{"id":1870,"date":"2022-02-01T04:26:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-01T04:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alcoawheels.com\/australia\/en\/?post_type=news&p=1870"},"modified":"2025-08-12T05:19:26","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T19:49:26","slug":"4-areas-alcoa-wheels-outshine-steel-wheels-in-for-top-fleet-image","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.alcoawheels.com\/australia\/en\/news\/4-areas-alcoa-wheels-outshine-steel-wheels-in-for-top-fleet-image\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Areas Alcoa Wheels Outshine Steel Wheels in for Top Fleet Image"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Maintenance is a critical component to ensure the safety of fleets and their drivers, along with owner-operators and even other drivers and vehicles on the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve no doubt heard that there are payload and fuel cost savings when it comes to switching from steel wheels to aluminium wheels<\/a>, but one thing we don\u2019t hear enough of is whether steel wheels are easier to keep looking good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many fleets, image is everything, because how good their equipment looks on the road is a direct reflection of the quality of their service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe better a fleet\u2019s trucks and trailers look, the better overall perception clients have of the company that operates them,\u201d<\/strong><\/em> says Michael Nichols, National Sales Manager for Howmet Wheel Systems, distributor for Alcoa Wheels in Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fleets can spend thousands on making sure their equipment is kept clean and free from dents and scratches, right down to the wheels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 4 areas where aluminium wheels can help fleets keep up their image without over-spending on maintenance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 4 areas where aluminium wheels can help fleets keep up their image without over-spending on maintenance:<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"aluminium-over-steel-2-rust\"
IMAGE CREDIT: AKH Wheels<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
1. RUST<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Rust is caused when the iron in steel wheels is exposed to oxygen and water in air while trucks are out in the elements doing their work. Aluminium wheels, on the other hand are not prone to rust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe costs in preventing and\/ or removing rust from steel wheels adds up over time, and is a factor fleets should consider when deciding whether to purchase steel or Alcoa wheels,\u201d<\/strong><\/em> says Michael.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. CORROSION<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Corrosion is an ongoing and costly issue for fleets \u2013 especially those working in the harsher environments Australia is known for \u2013 and while corrosion is a problem for both steel and aluminium wheels, steel wheels seem to come out worse off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The difference is in the time and cost it takes to keep corrosion at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steel wheels require regular refinishing to stay looking good and to increase resistance to corrosion. Problems arise when the coating applied to the wheel is compromised:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDepending on the season and the terrain, wheels may start flaking or chipping, and fleets may see corrosion begin to form underneath the coating,\u201d<\/strong><\/em> says Michael Nichols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn fleets on aluminium wheels, corrosion occurs as a result of the wheels\u2019 exposure to salt, road grime, and other outdoor elements.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The refinishing process involves either powder coating or painting, which can improve the look of steel wheels and feel like a more cost-effective option to purchasing aluminium wheels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Powder coating can even last up to 3 times longer than the traditional paint option offered for steel wheels, making it seem like an economic call to make.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few problems fleets see with powder coating, however, are<\/p>\n\n\n\n