Hayes Wheels International, Inc.

Alan W Coleman

An improved method for forming a vehicle wheel includes the steps of steps of: (a) providing a rim defining a rim axis and including a generally axially extending well portion and a pair of opposed ends, one of said ends including an inboard tire bead seat retaining flange and an inboard tire bead seat, and the other end including an outboard tire bead seat; (b) providing a generally circular disc blank formed from aluminum and defining a disc axis, the disc blank including an inner annular wheel mounting portion and an outer annular portion; (c) initially stamping the disc blank to produce a generally bowl shaped disc having a first axial distance defined between an inner surface of the outer annular portion and an inner surface of the inner annular wheel mounting portion; (d) subjecting the bowl shaped disc to an intermediate metal forming operation to produce a partially formed disc having a second axial distance defined between the inner surface of the outer annular portion and the inner surface of the inner annular wheel mounting portion; the second axial distance being less than the first axial distance; (e) subjecting the partially formed disc to a final metal forming to produce a finished disc having a predetermined disc profile; and (f) joining the finished disc to the rim to produce a fabricated vehicle wheel.

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Southgate, MI, United States of America

Alan W Coleman