Alcoa adds 16.5-inch medium-duty sizes

INDIANAPOLIS (March 9, 2016) — Alcoa Wheel & Transportation Products has expanded its range of aluminum wheels for medium-duty commercial vehicles with products designed specifically for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Ford Transit and General Motors 3500 and 4500 models.

Unveiled at the recent Association for the Work Truck Industry's Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, Alcoa said the expansion showcases its commitment to the medium-duty market.

Each wheel in Alcoa's M-Series collection provides the same benefits that the company's forged aluminum wheels provide to heavy duty (Class 7 & 8) customers, the company said, but are customized to fit medium-duty class 2 through 6 applications.

“As the leader in forged aluminum solutions, we have a long-standing history providing valuable medium-duty wheels to the marketplace,” said Tim Myers, president of the Alcoa business unit.

“Our M-Series wheels offer significant advantages to fleets and business owners,” Mr. Myers said, “and we plan to continue prioritizing this industry as we innovate.”

Alcoa said it is targeting owners/operators of straight trucks (strip, cutaway, conventional and cab-overs), commercial vans, bucket trucks and heavy-duty pickups in a variety of industries, such as towing, beverage, emergency, delivery, food processing, shuttle service, RV, retail/wholesale, utility, refuse, etc. with its M-Series wheels.

Alcoa is offering 16.5x6-inch wheels for single fitments for all three models and a 16.5x6.5-inch in dual configuration for the Ford Transit.

The single-configuration wheels weigh in at 21 pounds for the Sprinter and Ford Transit and 19 pounds for the GM models, while the dual-configuration wheel weighs 18 pounds.

Alcoa points out the M-Series aluminum wheels are nearly half the weight of comparable steel wheels, thus yielding improvements in fuel economy and carbon emissions, are “infinitely recyclable” and reduce reduce wheel maintenance costs because they're corrosion resistant.