Maintenance Proper Wheel Maintenance Contributes To Efficiency and Cost Savings

Proper wheel maintenance contributes to overall increased freight efficiency, improved fuel economy and lower maintenance costs for increased productivity and, ultimately, lower lifetime operating costs.

Brian Thomas

Refuse collection, and other similar heavy haul applications, demand heavy-duty equipment and components that require proper maintenance to function as intended. Therefore, maintenance is a critical component to ensuring reliability and safety of fleets, their drivers and others on the road.  Wheel maintenance is a significant contributor to the overall efficiency, lifetime operating costs and appearance of commercial vehicle wheels. When spec’ing wheels for fleets, fleet managers should consider these factors when making their equipment selections.

Improved Freight Efficiency and Fuel Economy

Improvement in quick and continuous “payback” in freight productivity or fuel savings will combine with maintenance savings when running on forged aluminum wheels. For example, forged aluminum wheels significantly reduce wheel weight versus a comparable steel wheel. The lighter the truck, the more cargo it can legally carry, and the upgrade also further improves freight efficiency.

Enhanced Image and Appearance

When wheels need continuous refurbishing, it can become high maintenance and time intensive. Steel wheels require refurbishing, as well as rust removal, re-painting, touch up or other steps. Aluminum wheels are not painted like steel wheels, ultimately eliminating the need for spray paint and touch up. In harsh environments, equipment managers are required to dismount tires, paint or touch up and remount tires every year in order to avoid that common rusty appearance found on so many steel wheels.  Therefore, additional maintenance can result in higher overall lifetime costs and aluminum wheels can improve the appearance of the truck or fleet over a rusty or paint chipped steel wheel.

Several forged aluminum wheel manufacturers also offer additional options for further lowering operating and maintenance costs.  Proprietary surface treatments from wheel suppliers that allow for simple cleaning can be integral to the production process of the forged aluminum wheel so it’s durable from the start and built to last when properly maintained. And since specially treated aluminum wheels don’t need to be polished, they work hard to lower maintenance costs since they shine up quickly with an easy scrub and keep the vehicle looking newer for longer.

Curbing Damage and Rim Flange Wear

A recent hot topic among equipment managers is curbing damage. Forged aluminum wheels are significantly stronger than steel wheels and offer the strength to improve maintenance and further the life of the equipment. And in hostile environments where curbs and potholes are the norm, forged aluminum wheels stand up to stay stronger for longer.  Additionally, some types of aluminum wheels feature a specially treated rim flange that reduces wear and extends wheel service life for heavy haul and shifting load applications. This design feature makes these protected wheels most appropriate for applications where loads are heavy and prone to shifting, causing tire walls to rub against the wheel rims.

Aluminum vs. Steel

When considering wheel choices, value should always be the goal. Forged aluminum wheels present lifetime advantages over steel wheels. Although steel wheels may be less expensive at the time of purchase, they become more high maintenance over time. Decisions come down to short-term versus long-term planning and navigating the available choices to ensure value over the life of the equipment for the fleet.

Proper wheel maintenance contributes to overall increased freight efficiency, improved fuel economy and lower maintenance costs for increased productivity and, ultimately, lower lifetime operating costs.

Brian Thomas manages marketing communications and product launch efforts for Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products (Cleveland, OH), a leader in the commercial vehicle, automotive, and defense markets with products used in a range of applications including forged aluminum wheels and premium products such as Ultra ONE®, LvL ONE®, Dura-Bright®, Dura-Flange®,  and M-Series™ wheels for medium duty trucks. Brian can be reached at [email protected].