Exploring Spoked wheels at Borrani Wheels

When riding a motor vehicle or even a bicycle, did you ever notice how the wheels, which are the base on any vehicle, work or how have they been constructed? Varieties of wheels differ with the nature of a particular vehicle. Read and apprehend what kind of wheels your car or bike has and how does it work.

Defining: Spoke Wheels

Spoke wheels are those wheels that were invented with an objective to manufacture lighter and swifter vehicles primarily. The name of spoke wheels originates from its style of making where a spoke is one of some number of rods that meet at the center of origin (a hub of many rods). Spoke wheels are made by splitting the portions of logs lengthwise into four or six sections. Then they are carved into their finished shapes. Spokes can be made of metal, wood or synthetic fiber depending on the nature of vehicle where it is to be used.

Spoke wheels were developed in the ancient times nearly during the era of 2000 BC. The usage of spoke wheels continued without any major modification till 1870s. Thereafter, with other high-end modifications in its making, spoke wheels expanded their area; where and in what vehicles these are to be used.

With the different variety of spokes, there are also various ways of 'lacing' these spokes. Lacing of spokes is differentiated in varied ways for example- two cross lacing, one cross lacing or radial cross lacing. Out of all these, radial lacing is the commonly used lacing which places considerable stress on a hub (where all rods meet). Lacings have their own parameters on the basis of which spoke wheels maintain flexibility and strength.

The correct and valid calculations of spoke length during its making serve the smooth functioning of spoke wheels. A certain formula of spoke length computes the length of space diagonally too. A specific formula calculates the other parameter which signifies the radius, diameters, distance (from the center of hub to flange) and the number of times the spokes are to be used for one side of the wheel. All these apt calculations maintain its working and strength to carry certain amount of weight.

Different types of Spoke Wheels

At Borrani Wheels, we manufacture spoke wheels of different sizes for a wide variety of vehicles. Varieties of spokes differentiate the type of spoke wheels to be used. Different spoke wheels have different making depending on the weight the vehicle has to carry, as the wheels are the base on which a vehicle make its robust stand. During its making, the spokes must have the correct length otherwise it may come out through the rim and possibly puncture the innermost tube.

The construction of spokes can be done by using wood, metal or synthetic fiber. The spokes are widely categorized into two specific types namely, Tension Spokes and Compression Spokes.

Compression spokes

Compression Spokes are primarily used original type of spoke wheels which are made up of wooden spokes and used in the development of lighter and swifter vehicles. These are the radially laced wheels which are generally used in vehicles like horse-drawn carriages, bullock-carts etc.

In the horse-drawn carriage vehicles, there is a use of less number of spokes which are radically laced and highly stiff. They aren’t much flexible as the stiffness in movement shows all. In early motor cars, spoke wheels of the artillery type were normally used.

Tension Spokes

Tension Spokes are the spokes which are used in motorcycles, automobiles and nowadays in bicycles too. These types of spokes serve a fast and flexible functioning of a vehicle which is made up of adjustable metal wires, also called wire wheels. These spokes are widely used in today’s era too. These spokes are considerably lighter in weight than heavy giant-weight spokes.

In fact, tension spokes are considerably more comfortable as they signify the number of times they can be tuned, lacing pattern, count etc. Tension spokes have much greater control over the characteristics of the wheel than the previously used giant-spoke vehicles. The construction of tension-spoke wheels requires correct calculations and building procedure which is commonly known as wheel building procedure. Today, wire wheels are the widely-used wheels which are currently replacing the metal-disc wheels in the making of bikes and automobiles.

Different types of lacing patterns and their importance

Lacing patterns are the most imperative section which plays a major role in the making and working of any-category wheel. There are different kinds of lacing patterns which are mentioned below in points:-

• One-cross Lacing
• Two-cross Lacing
• Three-cross Lacing
• Radial- Cross Lacing

As lacing patterns play an imperative role in the movement of wheel, some of the very crucial points need to be looked at while picking up the lacing scheme for a vehicle. The below listed points need to be focused while picking up the lacing scheme:-

• Strength
• Weight
• Flexibility
• Air Resistance
• Torque Resistance

The aforementioned points differentiate lacing patterns. For instance, strength is determined by the number of times spokes are used, how they are arranged and how they interface with hub and rim. Flexibility depends majorly on the lacing pattern of a wheel, for example, a radially-laced wheel would have less flexibility and more stiffness as the usually radially laced wheels incur less number of adjoined spokes. Weight can be reduced by reducing the spoke count and by using more exotic material. Some slight weight reduction is also possible by reducing the cross of the spoke.

Likewise, keeping in mind the nature of vehicle and the other above written points too, we, at Borrani Wheels, help you in making a wise choice while picking up the lacing pattern as the functioning of a wheel and in a way the functioning of the vehicle would be affected from its lacing pattern.