Method for manufacturing a light-alloy hybrid wheel including a front flange and a rim

A manufacturing process for a light-alloy hybrid wheel, the process implementing the following separate operational phases:

• obtaining a front flange with an annular profile including a tire bead seat;
• obtaining a rim with an annular profile including a tire bead seat at a first end and a circular flank for assembly with a part of the flange at a second end;
• and
• assembling the flange and the rim to form a wheel,
• wherein the annular profiles of the flange and the rim form exterior and interior sides of the wheel, and
• wherein assembling the flange and the rim comprises:
• a welding step, the welding step comprising welding the circular flank of the rim and the flange together by only a single friction stir weld using a pin such that the weld is exposed at the exterior and interior sides of the wheel;
• and
• machining steps performed subsequent to the welding step, comprising machining both the exposed exterior and interior sides of the single friction stir weld to at least one of remove burrs and defects therefrom.