ANSWERS: 1
  • A rim is part of a wheel, but a wheel is not part of a rim, which is a cryptic way to explain the difference between a rim and a wheel. A rim is only a part of a wheel assembly, but one cannot exist without some form of the other.

    Wheels

    A wheel by definition is an instrument designed to rotate around an axis. By nature, a wheel is an assembly of many parts, and its terminology is determined by its final state. That final state is a collection of all the parts designed to work as a whole. In other words, a wheel is not a "wheel" until all its components are connected and it is ready to be installed into its final place.

    Rims all alone

    Rims can be an integral part of a wheel assembly. The rim is the interface between the wheel hubs and the tire or other final drive covering. But a rim all alone is not much use.

    Wheels within Wheels

    In a way, a rim is a wheel, too. It can be made of multiple parts, and it can roll around an axis. However, a rim is not the final state assembly, it needs help to work. In order for a rim to work, in most cases, it needs a tire. It needs to be part of a wheel assembly.

    All Together Now

    When you put a tire on the rim, you have created the preliminary aspects of the wheel assembly. But there can be other parts that make up the wheel.

    Technically Speaking

    The wheel can contain other parts depending on the application. A car wheel can also contain a valve stem for air. A motorcycle wheel can contain parts such as a hub and multiple spokes. Bicycle wheels contain those things and include tubes. But when all put together, tires, rims, hubs, spokes and bearings, what you have is a wheel.

    Source:

    Dictionary.com: Wheel Definition

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