Shielding assembly for side of a tire

In combination:

• a wheel having a turning axis, a rim, and a tire mounted to the rim for rolling against an underlying surface,
• the wheel having oppositely facing sides;
• a mounting assembly that moves as one piece with the rim and defines in conjunction with the rim a mounting unit;
• a plurality of shielding components, each attached to the mounting assembly in an operative position to overlie at least a part of the tire at one of the axially oppositely facing sides of the wheel,
• wherein each of the at least one of the shielding components is made from a non-metal material and a reinforcing element;
• and
• a first fastener connecting the reinforcing element on each of the at least one shielding component to the mounting assembly to thereby maintain each of the at least one shielding component in a respective operative position,
• wherein the mounting unit and each of the at least one shielding component have axially overlapping and oppositely facing surfaces in confronting relationship, with each of the at least one shielding component in a respective operative position, that cooperate and thereby confine relative movement between each of the at least one shielding component and the mounting unit.