Abstract:
A vehicle safety wheel is disclosed having a central disk and a rim concentrically disposed around the central disk. The central disk is compatible for mounting to a vintage hub with conventional wheel mounting hardware. The rim has an inboard flange and an outboard flange for mounting a tire to the rim, and an inner flange disposed inwardly of the outboard flange, concentric with the outboard flange for defining an annular-shaped space there-between. A fascia is adapted for mounting in the annular-shaped space, circumferentially extending between the outboard flange and the inner flange, with the fascia forming a visually continuous surface with a sidewall of the tire. The fascia may be embedded with a light source which is controlled in brightness and flashing by one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a brake sensor, and a turn sensor.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/810,201, filed Apr. 9, 2013, entitled “Vehicle Safety Wheel,” and invented by William Tyson O&#39;Neal. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to automotive vehicle wheels, and in particular to a vehicle safety wheel for a vintage vehicle that allows use of modern tires and brakes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Over the last 50 years wheels (Rims) have gone through a huge change. The sidewall height to section width is called the aspect ratio. From approximately the 1950&#39;s-1970&#39;s tires and their associated rims were designed to be high aspect ratio. The wheels typically used were within the range of about 14-16 inches in diameter. Due to the small diameter of the rim, the tires themselves had longer sidewalls. These small rims resulted in smaller disc brakes and the resulting long sidewalls resulted in a large amount of sideward movement in the tire itself. Over time the size of wheels grew by over 25%. This increase in wheel size allowed the use of larger disc brakes and decreased the aspect ratio of the tires resulting in less sideward movement. Wheels themselves may last for many decades, while tires degrade quite quickly in comparison. Major tire manufacturers have by and large focused on tires for newer, higher volume cars being manufactured. The manufacture of older style tires for older style wheels has diminished due to reduced demand. 
     Many vintage cars originally used tires and wheels in sizes not readily available in today&#39;s market. Advances in tire technology have led to low-profile tires using ever larger diameter wheels. Thus, vintage car enthusiasts are faced with a choice between original equipment wheels and tires, or modern wheels and tires. The original equipment wheels and tires, and their copies, provide the correct vintage appearance, but do not offer the superior performance of modern wheel and tire technology. For example, the reduced weight, run-flat technology, and high-speed “R” compound rubber available in modern tires are generally available in sizes requiring large wheel sizes and/or low-profile tire configurations. Such modern wheel and tire combinations do not offer the vintage look. 
     The aftermarket manufactures have adapted various solutions one of which allows low aspect ratio wheel and tire combinations to be mounted to vintage cars that originally had high aspect ratio wheel and tire combinations. This success however is limited by the non-original look of the wheel tire combinations for vintage cars. This changeover to a low aspect ratio wheel and tire combination changes the original outward appearance of the car. The car sits lower and the tire/wheel combination does not fit the wheel well of the vintage car. 
     In the niche market of vintage racing many of the vintage racing tires are being manufactured for these vintage cars. Racing tires are illegal to run on the street because they are not safe for street driving. The sidewalls are typically very thin, so debris, and curbs may puncture them very easily. Also, the tire manufactures for the street market are not willing to build the high aspect ratio tire sizes for vintage street cars due to lack of a large market. 
     The vintage street cars of today are known as, resto-mods, pro-touring cars, muscle cars. Some of these cars have been “Hot Rodded” and have the potential of running speeds in excess of 200 mph, and have horsepower ratings exceeding 1000 hp. These are speeds and power levels that the vintage tire technology were not capable of safely handling. 
