Alcoa Automotive Wheels, a division of Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products, announced that it has been awarded platform placement of Dura-Bright technology wheels with Chrysler LLC’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) engineering organisation.

Two new wheels within the Chrysler SRT family, including both Dodge and Jeep platforms, will begin placement with the 2009 model year.
“Our innovative Dura-Bright technology has enjoyed commercial success for many years in the heavy duty truck market and more recently with leading global automobile manufacturers,” said Kevin Kramer, president, Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products.
“We are honored that Chrysler’s SRT organisation has recognised that this wheel surface innovation can add value and product differentiation through easy-to-clean maintenance benefits extended to their new vehicle owners.”
Chrysler’s SRT organisation has selected the patented surface treatment for the standard 5-spoke wheel fitted to the Dodge Viper SRT10 coupe and roadster. Alcoa-forged wheels treated with Dura-Bright technology allow Viper owners to maintain their sports cars appearance with minimal maintenance effort. Vehicles fitted with aggressive brake packages, like the Dodge Viper SRT10, typically generate a high level of brake dust. Viper owners will now be able to maintain the appearance of their vehicle with less effort to keep their wheels cleaner with Dura-Bright technology.
Chrysler’s SRT organisation has also selected Dura-Bright technology for fitment on Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8.
Alcoa began supplying one-piece forged aluminum SRT wheels on the Dodge Viper SRT10 in 2002. The company has supplied wheels for all SRT8 fitments, including Chrysler 300C, Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Dodge Magnum and Jeep Grand Cherokee since 2004. Year 2009 will signal the first applications of Dura-Bright technology to the Chrysler SRT organisation.
Along with the benefits of easy-to-clean Dura-Brigh technology, all SRT wheels by Alcoa are forged from one piece of aerospace grade 6061-T6 aluminum. The forging process aligns the grain of the metal producing a strong and durable wheel with light weight benefits to enhance vehicle performance and fuel economy. Forged aluminum wheels by Alcoa are typically twice as strong while reducing weight by over 20 per cent as a comparable cast aluminum wheel.
All aluminum wheels for Chrysler’s SRT organisation are forged at Alcoa’s Cleveland (Ohio) Works Plant.