In the middle of this image, three wheels are shown raised by a lift, with engineers on both sides of the wheels in the cleanroom, where the Curiosity rover is being assembled. The wheels are made out of aluminum but have a black coating, which prevents the wheels from slipping.  The wheels are attached to dark poles, which bend like 'joints.'  Several black and red cable wires are visible coming out of the poles.  An engineer stands in the background holding a clipboard and looking closely at the rover.  A desk and various tools are visible behind the wheels on the right.
+
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech