Rim (wheel)

For other uses, see Rim.
Cutaway diagram of a rim and tire from an ATV
Cross section of a bicycle rim
A wooden bicycle rim with tubular tire

The rim is the "outer edge of a wheel, holding the tire".[1] It makes up the outer circular design of the wheel on which the inside edge of the tire is mounted on vehicles such as automobiles.[2] For example, on a bicycle wheel the rim is a large hoop attached to the outer ends of the spokes of the wheel that holds the tire and tube.[3] In cross-section, the rim is deep in the center and shallow at the outer edges, thus forming a "U" shape that supports the bead of the tire casing.[4]

In the 1st millennium BC, an iron rim was introduced around the wooden wheels of chariots to improve longevity on rough surfaces.[5]

  1. ^ Jewel, Elizabeth (2006). The Pocket Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus. Oxford University Press. p. 722. ISBN 9780195307153. Retrieved 26 June 2022 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Definition of rim". Collins English Dictionary. 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023. a. the outer, circular part of a wheel b. the metal flange surrounding the wheel of an automotive vehicle, on which the tire is mounted
  3. ^ "Definition of rim". WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English. 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023. 1. the outer edge or border of something:a chip on the rim of the glass. 2. the outer circle of a wheel, attached to the hub by spokes.
  4. ^ Forester, John (1993). Effective Cycling. MIT Press. ISBN 9780262560702. Retrieved 19 April 2023 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ Timelines of Science. Penguin. 2013. p. 20. ISBN 9781465421234. Retrieved 19 April 2023 – via Google Books.