Two sets of wheels: one VS two sets of rotors?

[Corsara]

I'm looking into getting a set of spare wheels to use with rain tires. I was wondering if it's better to swap the rotors too when switching the wheels, this way using the same rotors on the same pads, no matter which wheels you use? Logic tells that brake pads would have a better life and wear if used always on the same rotor. But I wanted to see how you guys prefer to do it in real world.

 

[Brian P]

For years, I had two sets of wheels but only one set of rotors.

If the length of time that it takes to swap wheels is a concern - and conditions in which the weather can't make up its mind are more common than straight all-day no-questions-asked rain - then having a set of rotors on both wheels is the way to go.

Hopefully, the brake pads will spend more time running against your dry-wheels rotors, and they'll certainly be working harder and at higher temperature when they are running against your dry-wheels rotors. Occasionally having a rain session on the other wheels won't kill them, and if they do, it means your brake rotors are so severely worn that they ought to be replaced anyway.

 

[omnivore]

Pffft...No way I would switch rotors back and forth. When doing the rain tire dance time is of the essence, at least when you are racing. And even at a trackday, lost time is time you paid for.

 

[Mina]

Most sellers often include the rotors with the wheels.

 

[BBC]

I wouldn't want to re-torque the rotor bolts that many times.

 

[Mr.Azim]

I'd never switch rotors... I bought rain tires back in May and never put a single lap on them. It either didn't rain or it dried up by the time my race started up. Knock on wood? I think. But there were times where I switched to rains and then back to slicks. I wouldn't have made race time if I had to torque those rotors back on twice.

Read your owner's manual and it will tell you the two-torque, cross-bolt pattern needed to safely install rotors to factory spec.

Most sellers often include the rotors with the wheels.

Most but not all. But the OP is asking about the benefit of keeping the same pads on the same rotors.

 

[dricked]

You could probably find a cheap set of oem rotors on eBay. I wouldn't be too concerned with having two sets unless your racing. If its raining at a track day chances are it's open track so you won't lose out on time. At a race your going on at a set time and if the conditions are changing its a pain to swap quickly. If you end up with two sets you'll just bed your pads into both sets of rotors.