Wheel and tire assembly

A method of assembling a wheel assembly, the method comprising:

• removably fastening a first plurality of mounting elements to a radially outer margin of a first axial side of a wheel, the mounting elements being spaced at least six (6) inches circumferentially around the wheel;
• placing the wheel in an airless tire that does not include air during normal use such that each mounting element of the first plurality of mounting elements engages an inner surface of the airless tire;
• and
• removably fastening a second plurality of mounting elements to a radially outer margin of a second axial side of the wheel such that the first plurality of mounting elements and second plurality of mounting elements are prevented from rotating relative to the central portion and an elongated outer edge of each of the second plurality of mounting elements aligns with an outer edge of one of the first plurality of mounting elements so that each of the second plurality of mounting elements engage the inner surface of the airless tire, the second plurality of mounting elements being spaced circumferentially around the wheel, portions of the tire positioned annularly between the mounting elements and not engaging the mounting elements being completely separated radially from the wheel by a through-space transversely extending entirely from a first axial side of the tire to an opposite axial side of the tire and portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements being configured to flex radially inwardly toward the wheel when subject to ground engaging pressure when the wheel assembly is assembled.

A mobile support structure with at least one wheel assembly attached thereto, the wheel assembly comprising:

• a rigid wheel including—
• a central portion, and
• a plurality of circumferentially spaced mounting elements removably attached to a radially outer margin of the central portion;
• and
• an airless flexible tire mounted on the wheel, the airless flexible tire including a plurality of drive lug pairs, each pair of drive lugs being positioned to engage opposite sides of one of the mounting elements, the drive lugs extending radially inwardly from the tire, portions of the tire extending annularly between the mounting elements and not engaging the mounting elements being completely separated radially from the wheel by a through-space transversely extending entirely from a first axial side of the tire to an opposite axial side of the tire, the portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements being configured to flex radially inwardly toward the wheel when subject to ground engaging pressure.

A wheel assembly comprising:

• a rigid wheel including—
• a central portion having a plurality of apertures for attaching fasteners thereto, and
• a plurality of circumferentially spaced mounting elements configured to be removably attached to the central portion via fasteners so that each of the mounting elements is prevented from rotating relative to the central portion;
• and
• an airless flexible tire that does not include air during normal use mounted on the rigid wheel, portions of the tire extending between the mounting elements and not engaging the mounting elements being completely separated radially from the rigid wheel by a through-space transversely extending entirely from a first axial side of the tire to an opposite axial side of the tire, the portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements being configured to flex radially inwardly toward the rigid wheel when subject to ground engaging pressure.