Patent ID: 6955405

Claim:
A wheel assembly that comprises: a wheel having an outboard surface with a first contour and a plurality of brake vent openings formed therein; and a wheel cover containing a plurality of windows which are aligned with the openings formed in the wheel, said wheel cover further having an inboard side with a second contour, the inboard side of the wheel cover being attached to the outboard side of the wheel and the first contour of the wheel being different from the second contour of the wheel cover so that gaps are provided between the wheel cover and the wheel; and inserts provided in the gaps between the wheel cover and wheel, which inserts comprise rigid elements that reinforce the wheel cover and are suitable strong to prevent impact damage to the wheel covers, said inserts being separate elements from the wheel cover and at least partially located between portions of adjacent ones of said windows of the wheel cover exclusive of extending axially into the brake vent openings formed in the wheel.