Alcoa with Durabright coating

Alcoa aluminum wheels have long been considered among the best in the industry.
Alcoa is the largest manufacturer of aluminum wheels in the world and the only company that uses the patented DuraBright surface treatment technology.

This technology works as a special penetration layer that is integrated directly into the structure of the aluminum during the manufacturing process. It is therefore not a traditional coating such as paint or chrome. DuraBright seals the surface of the aluminum and protects it from oxidation as well as from common contamination. Thanks to this, the wheels can maintain their appearance for many years and are often described as maintenance-free.

However, the reality of daily operation is often different.

The most common problems

The biggest issues usually appear after the winter season. Wheels are often washed with the wrong chemicals, and winter road maintenance then significantly accelerates the oxidation process.

These substances alone do not necessarily have to be a major problem if the wheels are washed regularly — at least once per week. The real issue often occurs when they are combined with aggressive washing chemicals.

A very common cause of damage is the use of strong alkaline shampoos or wheel cleaners that are not properly diluted by the car wash operator. If the chemical concentration is too high, the DuraBright surface treatment can be damaged. And this is happening more and more frequently.

The result is what is often called a “burned” surface.

If your wheels look similar to the ones shown in the photos below — dull patches, stains, or uneven shine — it is very likely that the protective DuraBright layer has already been chemically damaged. In this situation, salt, brine, or calcium chloride will only accelerate the oxidation of the aluminum.

How to determine the real condition of the wheel

The easiest way to determine the condition of the surface is a simple test. Take a liquid aluminum polishing compound and lightly polish a small affected area.

This will quickly reveal the real condition of the wheel.

If the polished spot becomes significantly shinier than the surrounding surface, it means you are polishing bare aluminum in that area — in other words, the DuraBright surface protection is no longer present there. Another indicator is when the liquid polishing compound seems to “bite” into the surface and the surface feels rough to the touch — this again indicates that the protective layer is gone.

On the other hand, if the shine remains the same as the surrounding area, the DuraBright surface treatment is still intact. When polishing, you will usually notice this difference very quickly.

What to do depending on the level of damage

The next steps depend on how much of the wheel surface is affected.

If at least 65% of the wheel is still protected by the original DuraBright layer, a full renovation is not necessary. In this case, it is enough to occasionally polish the affected areas with a liquid aluminum polishing compound. The rest of the wheel can then be treated twice a year with a polishing compound that contains a protective wax — for example carnauba wax or montan wax. This helps create a protective layer and makes future maintenance easier.

If more than 65% of the wheel surface is damaged, the only real solution is usually a complete renovation.

This means:

• mechanically removing the remaining parts of the original surface treatment

• sanding the surface again

• then polishing the entire wheel using a polishing kit

The result is a classic polished aluminum wheel without the original DuraBright penetration. This turns the wheel into a maintenance-type polished wheel that requires more frequent polishing. However, the shine of polished aluminum is usually noticeably higher than the shine of the original DuraBright finish.

Proper wheel care

To avoid these kinds of problems, it is important to follow basic maintenance rules. Special pH-neutral shampoos for wheels are available (both original products and those from other manufacturers of pH-neutral cleaners), which do not damage any type of surface finish. They are safe for paint, chrome, polished aluminum, and also for DuraBright.

Using the correct chemicals is absolutely essential.

Even though Alcoa wheels with the DuraBright surface treatment are often described as maintenance-free, in practice they still require proper care.

Ideally:

• wash the wheels at least once per week

• pay special attention to the wheel rim flange, where brake dust tends to accumulate

Regular cleaning significantly extends the life of the surface treatment and keeps the wheels in good condition for many years.

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