheels with 8, 9 or 10in wide rims to suit giant low-profile tyres are very heavy. This is partly because, with modern suspension geometry, the inner part of the rim overhangs the hub to such a degree that the inside edge of the rim is easily damaged or becomes oval after hitting a pothole.
The wheels that look best usually have just five spokes and are simple, graphic images with very little fussy detail – for example, early BBS wheels.
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