Which part of the car is the hub?
2 Answers
Car hubs are wheel rims. Below is relevant information about wheel rims: 1. Introduction: The wheel rim is the rotating part of the tire's inner contour connected to the wheel steel via columns, i.e., the metal component at the center that supports the tire and is mounted on the axle. It is also called the wheel ring, steel ring, or tire bell. Wheel rims come in various types based on diameter, width, forming method, and material. 2. Size: The size of the wheel rim refers to its diameter. Generally, in passenger cars, larger wheel rim sizes with higher tire aspect ratios can create a visually appealing tension effect and improve the stability of vehicle handling. However, this comes with the additional issue of increased fuel consumption.
There is no standard automotive part called "keel"—this term is more of a colloquial misnomer. If we had to stretch the analogy, it might refer to the central longitudinal beam of the chassis, running from the front bumper to the rear, much like a ship's keel supports its hull. This component acts as the backbone of the vehicle's frame and is critical for crash safety. During my last visit to an auto plant, I saw this hefty U-shaped channel steel on a new frame, designed to bear the vehicle's weight and external impacts. Some people also call the raised central tunnel of the chassis the "keel," which houses the exhaust pipe or driveshaft. However, professionals never use this term—mechanics would likely chuckle at it. For accurate car talk, stick to terms like "chassis longitudinal beam" or "central tunnel."
