Smooth rims?

[Eco-Noob]

I was sitting in my Humanities class today (Germany in Transition) and I was wondering...

With the aerodynamic smooth rims.. would it be more aerodynamic to just cover the rims, or would it be better to cover part of the tire, making the whole tire a smooth surface.?



as opposed to these.. (normal pizza trays.)

http://ecomodder.com/imgs/index-page...heel-cover.jpg

My donut metaphor for it. Would it be more aerodynamic to put a piece of paper halfway from the center of the donut to the top of the donut, or put a piece of paper the covers the whole donut whole completely, that is flush with the max height of the donut? I hope that makes it a little easier.

I could probably explain it better if I had a 3-D modeling program, and I am looking into that. And, I will try to take pictures with a 15" plate, and an 18" plate (or cardboard) for a better visual of it.

Anyone understand what I was saying, and have an idea?

Thanks,
Eco-Noob

[Eco-Noob]

I was thinking that I would have problems making it flush with the tire, might cause some rubbing?

[Bicycle Bob]

Yes, if it contacts the tire around mid-sidewall, it has to be quite flexible to accommodate the bulge at the bottom. I don't think the aero gains would be worth the trouble and friction. It is already so turbulent, that attached flow is the usual condition - good enough. Good idea for an ultimate vehicle, though.

[Eco-Noob]

I was thinking attaching it normally, and then having like... the soft side of a velcro strip attached to the smooth cover itself that would rub against the tire. (if it's sticky enough...)

[SVOboy]

Originally Posted by Bicycle Bob

Yes, if it contacts the tire around mid-sidewall, it has to be quite flexible to accommodate the bulge at the bottom. I don't think the aero gains would be worth the trouble and friction. It is already so turbulent, that attached flow is the usual condition - good enough. Good idea for an ultimate vehicle, though.

I agree, it's probably more trouble than it's worth.

Not that you shouldn't try

[hummingbird]

The sidewall flexes with each turn of the tire - would probably make a short work of the entire contraption...

[Eco-Noob]

Originally Posted by hummingbird

The sidewall flexes with each turn of the tire - would probably make a short work of the entire contraption...

Haha, I gathered as much.

It was just an idea I had, and hadn't seen anyone else bring it up, so I thought I would.

**It might have been brought up earlier, I just didn't see it.

[ai_vin]

Have you considered spinners? Or rather spinners that don't spin while the wheel does?

The Rolls-Royce Phantom has anti-spinners — the "RR" logo in the center of the hub is mounted on a spinner with an offset weight designed to ensure that the logo is always the right way up when the car is parked. The hubometers used on large trucks and buses operate basically by this same principle, but uses a liquid to reduce drag as its means to stay stationary as the wheel itself turns, rather than being counter-balanced on a roller bearing. In the 1995 film Batman Forever, the wheels on the Batmobile used a counter-rotating gear assembly to keep the bat-emblem hubcaps upright when the wheels were in motion.

What I'm thinking is you could cover most of the tire, with voids where it bulges from ground contact or where might hit the fender, and still have it project out enough from the wheel to be flush with the car's side.

[ai_vin]

BTW I first got this idea when I saw a taxi drive pass that had anti-spinners advertizing pizza.

[Eco-Noob]

My mom's 2005 Mustang has the anti- spinners, and I hadn't thought of that.
I might look into that one..


My other idea... Has anyone ever painted their hubcaps like..




You could hypnotize everyone to stay out of your line as you cruise along at 55