Tire Lab: The Trackside Measurement Workflow (Pressure + Temperature)

In motorsport, grip is never “a feeling only”. It’s a system: pressure, temperature, and consistency. This Tire Lab guide shows you which instruments to use and how to use them properly on track days to build a repeatable method — session after session.

1 - The 3 essential instruments for Tire Lab

• Digital Tire Pressure Gauge — your baseline for every decision.
• Pyrometer (Probe or Infrared) — to understand the contact patch and tire working window.
• Data storage / logging — to compare sessions and avoid guessing.

2 - Tire Pressure: what to measure (and what it tells you)

A precise hot pressure reading is more than a number: it’s a signal. If pressure rises too much compared to your target, the tire likely went outside its ideal temperature window. That’s why pressure is step one — but it’s not enough alone.

Trackside pressure routine

• Measure hot pressure as soon as the bike/car stops.
• Measure each tire in the same order, every session.
• Change one variable at a time (avoid chasing noise).

3 - Tire Temperature: reading the contact patch (Inner–Middle–Outer)

To understand how the tire is working on the track surface, measure tread temperature in three points: Inner – Middle – Outer. This is the fastest way to understand if your setup is using the tire correctly.

Probe vs Infrared: when to use which

• Infrared: fastest check, great for quick comparisons between sessions.
• Probe: best when the tread surface is not uniform (graining/blistering) or when you need deeper, point-by-point measurement.

4) From data to decisions: why saving measurements matters

Choosing the right instrument gives you accurate data — but Tire Lab is about turning measurements into decisions. When you save pressures and temperatures (every session), you can spot trends over time and adjust your setup with confidence. In motorsport, that can be the difference between progress and confusion.

5) Build your repeatable method (the Tire Lab checklist)

• Measure: hot pressure + I/M/O temps immediately after the session.
• Interpret: compare to your target window and look for I/M/O imbalance.
• Adjust: change one variable (pressure or setup step) and re-check.
• Log: save values + one short note (track temp, grip feeling, wear).

6) Robust instruments for real track conditions

Track days are not a lab: heat, dust, rush, and time pressure can ruin consistency. A reliable and robust instrument helps you repeat the same routine and trust your numbers — even in the most demanding environments.