Packaging for wheel rims

A method of packaging a wheel that has a cylindrical rim and a first cylindrical flange and a second cylindrical flanges extending from opposite axial ends of the rim, including:

• i. placing a wheel on a supporting surface so that the axis of the wheel about which the wheel will rotate when fitted to a vehicle is generally vertical and so the first flange is spaced from the supporting surface and the second flange proximal to or rests on the supporting surface,
• ii. fitting a first sleeve about the cylindrical rim so that it bears against a facing surface of the first flange of the wheel,
• iii. bringing a second sleeve into connection or interaction with the first sleeve so that the second sleeve extends about the rim and extends through the first sleeve and past the first flange to form a support surface above the first flange.

A packaged wheel in which the wheel has a cylindrical rim and a first cylindrical flange and a second cylindrical flange extending from opposite edges of the rim, the wheel being placed on a supporting surface and oriented such that an axis about which the wheel will rotate when fitted to a vehicle is generally vertical and so the first flange is spaced from the supporting surface and the second flange is proximal to or rests on the supporting surface, packaging for the packaged wheel comprising a first sleeve and a second sleeve:

• i. the first sleeve extending about the rim and bearing against a facing surface of the first flange,
• ii. the second sleeve extending about the rim and extending through the first sleeve and bearing against a facing surface of the second flange or against the supporting surface on which the wheel is placed, the second sleeve extending past the first flange and forming a support surface to support an object placed on the support surface spaced from the first flange.