Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 327 Chapter 16 Wheels and Tires Objectives After studying this chapter, you will be able to: ✓ Describe the types of wheels used on modern powersports vehicles. ✓ Perform service and repair operations on powersports vehicle wheels. ✓ Compare various tire designs. ✓ Describe the differences between tube and tubeless tires. ✓ Describe the differences between radial and non-radial tires. ✓ Understand the basics of wheel truing and wheel and tire balancing. ✓ Inspect, service, repair, and replace tires. Technical Terms axle bias-belted tire bias-ply tire bubble balancer cast wheel hub lateral runout radial runout radial tire rim offset stamped wheel tube tire tubeless tire wheel wheel bearing wheel lacing wheel truing wire wheel This chapter discusses the components and service of front and rear wheels. Service information includes wheel inspection, repacking wheel bearings, wheel removal and installation, lacing, truing, bal- ancing, and troubleshooting. Later in the chapter, tire removal, instal- lation, and repair will be covered. Wheels A wheel rotates on an axle and supports the rubber tire. It also serves as a secondary shock absorber, softening bumps and other imperfec- tions in the road. Three types of wheels are used on today’s power- sports vehicles: wire wheels, cast wheels, and stamped wheels. Wire Wheels A wire wheel, Figure 16-1, or spoked wheel, consists of: „ Hub. Contains wheel bearings and inner end of spokes. „ Spokes and nipples. Connects hub and rim. „ Rim. Supports tire. The hub is suspended from the spokes. The spokes are attached to the rim in a crisscross pattern. The spokes are secured to the rim by the spoke nipples. The motorcycle’s weight is not supported by the lower spokes. The hub actually hangs from the top spokes, Figure 16-2. Drill and Practice E-flash Cards Matching Activity Vocabulary Game Ch16.indd 327 4/23/2019 2:02:05 PM