Introduced Sunday at the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tenn., Alcoa says the new wheel sizes (24.5 in. by 8.25 in., 22.5 in. by 14 in., and 22.5 in. by 9 in.) will be available for order in North America on May 15, 2016.
“Alcoa is continually expanding its state-of-the art aluminum wheel solutions,” says Tim Myers, president, Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products. “The Alcoa Ultra ONE wheel with MagnaForce alloy changed the industry when it was introduced and we’re proud to add to this family of lightweight, freight efficient, easy-to-maintain, cost effective wheels.”
The premiere Alcoa Ultra ONE 22.5 in. by 8.25 in. wheel with MagnaForce alloy, introduced in 2014, weighs just 40 lbs. and is nearly 50 percent lighter than steel wheels of the same size. The wheel remains the lightest wheel in the industry and can help save additional weight per rig, enabling fleets to carry more goods and lower GHG emissions, Alcoa says.
Alcoa describes the three new wheels as follows
Alcoa Ultra ONE 24.5 in. by 8.25 in. wheel: The lightest and strongest wheel in its class. Weighing just 51 lbs., Alcoa says this new wheel weighs 3 lbs. less than its predecessor—the LvL ONE.
Alcoa Ultra ONE 22.5 in. by 14 in. wheel: Alcoa says this wheel is now even lighter, coming in at just 52 lbs., an additional 2 lbs. reduction. With a 12,800 lb. load rating, Alcoa’s 14 in. wheels were already the lightest wheels in the market. Now, with an additional 2 lb. weight reduction, Alcoa says fleets can haul more freight while maintaining the strength and reliability they expect from an Alcoa wheel.
Alcoa Ultra ONE 22.5 in. by 9 in. wheel: Now the lightest 22.5 in. by 9 in. aluminum wheel offerings in the industry at 56 and 48 lbs., based on fitment, Alcoa says these lightweight heavyweights save more than 50 lbs. versus a comparable steel wheel, and have a 10,000 lb. load rating.
Alcoa says all three wheels are available in the company’s polished, brushed and its proprietary DuraBright treatment. And because they are corrosion resistant, Alcoa says the new wheels do not require stripping and repainting, further lowering operators’ maintenance and costs.
