Alcoa introduced the Dura-Bright EVO, an improved version of its primary commercial vehicle wheel, Thursday at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky.
The wheel is 10 times more resistant than prior products to corrosion primarily caused by road salts and weather elements, and more resistant to chemicals found in the toughest truck cleaning agents, said Victor Marquez, vice president and general manager for the Americas. This durability enables the use of a wider variety of cleaning solutions, while preserving the integrity and brightness of the wheel.
“Dura-Bright is not a coating, but rather a surface treatment that penetrates the aluminum and becomes an integral part of the wheel,” Marquez said. That means that unlike wheels with surface coatings that can peel, corrode and dull quickly, the Dura-Bright wheel maintains its shine for years without polishing.
The EVO is available for orders shipping in August on Alcoa’s LvL ONE 22.5” x 8.25” and 24.5” x 8.25” wheels. All remaining North American fitments for Class 3 through 8 will shift to Dura-Bright EVO in January.
The wheel maintains all the benefits of its predecessor, the Dura-Bright wheel with XBR technology.
Marquez also reviewed existing and new aluminum truck components in addition to wheels that offer significant weight savings when converting from steel products. These include aluminum grille plates, doors, fifth wheels, fuel tanks, huck fasteners and frame rails. Taken together (including trailer wheels), converting these components can reduce tractor-trailer weight by 2,500 pounds, he said.
