How can you identify where a wheel overheats?

The Parma Group has launched Hot Spot Marker – a new product designed to show when a wheel overheats.

Hot Spot Markers are small, colour-changing stickers designed to warn of a developing wheel end component failure by visually notifying the user of a hidden wheel issue that could otherwise be dangerous and costly.

Once the hub has exceeded 180°C, the sticker turns orange. Having changed to orange, the sticker will remain that way – meaning the visual cue shouldn’t be missed.

Manufactured with durable materials and backed with 3M self-adhesive, the 32mm sticker is small enough to be discreet to the public but noticeable to those doing their wheel checks.

The sticker is easy to use: clean the external metallic side of the wheel hub bearing housing with an alcohol wipe, lightly key the surface – and apply.

Melting indicators

Parma sourced the product as an answer to reports of wheel nut indicators designed to withstand high temperatures, were starting to melt, regardless of supplier and brand.

Unfortunately, the answer was not that the indicator product wasn’t working as intended, but that wheels were experiencing faults. Vehicles that do not use such indicators could have issues go unnoticed for even longer, and those that do are wasting products. Situations such as these can be extremely costly in further repairs and delays, and dangerous if something were to happen on the road.

“These stickers remove the element of the unknown regarding wheel temperature safety. At 180°, the hub is far too hot and is usually the result of a parts failure” says Parma Group’s Founder and Director, Marc Pittock. “These will enhance the safety of all road users, as well as keeping repair costs down by catching these issues sooner.”