     What is needed is a vehicle wheel that allows older cars to preserve the appearance of their original look, while utilizing the higher performance braking disc, and the much improved safer tires that may be purchased at any location around the country. By accomplishing these two tasks, a safer wheel may be manufactured. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A vehicle safety wheel is disclosed having a central disk and a rim concentrically disposed around the central disk. The central disk is compatible with wheel mounting hardware, for registering with a vintage wheel hub and securing to the vintage wheel hub with the wheel mounting hardware. The rim has an inboard flange and an outboard flange for mounting a tire to the rim. An inner flange is provided which is disposed inwardly of and concentric with the outboard flange, such that an annular-shaped space is defined between the outboard flange and the inner flange. A fascia is provided which is adapted for fitting within the annular-shaped space for mounting between the outboard flange and the inner flange, with the fascia forming a visually continuous surface with a sidewall of the tire. The fascia may be embedded with a light source which is controlled in brightness and flashing by one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a brake sensor, and a turn sensor. 
     The vehicle safety wheel a new type of wheel, not just a larger wheel. Vehicle safety wheel meet the demands for vintage automobiles, both visually and from a performance and safety standpoint. In one embodiment a vehicle safety wheel may be provided with wider wheel flanges for holding wider tires than were previously utilized on vintage cars. In another embodiment the fascia on the outside of the flanges for vehicle safety wheels may be decorated to become a visual part of the car&#39;s overall design. The fascia may be coated or painted to look like part of the tire, whether it is a black wall, white wall, striped or lettered tires, and give the illusion that the person is driving a car with tires that no longer exist. The fascia may also have several degrees of negative draft to simulate a tire bulge. A sidewall design may be cut by machine into the fascia representing a sidewall, and the sidewall design may be selected by a customer to correspond to the tire the customer is running on the vintage car. Vehicle safety wheels may also be provided by one piece or multi piece wheels. 
     The vehicle safety wheel addresses problems of size compatibility of vintage cars, wheels and modern tires by providing a wheel capable of accepting modern tire formats while providing vintage appearance and compatibility with vintage wheel mounting technology. An example of the present disclosure provides wheels having a center portion with the appearance of a vintage wheel. The center portion is generally within the range of about 14-16 inches diameter and includes vintage design elements and a central wheel mounting pattern designed to be compatible with 5×4.75, 5×5, 4-lug, or spinner mounting hardware and the like. 
     Integral with the center portion of the wheel, a sidewall portion extends outward from the center portion to a diameter within the range of about 16-22 inches. On the exterior side of the wheel, the sidewall portion is preferably adapted to present the appearance of a selected vintage tire. Preferably, the wheel is fabricated of suitable metal as one integrated structure. It is envisioned that the wheel could comprise multiple piece constructions, billet one piece, two piece with cast center and a spun aluminum dish, a two piece with a billet center and spun aluminum dish, and the like. 
     Alternatively, the wheel may include a center portion and a sidewall portion manufactured separately, and subsequently affixed one to the other. Another alternative is to provide a removable sidewall fascia on the exterior side of the wheel. The removable sidewall fascia may be used to provide cosmetic alternatives such as whitewall, blackwall, raised lettering, and the like. Many variations are possible for example, the sidewall portion may be anodized metal, painted metal, plastic, painted plastic, sprayed on coating, powder coating and coated with rubber or material to simulate rubber, and may present various contours to simulate vintage tire sidewall shapes. 
     A tire may be mounted to the 16-22 inch wheel, the wheel may be mounted to a vintage format mounting fixture, and the wheel and tire combination may present the appearance of a vintage tire and wheel combination. Current common tire widths are 275 mm to 375 mm, and the disclosed wheel is envisioned to function with tire widths which are either larger or smaller than these current common tire widths. Current aspect ratios are 35 to 50, and the disclosed wheel is envisioned to function with tire aspect ratios which are either larger or smaller than these current common tire aspect ratios. 
