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Originally wheels were solid wood tree slices but they cracked and split so they were reinforced with wood strips. Then a metal tire was added to increase longevity. A spoked wheel with a metal axel sleeve reduced weight and increased speed. When the automobile needed to go faster, axel bearings and a rubber tire then pneumatic rubber tire were added but the wheel was still the wooden spoked design on most cars and all trucks. On lighter vehicles the metal spoked wheel replaced wood until the stronger steels were invented and solid steel or "disc" wheels were introduced well into the 20th century. So the steel, then other lightweight metal, wheels have not been around very long. The wooden wheel reigned for thousands of years.
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