Wheels: Description and Operation

WHEELS
DESCRIPTION
Original equipment wheels are designed for proper operation at all loads up to the specified maximum vehicle capacity.

Fig. 1:

All models use steel or cast aluminum drop center wheels. Every wheel has raised sections between the rim flanges and rim drop well called safety humps.

Initial inflation of the tires forces the bead over these raised sections. In case of air loss the raised sections help hold the tire in position on the wheel until the vehicle can be brought to a safe stop.

Cast aluminum wheels require special balance weights to fit on the rim flange of the wheel and special wheel clamps for the alignment equipment.

The wheel studs and nuts are designed for specific wheel applications and must be replaced with equivalent parts. Do not use replacement parts of lesser quality or of a substitute design. All aluminum and some steel wheels have wheel stud nuts with an enlarged nose. This enlarged nose is necessary to ensure proper retention of the wheels.

Before installing a wheel, remove any buildup of corrosion on the wheel mounting surface.

WARNING: INSTALLING WHEELS WITHOUT GOOD METAL-TO-METAL CONTACT COULD CAUSE LOOSENING OF WHEEL LUG NUTS. THIS COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE SAFETY AND HANDLING OF YOUR VEHICLE.