     The features and other details of the disclosure will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which various illustrative examples of the disclosed subject matter are shown and/or described. It will be understood that particular examples described herein are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the disclosure. The disclosed subject matter should not be construed a limited to any of examples set forth herein. These examples are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosed subject matter to those skilled in the art. The principle features of this disclosure can be employed in various examples while remaining within the scope of the disclosure. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular examples and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosed subject matter. Like number refer to like elements throughout. As used herein the term “and/or” includes any combination of one or more of the associated listed items. Also, as used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” and/or “comprising” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Also, as used herein, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, left and right, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which  FIGS. 1 through 16  show various aspects for a vehicle safety wheel made according to the present invention, as set forth below: 
         FIG. 1  shows an exploded example of a vehicle safety wheel; 
         FIG. 2  shows an example of a vehicle safety wheel; 
         FIG. 3  shows an example of a vehicle safety wheel; 
         FIG. 4  shows an example of a three piece vehicle safety wheel with removable fascia in cross section; 
         FIG. 5  shows an example of a two piece vehicle safety wheel with removable fascia in cross section; 
         FIG. 6  shows an example of a one piece vehicle safety wheel with removable fascia in cross section; 
         FIG. 7  shows an example a vehicle safety wheel with removable fascia in cross section, held in place by a mechanical fastener; 
         FIG. 8  shows an example of removable fascia that utilizes mechanical fastening; 
         FIG. 9  shows an example of removable fascia that utilizes snap fastening; 
         FIG. 10  shows an example of removable fascia with illumination; 
         FIG. 11  shows an example of removable fascia with illumination having a power connection 
         FIG. 12  shows an example of removable fascia with illumination; 
         FIG. 13  shows an example of removable fascia with illumination having a sensor 
         FIG. 14  shows an example of removable fascia with illumination having a generator; 
         FIG. 15  shows an example of removable fascia with illumination in strip form. 
     
    
    
     References in the detailed description correspond to like references in the various drawings unless otherwise noted. Descriptive and directional terms used in the written description such as right, left, back, top, bottom, upper, side, et cetera, refer to the drawings themselves as laid out on the paper and not to physical limitations of the disclosure unless specifically noted. The drawings are not to scale, and some features of examples shown and discussed are simplified or amplified for illustrating principles and features as well as advantages of the disclosure. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A vehicle safety wheel is disclosed which is capable of utilizing modern aspect ratio tires while giving the original appearance of vintage aspect ratio tires. What is typically sold on the market mounts a 15 inch tire to a 15 inch wheel. One solution from the present disclosure adapts older, high aspect ratio technology wheel and tire combinations to newer, low aspect ratio technology wheel and tire combinations, while retaining the appearance of the original. Examples of the disclosure provide the illusion of running a vintage sized tire while taking advantage of the newer and safer available tires and disc brakes on the market. 
       FIG. 1  depicts an example of an exploded vehicle safety wheel  100  mounted in a vehicle. The exploded view comprises an upright or spindle  110 , a wheel hub  112 , a disc brake  114  and a brake caliper  116 . The safety wheel  100  comprises a tire  122  mounted on a wheel  118  having fascia  120 . 
       FIG. 2  shows an example of a vehicle safety wheel  200  comprising a central disk  210  compatible with wheel mounting hardware  212 , a rim  214 , also referred to as a hoop, connected to the central disk and capable of accepting a tire  216 , and a fascia  218  connected to the rim  214 . The fascia  218  is preferably mounted between an inward surface of an outer flange  220  defined by an outward edge of the rim  214  and an outward surface defined by an inward flange  222  provided by the rim  214 . The fascia  218  preferably forms a visually continuous surface to the  216  tire. The fascia  218  may be affixed or removably affixed to the rim  214 . The fascia  218  may be comprised of at least one of rubber, anodized metal, painted metal, plastic, painted plastic, powder coating and engineered metal and the like and may be at least one of colorable and engravable. The fascia  218  may also include an illumination source, as discussed below. 
