Wheel temperature differential
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Instructor
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 147
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From: Erial NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Wheel temperature differential
My left front wheel is running hotter than the right front wheel. After driving for a half hour, the air pressure in the left front will be a pound higher than the right front. Using an infrared thermometer at various points on the wheel (not tire), there is a temperature difference of up to 15 degrees. The temperature difference of the tires is less. Specifically, if I measure the outboard side of the caliper, the left one is 15 degrees warmer than the right one.
I thought it might be alignment, but I doubt it since the temperature difference of the tread is not as great as the temperature difference of the wheel, so I think that the heat is being generated from a source other than the tire. I also thought that the left caliper might be sticking, but when I spin each wheel, I can't see any difference in the amount of revolutions it takes for each wheel to stop. So, I don't think it's the caliper. There also isn't any obvious play in the wheel bearing. The brake cooling duct is not obstructed, although the left duct appears to be closer to the wheel than the right duct. When blowing compressed air through either duct, though, air is being directed towards the caliper, so I don't think that is a problem.
Does anyone have any ideas why the left is hotter than the right? Is this normal behaviour? Could heat from the engine be blown towards the left front wheel?
Thanks.
By the way, the rear wheels are always within 1 degree of each other.
I thought it might be alignment, but I doubt it since the temperature difference of the tread is not as great as the temperature difference of the wheel, so I think that the heat is being generated from a source other than the tire. I also thought that the left caliper might be sticking, but when I spin each wheel, I can't see any difference in the amount of revolutions it takes for each wheel to stop. So, I don't think it's the caliper. There also isn't any obvious play in the wheel bearing. The brake cooling duct is not obstructed, although the left duct appears to be closer to the wheel than the right duct. When blowing compressed air through either duct, though, air is being directed towards the caliper, so I don't think that is a problem.
Does anyone have any ideas why the left is hotter than the right? Is this normal behaviour? Could heat from the engine be blown towards the left front wheel?
Thanks.
By the way, the rear wheels are always within 1 degree of each other.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 76
Likes: 27
From: KC Area
Wheel Temperature
Wow, what a great observation! I believe that the engine fan rotates counterclockwise (from the driver's seat). So, the left side would get a larger share of the heat from the radiator. I'll bet Chevy knows this in a big way and there are measures for this on the C5R (and may Z06).
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by NassauBlue
My left front wheel is running hotter than the right front wheel. After driving for a half hour, the air pressure in the left front will be a pound higher than the right front. Using an infrared thermometer at various points on the wheel (not tire), there is a temperature difference of up to 15 degrees. The temperature difference of the tires is less. Specifically, if I measure the outboard side of the caliper, the left one is 15 degrees warmer than the right one.
I thought it might be alignment, but I doubt it since the temperature difference of the tread is not as great as the temperature difference of the wheel, so I think that the heat is being generated from a source other than the tire. I also thought that the left caliper might be sticking, but when I spin each wheel, I can't see any difference in the amount of revolutions it takes for each wheel to stop. So, I don't think it's the caliper. There also isn't any obvious play in the wheel bearing. The brake cooling duct is not obstructed, although the left duct appears to be closer to the wheel than the right duct. When blowing compressed air through either duct, though, air is being directed towards the caliper, so I don't think that is a problem.
Does anyone have any ideas why the left is hotter than the right? Is this normal behaviour? Could heat from the engine be blown towards the left front wheel?
Thanks.
By the way, the rear wheels are always within 1 degree of each other.
I thought it might be alignment, but I doubt it since the temperature difference of the tread is not as great as the temperature difference of the wheel, so I think that the heat is being generated from a source other than the tire. I also thought that the left caliper might be sticking, but when I spin each wheel, I can't see any difference in the amount of revolutions it takes for each wheel to stop. So, I don't think it's the caliper. There also isn't any obvious play in the wheel bearing. The brake cooling duct is not obstructed, although the left duct appears to be closer to the wheel than the right duct. When blowing compressed air through either duct, though, air is being directed towards the caliper, so I don't think that is a problem.
