New wheels getting really hot (temperature-wise)

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Jun 24, 2003 | 09:31 PM

sumomo

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New wheels getting really hot (temperature-wise)

So I just got myself a new set of wheels. They're RAYS Engineering Gram Lights 57C 17x7.5. Michelin Pilot Sport tires

I jacked up the car and put them on myself. The tires set to the right pressure and the lug nuts all torqued to 80lbs.

I noticed something after driving for a while... that the wheels themselves got really hot. Is that supposed to happen?

The bolts for the lug nuts got pretty hot themselves too. Is all this heat just from the brakes or could there be something wrong with the wheels themselves/my installation?

Thanks!

Jun 24, 2003 | 11:18 PM

ImprezaRSDriver

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iTrader: (2)

Joined: Nov 2002

Posts: 955

From: Mann Engineering, Santa Clara, CA

Car Info: 13BRZ, 11FXT, 08T25, 07STI, 02WRX

You are getting heat from the brakes, but you are also heating the air up between the tire and the wheel when you drive. That is why race cars monitor tire pressures carefully because when they get hot, the pressure increases and will drastically affect handling. Remember, friction builds up heat pretty quickly. Just think of rubbing your two hands together.

Jun 25, 2003 | 08:12 AM

Dexter@tirerack

Registered User

Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 681

From: Warsaw, Indiana

Car Info: 02 WRX Wagon White

The brakes are likely the only heat-generating entity on the hub/wheel assembly - unless you've go a bad bearing or something. You could have a frozen caliper, but I would guess you're just driving the car to it's fullest - with hard braking being part of that. Brakes get hot - like ~800 degrees hot - which transfers to the hub and your wheel. The wheel is a great heat-sink to help your brakes cool quickly. Bottom line - I don't see a problem unless one is hotter than the rest. BTW - fronts should be hotter than rears.