[Sammus]

The way I imagine it is: hot esc usually means there is too much current flowing through it. usually that means the motor is drawing too much current.

The motor will draw more current the higher it is geared, the heavier the vehicle, if there is any binding in the drive train it doesnt help either. and also if the motor is hotter it has more resistance and thus has to draw more current to output the same power.

Basically, check your drivetrain is moving freely, if so then gear down.

If there is some fundamentally flawed logic in there someone please correct me :)