Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Wheels & Tires A silly question

I often see people refer to "rims" and at other times refer to "wheels." Are the two terms interchangeable? Or is there a important distinction?

My first inclination is to think that (rim + tire) = wheel, and that (wheel - tire) = rim. Or am I missing something important?

Thanks for answering this most basic of questions, but I want to be accurate when I'm both posting and talking.