     The rim  214  may be affixed to the central disk  210  by welds and/or by fasteners. The central disk  210  may be comprised of at least one of alloy, steel, aluminum, titanium, magnesium and composite matrix. The central disk  210  may be comprised a composite of fiber held together with a chemical binder to form a matrix, where the fiber is at least one of a carbon fiber, fiberglass fiber and a ceramic fiber. The central disk  210  may be formed by at least one of machining, vacuum-forming, autoclaving and casting. Additionally the wheel may be formed utilizing heating or cooling to accomplish the assembly or curing of the wheel. The vehicle safety wheel  200  may have central disk  210 , the rim  214 , the outward flange, the inward flange  222 , and other such portions, defined by at least one of a one piece wheel, a two piece wheel, a three piece wheel and the like. The mounting hardware  212  may be comprised of at least one or more lug nuts, such as used for a 5×4.75 set of mounting hardware, a 5×5 set of mounting hardware, a 4-lug set of mounting hardware, or a spinner mount, and the like. The vehicle wheel  200  may have a predefined backspace offset defined by a user. The safety wheel  200  may allow mounting of tires  216  comprising an aspect ratio within a range of less than fifty on vehicles having original aspect ratios higher than fifty. 
       FIG. 3  shows an example of a vehicle safety wheel  300 . The wheel  300  has an outboard surface, a central disk  310 , and a rim  312  circumscribing the central disk  310 . The rim  312  has a flange  320  circumscribing the rim  312 . The flange  320  terminates in a flange lip  314 . A sidewall  316  has an outer surface thereon. The sidewall is connected to the rim  312  and has a radially outermost edge aligned within a predetermined margin of the flange lip  314 , so as to give a visible impression that the outer surface of the sidewall is actually an outer portion of a tire  318  and not a separately attached component of the vehicle safety wheel  300 . The sidewall may be comprised of at least one of rubber, anodized metal, painted metal, plastic, painted plastic and the like. The vehicle safety wheel  300  may further comprise at least one of a quantity of 5×4.75 in. set of mounting hardware, a quantity of 5×5 in. set of mounting hardware, a 4-lug set of mounting hardware, a spinner mount and the like. 
       FIG. 4  shows an example of a three piece vehicle safety wheel  400  with a tire  410  mounted to the wheel  400 . The wheel  400  has as rim  402  mounted to a center disk  416 . The rim  402  has an inboard flange  408 , an outboard flange  412 , and an inner flange  414 . The flanges  408  and  412  provide bead seats for seating the tire  410  on the rim  402  of the wheel  400 . The inner flange  412  is spaced apart from the outboard flange  412 , and disposed radially inward from the outboard flange  412  relative to the circumference of the rim  402  to create an annular-shaped space  420 . Preferably a fascia  426  is a mating annular-shaped member for fitting in the space  420  to provide the appearance of a taller sidewall for the tire  410  mounted to the wheel  400 , providing the impression of a vintage tire while using modern tires having smaller sidewalls than vintage tires. The fascia  426  may be colored with different materials to imitate tire colors and styles. Thus, the inner flange  414  in combination with the fascia  426  provides a faux tire flange with the appearance of a false or faux bead line so that the wheel  410  has the appearance of a vintage wheel, such as an eighteen inch diameter wheel. The center disk  416  is preferably used for two piece and three piece wheels, with the front and rear portions of the rim  402  which define the inboard flange  408 , the outboard flange  412  and the inner faux flange  414  connected to the center disk  416 . Connection bolts  418  are used with the three piece and two piece wheels to connect the different portions of the rim  402  to the center disk  416 . Lug nuts  422  are used fasten center disk  416  to an axle hub. the wheel. A spinner  424  is also attached to the center disk  416  of the wheel  400 . The spinner  424  may be a two or three point and may be faux with bolt on wheels. The spinner  424  may be used for retention when the knock off wheels and hubs are utilized. The disc brake hat  428  is connected to the center disk  416 , the disc brake rotor  430  is connected to the disc brake hat  428 , and the brake calipers  432  are spaced adjacent to the disc brake rotor  430 . An inside of the wheel area  436  is shown as well as the back side of the wheel  438 . The back side of the wheel  348  is recesses to allows space for receiving modern caliper brakes while retaining the visual appearance of a vintage fourteen inch, fifteen inch, and sixteen inch wheels, and the like. 
