Accuride Corporation – a leading supplier of components to the North American and European commercial vehicle industries – introduced two new two- and five-hand-hole versions of its popular Accu-Lite 22.5 x 8.25 steel wheels, and a Quantum 99 aluminum alloy wheel.
Accuride President and CEO Rick Dauch announced the new wheel offerings today during Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week 2017 in Las Vegas.
Steel wheels
The new wheels are each 3 lbs. lighter than the previous models and add a five-year warranty for its standard Steel Armor coating. The five hand hole version represents the industry’s first 65-lb. steel wheel for commercial vehicles.
Specifications for the new wheels include:
- 51487 wheel – five hand hole wheel becomes the industry’s first 65 lb. steel wheel by eliminating 3 lbs. from the previous part No. 50487.
- 51408 wheel – two hand hole version eliminates 3 lbs. from the prior 50408 wheel for a new weight of 67 lbs.
“As our customers seek to optimize the total weight, fuel economy and emissions of their equipment, our consistent, world-class manufacturing processes are enabling us to continue light-weighting our steel and aluminum wheel offerings,” said Accuride President and CEO Rick Dauch. “With the same great benefits of reduced weight, additional payload and increased ROI, Accuride offers advanced steel wheel technology with extended warranties that provides lasting value unmatched in the industry. In addition, their lighter weight helps offset the additional weight of emissions-control equipment.”
Corrosion-resistant coating options
Accuride’s Steel Armor coating technology comes standard on both wheels, providing customers superior finish and corrosion-resistant performance, plus a new five-year warranty against corrosion. In addition, customers have the option of ordering these wheels with Accuride’s ground-breaking, proprietary EverSteel technology. This is the first time in the industry that long-life steel wheels offer a standard eight-year warranty against corrosion at a small premium. Both wheels will be available to customers in April 2017 and can be ordered in white, black and gray. Accuride will produce the wheels at its Henderson, Kentucky and Monterrey, Mexico wheel plants.
Aluminum alloy wheel
The Quantum 99 aluminum alloy, the strongest, most advanced alloy for aluminum wheels in the commercial vehicle industry, is 20 percent stronger than Accuride’s previous alloy, enabling Accuride to reduce the weight of its most popular standard lightweight aluminum wheel by 11 percent to an industry-best 40 lbs.
“To help our customers achieve greater fuel economy and lower emissions, Accuride continues light-weighting our products while maintaining superior levels of safety and performance,” Accuride President and CEO Rick Dauch said. “As the latest step in our efforts, we’re excited to introduce our next-generation Quantum 99 alloy and 40 lb. aluminum wheel. These demonstrate our commitment to offering the industry’s strongest, lightest and most durable aluminum wheels. Quantum 99 will serve as the foundation of a new series of lightweight aluminum wheels from Accuride that provide superior fatigue life and durability to competing technology.”
New 40-lb. aluminum wheel delivers twice the fatigue life
Accuride is launching Quantum 99 on its most popular aluminum wheel – the standard 22.5 x 8.25 – to allow more customers to enjoy the benefits. Thanks to its advanced metallurgy and engineering, the new wheel consistently achieves twice the fatigue life of the competing 40 lb. aluminum wheel in rigorous laboratory testing. Its 5 lb. weight savings can trim 100 pounds off of a tractor-trailer rolling on all-aluminum wheels. That means higher payload, lower fuel consumption and increased profitability for fleets.
Accuride’s new aluminum wheel – the 42644 – will be available in the third quarter of 2017 and manufactured at its Erie, Pa. and Monterrey, Mexico aluminum wheel plants. It is available for order with the same features, finishes, and dependability of the predecessor 41644. Additional wheels incorporating Quantum 99 will be added to the lineup later in 2017 and beyond.
For more information, visit Accuride Wheel End Solutions at Booth No. 921 during HDAW’17.
