Infrared thermometer & Tires
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2007
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Infrared thermometer & Tires
I purchased an infrared themometer today for some work I am doing.
I remember reading somewhere in the forum that it can be used to measure the heat of the tires (after riding) to determine if they are at the ideal PSI.
However, I do not recall the actual temperatures that the tires should be at ideally.
I am running the Commanders.
Anyone have info on the ideal temps for them?
I remember reading somewhere in the forum that it can be used to measure the heat of the tires (after riding) to determine if they are at the ideal PSI.
However, I do not recall the actual temperatures that the tires should be at ideally.
I am running the Commanders.
Anyone have info on the ideal temps for them?
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Laurel, Ms.
RE: Infrared thermometer & Tires
[font=arial][size=2]
This came from a Ducati forum. Some light reading.............
Determining Best Tire Pressures
You'll get a lot of opinions on what tire pressure to run, but the correct tire pressure for you is not a matter of polling other rider's opinion. Here are the basics you'll need to decide for yourself.
Start with the bike manufacturer's recommendation in the owners manual or under-seat sticker. This is the number they consider to be the best balance between handling, grip and tire wear. Further, if you're running alloy wheels on poor pavement, consider adding 2 psi to the recommended tire pressure just to reduce the likelihood of pothole damage. Just as you would for a car, increase the pressure 2 psi or so for sustained high speed operation (or 2-up riding) to reduce rolling friction and casing flexing. Check your tire pressure regularly as they say.
In order to get optimum handling a tire has to get to its optimum temperature which is different for each brand of tire. Most of us don't have the equipment needed to measure tire temperature directly so we measure it indirectly by checking tire pressure since tire pressure increases with tire temperature. Tire temperature is important to know because too much flexing of the casing of an under-inflated tire for a given riding style and road will result in overheating resulting in less than optimum grip. Over-pressurizing a tire will reduce casing flexing and prevent the tire from getting up to the optimum operating temperature and performance again suffers. Sliding and spinning the tires also increase tire temperatures from friction heating.
A technique for those wanting to get the most out of their tires on the street is to use the 10/20% rule.
First check the tire pressure when the tire is cold. Then take a ride on your favorite twisty piece of road. Then, measure the tire pressure immediately after stopping. If the pressure has risen less than 10% on the
front or 20% on the rear, the rider should remove air from the tire. So for example, starting at a front tire pressure of 32.5 psi should bring you up to 36 psi hot. Once you obtain this pressure increase for a given rider, bike, tire, road and road temperature combination, check the tire pressure again while cold and record it for future reference.
Each manufacturer is different. Each tire model is different. A tire design that runs cooler needs to run a lower pressure (2-3 psi front) to get up to optimum temperature. The rear tire runs hotter than the front tire, road and track. So the rear tire cold-to-hot increase is greater. Dropping air pressure has the additional side effect of scrubbing more rubber area.
When I used the tire pressures recommended by Ducati (32.5F/36R) for my 916 on my favorite road, I got exactly 10/20% on a set of Bridgestone BT-012SS. So I guess I'm an average rider and the BT-012SS runs at an average operating temperature compared to other brands.
For the track you'll have to drop the cold tire pressures an additional 10/20%. Track operation will get tires hotter (increasing the cold-to-hot pressure range) so starting at say 32/30 psi now should bring you up to the
same temperature (and pressure) that 35/39 psi gave you for the street.
[font=verdana][size=2][b]Don't even think about running these low track cold pressures on the street.
Finally, dropping tire pressures on street tires for track use has its limitations, so street compound tires on the track often get too hot and go beyond sticky to greasy. That's why you have race tires. Race tire compounds are designed for severe operation at these higher temperatures for a limited
number of thermal cycles. On the other hand, race tire on the street usually won't get up
This came from a Ducati forum. Some light reading.............
Determining Best Tire Pressures
You'll get a lot of opinions on what tire pressure to run, but the correct tire pressure for you is not a matter of polling other rider's opinion. Here are the basics you'll need to decide for yourself.
Start with the bike manufacturer's recommendation in the owners manual or under-seat sticker. This is the number they consider to be the best balance between handling, grip and tire wear. Further, if you're running alloy wheels on poor pavement, consider adding 2 psi to the recommended tire pressure just to reduce the likelihood of pothole damage. Just as you would for a car, increase the pressure 2 psi or so for sustained high speed operation (or 2-up riding) to reduce rolling friction and casing flexing. Check your tire pressure regularly as they say.
