What is an affordable unit that gets the job done? As I move away from street tires I want to start using one.

If you want, I can also link you to a ballpoint pen and a pad of paper.

Thanks...sometimes the lowest $$$ unit =/= functionality desired, I've been burned enough by my cheapness in the past...hence the question.

If you're just looking to grab tire temps, it's really hard to beat that one. Everyone I know who has that same exact model has been happy with it.

Jumping from nothing to something is a bigger jump than going from a simple function pyrometer to a fancy one that also cooks eggs and bacon.

Harbor Freight.

I was to post that you can find some Joes Racing pyrometer for 100$ but Longacre is a good option too. If you don't have pressure gauge with the magic button then you can get a bundle for 120$ which is decent.

This one? I guess it would be a pain in the ass to read but should work if its really "instant" and not like a minute to stabilize. HF doesnt seem to have anything else that fits the bill, only other stuff they have are those useless non-contact thermometers.

The applications they listed, like pool and kitchen kind of imply the needle is immersed. I wonder if it would work if only the tip made contact?

Perhaps this one is a better choice for a cheapie: TIF 7000 Digital Pyrometer New | eBay



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It':giggle:s mine now.

This one.

http://m.harborfreight.com/non-conta...ing-60725.html

+1 I have this, going to give it a try at the next autocross for taking tire temps. It shoots out in a cone, so you just hold it close to the tire so you're taking the sample from just the area of the tire you want.

Tire temps should be taken with a pyrometer with a probe, air cooling of the tire surface happens very quickly, like driving to your pit stall and the least little air flowing across the surface while shooting with a IR gun well give a bad reading.

Measurements are taken with a tire pyrometer. The best type of pyrometer has a probe that is inserted into the tire tread. By measuring temperature below the tread surface, the probe provides improved readings since the tread surface cools relatively rapidly.

The only instance where a laser pyro is useful for making chassis/pressure adjustments is in real time. As in taking temps on track and either transmitting that back to the crew chief and/or reviewing datalogs post session. If you are measuring post session, you gotta poke it and even that needs to be done the exact same way all day.

Anyone having any contacts with Hankook?

Their TD (Z221) seems to be an absurd timeattack tire, but not available in Miata sizes, yet(?).
Three compounds to choose from, and marked with both DOT and E.

Just put my new set of 205/50/15 Rivals on my track day toy. Was running R888 because good in rain (no room for truck nor trailer). But the nice things being said about the Rivals got my attention. Almost NT-01 performance but long wear - intriguing. Also full depth sipes so hopefully they clear water well or at least OK.

Also, are value priced (cheep). BFG is running a $70 rebate that goes until 7/12. So with the Tire Rack price ($112) it means each tire is $96.

May not be going on track again until Miatas at MRLS so we shall see how they do.

Sav or emilio (or anyone else), do you have any input on the SM7? I think I've seen that it's comparable to the Continental Grand-Am slick.

I've heard on another forum it stays sticky more cycles than the sm6. I thought the Conti was harder and made for more endurance.

I have not run them yet and probably won't anytime soon since we stopped doing much with NASA. Try Mazdaracers.com forum, formerly specmiata.com. The top level SM crew has performed thorough A/B/A testing and validation before the tire was even released to the public.

Clif notes; Magic lap is tiny bit less magic. They cycle out less quickly and last a tiny bit faster. Same lap times-ish.
Still balleur cost/life proposition.

Would you say the tire is about 1-2 seconds faster than an NT-01 even though it doesn't have the magic lap?

What's a good cold pressure for the Rivals? I've got a pyrometer so just looking for something in the neighborhood for the first session going out. I saw Emilio said 35psi is their hot happy place on one of his cars. So cold at 30psi?