       FIG. 5  shows an example of a two piece vehicle safety wheel  500  with a tire  510  mounted to the wheel  400 . The wheel  500  has as rim  502  mounted to a center disk  516 . The rim  502  has an inboard flange  508 , an outboard flange  512 , and an inner flange  514 . The flanges  508  and  512  provide bead seats for seating the tire  510  on the rim  502  of the wheel  500 . The inner flange  512  is spaced apart from the outboard flange  512 , and disposed radially inward from the outboard flange  512  relative to the circumference of the rim  502  to create an annular-shaped space  520 . Preferably a fascia  526  is a mating annular-shaped member for fitting in the space  520  to provide the appearance of a taller sidewall for the tire  510  mounted to the wheel  500 , providing the impression of a vintage tire while using modern tires having smaller sidewalls than vintage tires. The fascia  526  may be colored with different materials to imitate tire colors and styles. Thus, the inner flange  514  in combination with the fascia  526  provides a faux tire flange with the appearance of a false or faux bead line so that the wheel  510  has the appearance of a vintage wheel, such as an eighteen inch diameter wheel. Welds  518  are used to connect the rim  508  to the center disk  516 . Lug nuts  522  secure the center disk  516  of the wheel  500  to an axle hub. The disc brake hat  528  is connected to the center disk  516 . The disc brake rotor  530  is connected to the disc brake hat  528  and the brake calipers  532  are spaced adjacent to the disc brake rotor  530 . An inside of the wheel area  536  is shown as well as the back side  538  of the wheel  500 . The back side  538  of the rim  508  of the wheel  500  has a profile which provides space for receiving modern caliper brakes to be used while retaining the visual appearance of a vintage fourteen inch, fifteen inch, and sixteen inch wheels, and the like. 
       FIG. 6  shows an example of a one piece vehicle safety wheel  600 . The wheel  600  has as rim  602  mounted to a center disk  616 . The rim  602  has an inboard flange  608 , an outboard flange  612 , and an inner flange  614 . The flanges  608  and  612  provide bead seats for mounting the tire  610  on the rim  602  of the wheel  600 . The inner flange  612  is spaced apart from the outboard flange  612 , and disposed radially inward from the outboard flange  612  relative to the circumference of the rim  602  to create an annular-shaped space  620 . Preferably a fascia  626  is a mating annular-shaped member for fitting in the space  620  to provide the appearance of a taller sidewall for the tire  510  mounted to the wheel  600 , providing the impression of a vintage tire while using modern tires having smaller sidewalls than vintage tires. The fascia  626  may be colored with different materials to imitate tire colors and styles. Thus, the inner flange  614  in combination with the fascia  626  provides a faux tire flange with the appearance of a false or faux bead line so that the wheel  610  has the appearance of a vintage wheel, such as an eighteen inch diameter wheel. The rim  608  to the center disk  616  are shown as being formed of one continuos metal member. Lug nuts  622  secure the center disk  616  of the wheel  600  to an axle hub. The disc brake hat  628  is connected to the center disk  616 . The disc brake rotor  630  is connected to the disc brake hat  628  and the brake calipers  632  are spaced adjacent to the disc brake rotor  630 . An inside of the wheel area  636  is shown as well as the back side  638  of the wheel  600 . The back side  638  of the rim  608  of the wheel  600  has a profile which provides space for receiving modern caliper brakes to be used while retaining the visual appearance of a vintage fourteen inch, fifteen inch, and sixteen inch wheels, and the like. 
       FIG. 7  shows the vehicle safety wheel  600  of  FIG. 6 , with removable fascia  626  in place by a mechanical fastener  642 . The mechanical fastener  642  may be provide by rivets, bolt and nut(s), clinch nut, screw and the like. 
