Paul Lee wrote...

Do you know what a "chine" is?

In the case of a tire it's a circumferential
flared-up ridge just outside the wheel hub
on both sides. Kind of like you pinched up a wall
around the sidewall of the wheel on each side. You
can see 'em on some Lear nosewheels. Wouldn't
be on 'em holding down gravel any better than
a standard nosewheel.

In other cases you might have heard them called
"strakes" g

Dave 'mushroom' Hyde