Large Ohio bus fleet dropping steel wheels in favor of aluminum models from Alcoa

One of the nation?s oldest bus lines will be now be running on the latest in aluminum wheel technology under a partnership recently forged between Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products and Ohio?s Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority.

Jan. 1, 2020

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One of the nation’s oldest bus lines will be now be running on the latest in aluminum wheel technology under a partnership recently forged between Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products and Ohio’s Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority.

It is the Buckeye State’s fourth-largest public transit system with more than 11 million passenger trips each year. The fleet includes diesel buses, electric trolley buses, Project Mobility vans and buses and Wright Flyer street cars.

The line is to add 78 new Gillig Corp. buses fitted with Alcoa’s Dura-Bright wheels with XBR technology. Previously, this had been an all steel wheel fleet.

With the change to to aluminum wheels, the fleet “will experience the benefits of aluminum wheels, including one piece forged strength; lower maintenance costs, since the wheels can be cleaned with just soap and water; and a reduction in fuel costs due to the lighter weight of the wheels, according to Alcoa, which says its wheels never need polishing and they won’t crack, chip, peel or corrode. The roll-out of the new buses will take place over the next three years.

For more information, visit www.alcoa.com.