Does anyone have any ideas why the left is hotter than the right? Is this normal behaviour? Could heat from the engine be blown towards the left front wheel?
Thanks.
By the way, the rear wheels are always within 1 degree of each other.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
When measureing tire temps measure in three places, outter 1/4, center 1/4, and inner 1/4 of tread of the same tire.
If the tread temp is:
Higher on the outter 1/4 = too much POSITIVE camber
Higher on the center 1/4 = too much air pressure
Higher on the inner 1/4 = too much negative camber
higher on the sides then the middle = too low of air pressure.
Temp should be even across the tire.
Tire temps on Differnt sides of the car is not the same.
Heck if yoru car is sitting in the drive way facing north, the right left side or east side tire will heat up in the morening and cool down in the afternoon. and vis versa in the afternoon called sun tires
or if your doing a lot of hard right hand corners, the left front tire will heat up more.
One or two degress or psi is no big deal from left to right side tires.
also the infrared readers are OK, and really only used for reading rotor temps, not tire temps. a pyromiter with prob to stick down into the tread is needed for accuate tire temps, plus the tires must be read asap, come into the pitts to read.
For normal use, it is no big deal, just drive
If the tread temp is:
Higher on the outter 1/4 = too much POSITIVE camber
Higher on the center 1/4 = too much air pressure
Higher on the inner 1/4 = too much negative camber
higher on the sides then the middle = too low of air pressure.
Temp should be even across the tire.
Tire temps on Differnt sides of the car is not the same.
Heck if yoru car is sitting in the drive way facing north, the right left side or east side tire will heat up in the morening and cool down in the afternoon. and vis versa in the afternoon called sun tires
or if your doing a lot of hard right hand corners, the left front tire will heat up more.
One or two degress or psi is no big deal from left to right side tires.
also the infrared readers are OK, and really only used for reading rotor temps, not tire temps. a pyromiter with prob to stick down into the tread is needed for accuate tire temps, plus the tires must be read asap, come into the pitts to read.
For normal use, it is no big deal, just drive
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,561
Likes: 447
From: Atlanta metro Ga.
Originally Posted by AU N EGL
When measureing tire temps measure in three places, outter 1/4, center 1/4, and inner 1/4 of tread of the same tire.
If the tread temp is:
Higher on the outter 1/4 = too much POSITIVE camber
Higher on the center 1/4 = too much air pressure
Higher on the inner 1/4 = too much negative camber
higher on the sides then the middle = too low of air pressure.
Temp should be even across the tire.
Tire temps on Differnt sides of the car is not the same.
Heck if yoru car is sitting in the drive way facing north, the right left side or east side tire will heat up in the morening and cool down in the afternoon. and vis versa in the afternoon called sun tires
or if your doing a lot of hard right hand corners, the left front tire will heat up more.
One or two degress or psi is no big deal from left to right side tires.
also the infrared readers are OK, and really only used for reading rotor temps, not tire temps. a pyromiter with prob to stick down into the tread is needed for accuate tire temps, plus the tires must be read asap, come into the pitts to read.
For normal use, it is no big deal, just drive
If the tread temp is:
Higher on the outter 1/4 = too much POSITIVE camber
Higher on the center 1/4 = too much air pressure
Higher on the inner 1/4 = too much negative camber
higher on the sides then the middle = too low of air pressure.
Temp should be even across the tire.
Tire temps on Differnt sides of the car is not the same.
Heck if yoru car is sitting in the drive way facing north, the right left side or east side tire will heat up in the morening and cool down in the afternoon. and vis versa in the afternoon called sun tires
or if your doing a lot of hard right hand corners, the left front tire will heat up more.
One or two degress or psi is no big deal from left to right side tires.
also the infrared readers are OK, and really only used for reading rotor temps, not tire temps. a pyromiter with prob to stick down into the tread is needed for accuate tire temps, plus the tires must be read asap, come into the pitts to read.
For normal use, it is no big deal, just drive
Good info, and I agree, deducing the origin of a 15 degree variance? That sounds like "needle in a hay-stack" time.
