Tire Temperature With An IR Laser Thermometer

I've been using these things for years to get basic readings. They only read the surface. Just how inaccurate are they?

One of my issues was stopping and getting a reading fast enough (say, a hillclimb run) before the rear tires on a FWD car cooled.

I would imagine as long as you are reading inner/middle /outer quickly enough you will see a reliable reading. You should also be a consistent distance away from the surface. The hot setup would be to have someone ready to take/record the reading for you. Not always possible.

IIRC NASCAR uses a similar system mounted on the car during testing.

Hmm. Interesting question. I might use mine back to back with the memory pyrometer just to see.

Jensenman wrote: Hmm. Interesting question. I might use mine back to back with the memory pyrometer just to see.

That would be really helpful. Is your IR a pretty good one? I wouldn't be concerned about actual temps as consistency.

Also, would a cheap Harbor Freight one would be decent enough for someone on a budget?

About 10 years ago I think GRM did a piece on how to make your own using a clicker style pen housing and some parts from radio shack.

I bought one from Radio Shack for under $20. I can't say that it is giving me an exact degree reading to the 10th decimal place, but I don't need anywhere near that accuracy. All I want to know is how the temperature drops or rises from inside, middle, to outside, and how it compares front left to front right, or rear left to rear right. For DOT approved tires for STS, and my skill level, it is plenty. For racing slicks or someone better then me (so everyone then ) it may be a different issue.

Hasbro wrote:

Jensenman wrote: Hmm. Interesting question. I might use mine back to back with the memory pyrometer just to see.

That would be really helpful. Is your IR a pretty good one? I wouldn't be concerned about actual temps as consistency. Also, would a cheap Harbor Freight one would be decent enough for someone on a budget?

Mine's a Harbor Fright, so far it seems to be reasonably accurate. Like all guys I've pointed it at myself and hit the button, just to see. It's great for finding a misfire; take temps by pointing it at the exhaust manifold close to the head, the cold cylinder is the one that's not pulling its share of the load. Saves a lot of time.

I use one. I've had people give me crap because it's the tire surface temp and that changes very quickly as opposed to the temp of the tire under the surface. My answer was, can I have yours then? I have a raytec, and it's very accurate but all I really want is consistancy.

I use one. I've had people give me crap because it's the tire surface temp and that changes very quickly as opposed to the temp of the tire under the surface. My answer was, can I have yours then? I have a raytec, and it's very accurate but all I really want is consistancy.