Vehicle Rims Including Deformable Features and Vehicles Incorporating The Same

A wheel comprising:

• a tire positioned radially around a rim;
• the rim comprising;
• an inner flange that extends around a periphery of the rim;
• an outer flange that extends around the periphery of the rim and that is positioned outboard from the inner flange in a vehicle lateral direction;
• a rim wall that extends around the periphery of the rim and that extends between the inner flange and the outer flange in the vehicle lateral direction;
• a drop-well portion that is positioned between the rim wall and the outer flange in the vehicle lateral direction, wherein the rim wall comprises an increased thickness region that is positioned proximate to the drop-well portion, and wherein a maximum thickness of the increased thickness region is greater than a maximum thickness of the rim wall positioned outside of the increased thickness region;
• a central axis extending through the rim;
• at least one spoke extending radially inward from the drop-well portion;
• and
• a stiffness-reducing portion comprising a radially inward-facing concave portion positioned between the rim wall and the at least one spoke, wherein the concave portion faces the central axis.

A vehicle comprising:

• a unibody;
• a suspension unit coupled to the unibody, the suspension unit comprising a wheel, the wheel comprising:
• a tire positioned radially around a rim;
• the rim comprising;
• an inner flange that extends around a periphery of the rim;
• an outer flange that extends around the periphery of the rim and that is positioned outboard from the inner flange in a vehicle lateral direction;
• a rim wall that extends around the periphery of the rim and that extends between the inner flange and the outer flange in the vehicle lateral direction;
• a drop-well portion that is positioned between the rim wall and the outer flange in the vehicle lateral direction, wherein the rim wall comprises an increased thickness region that is positioned proximate to the drop-well portion, and wherein a maximum thickness of the increased thickness region is greater than a maximum thickness of the rim wall positioned outside of the increased thickness region;
• a central axis extending through the rim;
• at least one spoke extending radially inward from the drop-well portion;
• and
• a stiffness-reducing portion comprising a radially inward-facing concave portion positioned between the rim wall and the at least one spoke, wherein the concave portion faces the central axis.