A composite wheel assembly , comprising: a wheel portion having a wheel outer rim portion, a wheel inner hub portion adapted to receive an axle therethrough, and a plurality of wheel spokes extending radially between the wheel outer rim portion and the wheel inner hub portion , wherein the wheel outer rim portion, the wheel inner hub portion and the wheel spokes cooperate to form a wheel outer surface having a plurality of wheel turbine openings therein each having a first turbine opening area, the wheel portion having an outer surface with a first drag coefficient; at least one weight relief feature formed in the wheel portion to minimize wheel mass; a permanently bonded wheel clad including a clad outer rim portion axially aligned with at least a portion of the wheel outer rim portion, a clad inner hub portion axially aligned with at least a portion of the wheel inner hub portion, and a plurality of clad spokes extending radially between the clad outer rim portion and clad inner hub portion, wherein the clad outer rim portion , the clad inner hub portion and the clad spokes cooperate to define a clad inner surface having a plurality of clad turbine openings each having a second turbine opening area, the wheel clad being permanently secured to the wheel such that the clad inner surface faces the wheel outer surface; the wheel clad having a clad outer surface with a second drag coefficient which is less than the first drag coefficient of the outer portion of the wheel outer surface; characterised in that the second turbine opening area is at least 17% less than the first turbine opening area. a wheel portion having a wheel outer rim portion, a wheel inner hub portion adapted to receive an axle therethrough, and a plurality of wheel spokes extending radially between the wheel outer rim portion and the wheel inner hub portion , wherein the wheel outer rim portion, the wheel inner hub portion and the wheel spokes cooperate to form a wheel outer surface having a plurality of wheel turbine openings therein each having a first turbine opening area, the wheel portion having an outer surface with a first drag coefficient; at least one weight relief feature formed in the wheel portion to minimize wheel mass; a permanently bonded wheel clad including a clad outer rim portion axially aligned with at least a portion of the wheel outer rim portion, a clad inner hub portion axially aligned with at least a portion of the wheel inner hub portion, and a plurality of clad spokes extending radially between the clad outer rim portion and clad inner hub portion, wherein the clad outer rim portion , the clad inner hub portion and the clad spokes cooperate to define a clad inner surface having a plurality of clad turbine openings each having a second turbine opening area, the wheel clad being permanently secured to the wheel such that the clad inner surface faces the wheel outer surface; the wheel clad having a clad outer surface with a second drag coefficient which is less than the first drag coefficient of the outer portion of the wheel outer surface; characterised in that the second turbine opening area is at least 17% less than the first turbine opening area. <EOS>