Does anyone use a tire pyrometer for setting up suspension for autocross?

I’ve done some searching but can’t really figure out if people are talking about road racing or autocross. I know the probe type is preferred, but will it help with autox?

I’ve never seen anyone use one at the events I’ve attended, so I’m not at all familiar with them.

 

Yes, people use it to figure out where to set their tire pressures in autox. It's more accurate than chalking the tires and monitoring roll over. If you ask the manufacturer's competition tire reps. (for R-compounds at least) they'll usually be able to tell you the optimum operating temp for a tire. And you can use that as a target.

Try taking measurements as soon after a run as possible. Helps if you have a friend or more (and as many pyrometers). Ideally is 4 people with the same pyro unit, but that's usually not realistic...

The probe is favored over the infra-red types, since it lets you see the tires true heat that may obscured by crud/debris picked up coming back to grid.

Take inner/middle/outter readings at a few places around the tire to get a good sample. Avoids localized hotspots from lockups/skids, etc.


Modified by XrcR6 at 8:17 PM 9/23/2003

 

One day, I'd like to compare my cheap-o IR pyrometer to a real probe type meter. For now, I'm happy with my Radio Shack meter:http://www.radioshack.com/prod...2D325

 

Im sorry for bringing this thread back but Im wondering something. Can tire temperature be a tool used to determine optimum camber settings in the autocross environment?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Wont be beat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Im sorry for bringing this thread back but Im wondering something. Can tire temperature be a tool used to determine optimum camber settings in the autocross environment?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yep. The tire transfers the mechanical energy into heat energy through friction. It'll be hottest when grip maximized. However, if I never lift through a turn in first gear, my tires are going to be damn hot regardless of what my camber settings are. It's not a linear relationship: there multiple functions that you need to consider. Temp is one of them.

Take temps on the inside, middle, and outside of the tire to help find poor camber settings.

 

So my assumption is correct...

Lets take an example of a right front tire set at a camber angle of -2.5 degrees. Lets say you take a left hand turn at speed and then take readings with a pyrometer. Lets say the readings on the outside of the tire are 100 deg F, middle is 125 deg F, and inside is 150 deg F.

Does this mean you need more negative camber?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Wont be beat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So my assumption is correct...

Lets take an example of a right front tire set at a camber angle of -2.5 degrees. Lets say you take a left hand turn at speed and then take readings with a pyrometer. Lets say the readings on the outside of the tire are 100 deg F, middle is 125 deg F, and inside is 150 deg F.

Does this mean you need more negative camber?</TD></TR></TABLE>

that looks like you have way way too much negative camber if your insides are 50 degrees hotter. I have been taking measurements to find optimal grip on certain tires and also help with my camber settings. With 3.0 degrees on my 89 si a couple weeks ago i was getting even tire temps across the tire with the outsides just slightly warmer(less than 5 degress).

 

Oops, yeah, I mean to say too much negative camber. So I guess I'm write.