A heat shield for a wheel is disclosed. A torque bar may be used to mount the heat shield to the wheel, and includes a connector in the form of a stem and a head. A stiffening or reinforcement plate is mounted to the heat shield with a torque bar mounting aperture extending through the reinforcement plate being disposed about at least part of a torque bar mounting aperture extending through the heat shield. The torque bar mounting aperture of the reinforcement plate is disposed/configured such that the head of the torque bar may be disposed in overlying relation to portions of an outer surface of the heat shield that are on opposite sides of the torque bar mounting aperture through the heat shield that are exposed by the torque bar mounting aperture through the reinforcement plate.