A typical bicycle wheel is formed completely of metal, and includes a cylindrical hub connected by numerous metal spokes to a rim, and an axle assembly that may include a brake lying within the hub. Improved performance of bicycle wheels has been obtained by using molded plastic wheels formed of very high strength plastic material. Design of the wheel for injection molding results in a different type of wheel, wherein a limited number of heavy duty spokes are preferably utilized. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 244,272 by Raudman and Hoffman show a wheel of this type. While high performance plastics have many advantages, one important disadvantage is that they are easily damaged by heat, such as that which can be generated by a bicycle brake when repeatedly applied. Also, the limited number of heavy duty spokes in a molded plastic wheel, can result in poor absorption of shocks when applied along the axis of one of the heavy duty spokes. The limited number of spokes also can have disadvantages in providing a large open space into which a child's foot may be inserted. A molded plastic vehicle wheel, especially one designed for use on bicycles, which helps minimize the transmission of shock between the rim of the wheel and the bicycle frame, and which minimizes the possibility of heat damage to the wheel by a brake assembly mounted in the hub of the wheel, would be of considerable value in the production of bicycles as well as other vehicles.