In order to get optimum handling a tire has to get to its optimum temperature which is different for each brand of tire. Most of us don't have the equipment needed to measure tire temperature directly so we measure it indirectly by checking tire pressure since tire pressure increases with tire temperature. Tire temperature is important to know because too much flexing of the casing of an under-inflated tire for a given riding style and road will result in overheating resulting in less than optimum grip. Over-pressurizing a tire will reduce casing flexing and prevent the tire from getting up to the optimum operating temperature and performance again suffers. Sliding and spinning the tires also increase tire temperatures from friction heating.
A technique for those wanting to get the most out of their tires on the street is to use the 10/20% rule.
First check the tire pressure when the tire is cold. Then take a ride on your favorite twisty piece of road. Then, measure the tire pressure immediately after stopping. If the pressure has risen less than 10% on the
front or 20% on the rear, the rider should remove air from the tire. So for example, starting at a front tire pressure of 32.5 psi should bring you up to 36 psi hot. Once you obtain this pressure increase for a given rider, bike, tire, road and road temperature combination, check the tire pressure again while cold and record it for future reference.
Each manufacturer is different. Each tire model is different. A tire design that runs cooler needs to run a lower pressure (2-3 psi front) to get up to optimum temperature. The rear tire runs hotter than the front tire, road and track. So the rear tire cold-to-hot increase is greater. Dropping air pressure has the additional side effect of scrubbing more rubber area.
When I used the tire pressures recommended by Ducati (32.5F/36R) for my 916 on my favorite road, I got exactly 10/20% on a set of Bridgestone BT-012SS. So I guess I'm an average rider and the BT-012SS runs at an average operating temperature compared to other brands.
For the track you'll have to drop the cold tire pressures an additional 10/20%. Track operation will get tires hotter (increasing the cold-to-hot pressure range) so starting at say 32/30 psi now should bring you up to the
same temperature (and pressure) that 35/39 psi gave you for the street.
[font=verdana][size=2][b]Don't even think about running these low track cold pressures on the street.
Finally, dropping tire pressures on street tires for track use has its limitations, so street compound tires on the track often get too hot and go beyond sticky to greasy. That's why you have race tires. Race tire compounds are designed for severe operation at these higher temperatures for a limited
number of thermal cycles. On the other hand, race tire on the street usually won't get up
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,360
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From: Davie, FL
RE: Infrared thermometer & Tires
Good reading. Another thing you should be aware of is when you go to a lower weight rated tire from stock. Your tire temperature increases. What I mean is if you are riding an Ultra and you put on a tire that has a load rating of say 500 lbs. The stock tire rating is around 950 lbs (without looking it up. The lower load rated tire will get hotter and wear faster or, in some cases, fail.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 448
Likes: 3
From:
RE: Infrared thermometer & Tires
- hehehehe.
- tire temps is a worry for people with PERFORMANCE
bikes , and who track (on racetrack) their bikes alot.
Its a guide to suspension setup , tyre compound and
tyre pressure.
- ie , not for a harley.
.
- tire temps is a worry for people with PERFORMANCE
bikes , and who track (on racetrack) their bikes alot.
Its a guide to suspension setup , tyre compound and
tyre pressure.
- ie , not for a harley.
.
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2007
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RE: Infrared thermometer & Tires
ORIGINAL: jmacdonald5
...OH NO...now we gotta worry about the TEMP of our tires?....man...this bikin thing is gettin too complicated!
....
...OH NO...now we gotta worry about the TEMP of our tires?....man...this bikin thing is gettin too complicated!
....
Nah, I did NOT get the gauge for my bike. Got it for work to test some thermal insulating paint.
It is actually a lot of fun to play with.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=96451
I have been "shooting" everything....computer processor, walls, ceiling, dogs, rabbit, cherry on the end of my cig (305 degrees).
Thought it would be fun to check out the tires. Seems no one knows what the ideal temp is though.
Have FUN riding!
**********
BigDee, I'm up close to Memphis in Byahlia.
**********
Oh, I betcha all the guys that have the 07 and 08's that are running lean and hot would be interested in this little toy....or maybe not, might be depressing.
Next time I am out I will shoot my engine cases just for grins and giggles.
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2007
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From:
RE: Infrared thermometer & Tires
ORIGINAL: murph3204
have you used it to determine the temperature of your heads or pipes after a ride?
have you used it to determine the temperature of your heads or pipes after a ride?
Front head (above exhaust) 209 degrees
Rear head (above exhaust) 232 degrees
Bottom of rear cylinder 212 degrees
Case (right below serial number) 195 degrees
Oil Filter housing 193 degrees
Can't shoot reflective surfaces, does not read accurate.
I did shoot inside the rush slipons- 356 degrees