Wheel, Tyre and Brake Systems

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering wheel parts, rim categories, tyre types and characteristics, and various automotive braking systems.

Wheel

An essential automotive component mounted on a hub consisting of a rim, tyre, and tube, designed to support vehicle weight, absorb road shocks, and resist braking stresses.

Rim

The outer circular edge of a wheel that holds the tyre and provides the surface on which the inside edge of the tyre is mounted.

Disc Wheel Rim

A common wheel assembly composed of an outer rim that holds the tyre and a central disc that connects the rim to the axle hub.

Wire Spoke Wheel Rim

A wheel rim type used in motorcycles and bicycles where the outer rim and the axle-installed section are connected by multiple wires called spokes.

Split Wheel Rim

A multi-piece wheel rim that secures the tyre with a locking ring, commonly utilized in scooters.

Heavy Vehicle Wheel Rim

A durable wheel rim available in three-piece and four-piece designs with a locking ring, used for vehicles like trucks, buses, and containers.

Tyre

A component mounted on the wheel rim that carries vehicle load, provides cushioning, grips the road during acceleration and braking, and resists oversteering.

Solid Tyre

A sturdy, puncture-proof tyre filled with solid rubber material, typically used on children's cycles.

Tube Tyre

A conventional tyre assembly containing an inner air-filled tube placed between the wheel rim and the outer tyre casing.

Tubeless Tyre

A modern car tyre that retains air without an inner tube, offering slower puncture deflation, improved balancing, lower cost, and simpler repairs.

Brake

A primary vehicle control component that stops motion within the shortest possible distance by converting kinetic energy into heat energy dissipated into the atmosphere.

Foot Brake (Service Brake)

A standard braking system operated by a foot pedal, where applied driver force is multiplied and sent to the drums or discs via linkages or hydraulic fluid.

Hand Brake (Parking Brake / Emergency Brake)

A driver-operated brake independent of the service brake, directly connected to the brake mechanism to provide stable parking on slopes or flat surfaces.

Drum Brake (Internal Expanding Brake)

A braking assembly typically used on rear wheels where internal brake shoes expand against a rotating drum to generate stopping torque.

Primary Shoe

The left-hand brake shoe fitted inside a drum brake assembly.

Trailing Shoe

The right-hand brake shoe fitted inside a drum brake assembly.

Disc Brake

A braking system where a disc rotor attached to the wheel hub is clamped by brake shoes within a fixed caliper to arrest wheel rotation.

Mechanical Brake

A cable-pull braking system featuring an inbuilt mechanical mechanism to absorb energy from a moving system.

Power Brake

A brake system utilizing components such as a vacuum booster and master cylinder to multiply pedal force and reduce the driver's physical effort.

Vacuum Brake

A conventional braking system used mainly in railway systems that uses vacuum within the brake lines to actuate brake pads.

Air Brake

An advanced, high-force braking system that uses compressed atmospheric air through valves and compressors to actuate brakes on heavy vehicles and select high-end cars.

Hydraulic Brake

A braking system where brake pedal effort pushes a master-cylinder piston to transmit equal fluid pressure to caliper pistons and wheel cylinders.

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)

A vehicle safety mechanism designed to prevent the wheels from locking up or skidding during abrupt stops or on slippery surfaces.

Electric Brake

A braking system used in electric vehicles that utilizes electric motors and electromagnets to generate braking force.