       FIG. 8  depicts an example of the fascia  900  that may be removably affixed to the rim  814 . The fascia may be removably connected in a number of ways. Mechanically fastening the fascia would entail threaded holes in the wheels (See  FIG. 7 ) and holes  910  in the fascia  900  for receiving bolts for anchoring the fascia  900  to be anchored to a wheel. In addition, depending on the application or design, the fascia mechanical fastener may be in part lug nuts of the wheel. 
       FIG. 9  depicts an example of the fascia  1000  that may utilize a snap connection  1010  to a rim. Snap fastening the fascia  1000  could utilize a false flange, and a snap fastened attachment similar to that used for the older hubcaps. One possible difference between these and old style hubcaps is the area which is available, to be effected or customized. This may allow a broader area to be used for a different visual impact. 
       FIG. 10  depicts an example of the fascia  1100  that may utilize a magnetic connection  1110  to a rim. Magnetically fastening the fascia  1100  could be chosen to hold a magnetized fascia to a wheel by means of a magnetic fastener. 
     Also, chemically adhering the fascia could be accomplished by using a number of currently available water proof adhesives on the market and chemically bonding could be utilized in which a number of fascia could be sprayed onto the wheel directly thus not needing other types of fastening. This may be effective to add on a reflective portion or a glow in the dark system for those wishing to be seen as much as possible in low light circumstances. Depending on the additives of the spray, other such custom characteristics could be achieved involving colors, glitter, or custom reflective surfaces. 
     A combination of one or more fastening techniques be used to achieve a stronger attachment between the wheel and the fascia. Since CNC processes has become widely used, additional flanges, snap on attachment points, or mechanical fastening points could be directly machined into the wheel. This may provide a large variety of fastening options. The additional fascia could make use of the false bead line for attachment points. The inner side of the fascia, could give chemically bonded, and magnetically bonded fascia, solid anchoring to the wheel. In some decorative uses the fascia could come over onto the dish of the hoop for a more thorough covering of the wheel surface. 
     The safety wheel may provide features that may allow the use of modern tires for smaller wheels, the use of larger brakes on smaller wheels and allow users to add additional safety features to their car. The outer flange that holds the fascia may also be used to hold a reflective portion or luminary portion which may make it much easier to see at night for traffic coming from a perpendicular direction. This feature may be used on other types of wheels such as motorcycles, bicycles and the like, including wheels that would gain from having extra visibility. 
     The safety wheel may allow fascia to be placed around the perimeter of the wheel to look like the tire that is mounted to the wheel, appearing to be an older style tire. Cosmetic features may be added to the safety wheel such as adding color to the wheel to match a car or to give a personalized appearance. 
     Another possible use of the safety wheel would be to have the look of a sixteen (16) inch diameter wheel, while in reality the car is utilizing low profile twenty two (22) inch tires. This may create a three (3) inch area around the wheel for a user display canvass. It may allow the user a way to advertise themselves, a company, a cause or the like. Over the years this has been done by the tire companies by utilizing raised white lettering to advertise their company and types of tires. Thus, the safety wheel would allow the consumer the ability to advertise in the same way. Brand recognition using this feature may be a very easy and inexpensive way to advertise. With low profile tires that are available, the space that was once available to large manufacturers can now be made available to the owner and/or producer of the safety wheels. 
     Another example shown in  FIG. 11  of a fascia  1210  for use with a vehicle safety wheel, such as those noted herein-above. The fascia  1210  being an illuminated fascia which connected to rim. The illuminated fascia  1210  has a power connection  1212  which electrically connects to a power supply mounted to or connected to a rim to which the fascia  1210  is mounted. Light emitting diodes  1214  are mounted to the fascia  1210  and are electrically connected to the power connection to power the light emitting diodes  1214 . A sensor (not shown) may be electrically connected to the power connection and mounted to the fascia  1210 , a wheel, or a vehicle. The sensor may be provided by an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a brake sensor, and a turn sensor, or combinations thereof. The safety wheel may also comprise a generator electrically connected to the power connection, wherein the generator is at least one of an electrostatic generator, a dynamo, an alternator, an induction generator and a homopolar generator and a power source electrically connected to the power connection. 
       FIG. 12  shows a fascia  1310  for mounting to a vehicle safety wheel, such as those noted above. The fascia  1310  preferably includes one or more illumination sources  1314  optically connected to at least one light pipe  112  extending in or on the fascia for providing illumination. An illumination source may be at least one of incandescent, mercury vapor, light emitting diode, organic light emitting diode, florescent, metal halide, high pressure sodium and low pressure sodium. A power connection and a power supply may be provided which is electrically connected to the illumination source. The power supply may be provided by an electric generator. 
       FIG. 13  shows a further example of a light pipe fascia  1410  for connecting to a rim of a vehicle safety wheel. The fascia  1410  rim has at least one illumination source  1412 . One or more sensor  1414  (one shown) may be electrically connected to the at least one illumination source  1412 . The sensor may comprise an accelerometer, gyroscope, a brake sensor and a turn signal sensor. 
       FIG. 14  shows a fascia  1502  which has a generator  1510 ,  1512  electrically connected to the illumination source  1514 . The generator  1510 ,  1510  may be provided by at least one of an electrostatic generator, a dynamo, an alternator, an induction generator and a homopolar generator. The illumination source  1514  may be provided by one or more of an incandescent source, a mercury vapor source, a light emitting diode, an organic light emitting diode, a florescent source, a metal halide source, a high pressure sodium source and a low pressure sodium source. An illumination color of the sensor  1510 ,  1512  is based at least in part upon a signal from the sensor  1510 ,  1512 , an illumination brightness of the sensor  1510 ,  1512  is based at least in part upon a signal from the sensor  1510 ,  1512 , and a blink rate of the sensor  1510 ,  1512  is based at least in part upon a signal from the sensor  1510 ,  1512 . 
       FIG. 15  shows an annular-shaped fascia  1610  which is mounted to a vehicle safety wheel as described above. The fascia  1610  has a power connection  1612  which is electrically connected to an illuminated annular-shaped ribbon  1614  mounted to an outboard surface of the fascia  1610 . The annular-shaped ribbon  1614  may also be reflective to provide a reflective outer surface. 
     It is envisioned that illumination for the vehicle safety wheels will respond to deceleration or change in lane of the vehicle and either changes the color, the brightness or the blink rate of the illumination source. It is also envisioned that the vehicle safety wheel color, the brightness or the blink rate of the illumination source will change based upon either the turn signal sensor and/or the brake sensor. In this way the wheel will indicate the change in state of the velocity or change in lane in real time, or the intended change in state of velocity or change in lane based on the brake and turn lane sensors. 
     While the making and using of various exemplary examples of the disclosure are discussed herein, it is to be appreciated that the present disclosure provides concepts which can be described in a wide variety of specific contexts. For purposes of clarity, detailed descriptions of functions, components, and systems familiar to those skilled in the applicable arts are not included. The methods and apparatus of the disclosure provide one or more advantages including which are not limited to, providing a vintage appearance while using modern tires and safety enhancements by using newer tire technologies on vintage vehicles. While the disclosure has been described with reference to certain illustrative examples, those described herein are not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. For example, variations or combinations of steps or materials in the examples shown and described may be used in particular cases while not departing from the disclosure. Various modifications and combinations of the illustrative examples as well as other advantages and examples will be apparent to persons skilled in the arts upon reference to the drawings, description, and claims. 
     The present invention provides advantages of a solution to a current problem that did not exist when the original vintage wheels were being produced. Further, it allows the vintage car to attain a better ride with higher performance and safer tires and disc brakes. Additionally, these newer tires may be purchased for the car at any location around the country. 
     Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.