Tire Pyrometers

Morning all,
I've been working on get my BB chassis set-up properly...as the wheels and tires have now been upgraded to 17". I've made a few chassis adjustments...and the car feels better, though I feel there still room for improvement. As the tire temperatures are a good indicator of pressures and alignment settings, I looking for suggestions as to the best type to purchase.

I've read pros and cons on both the laser type and the direct contact type. In that I will only be measuring tire tempeatures, what would you use?

Regards,
David

Here's my take on tools in general.

If the tool is performing an exacting 'mission critical' job, get a very precise dedicated device and develop very exacting procedures for use to insure the data/job is perfect. OTOH, if the job is one of a general checking/testing nature get a tool that is more non-specific/dedicated and that can be used to provide a large variety of helpful tasks.

That said...laser type for what you're doing...{}

David,

speaking of tire temps , what specs did you develop for this tire & wheel mod on your Boxer?

JR,
While I'm not done with the chassis, here's where we are so far:

Front camber: -.10 deg
Front toe-in: .29 deg total
Caster: 3.2 deg **
Front tire pressures: 34psi

Rear camber: -1.7 deg
Rear toe-in: .51 deg total
Rear tire pressure: 34 psi

Alignment done with 300 lbs weight in the car...and 50 lbs under the bonnet, with full tanks of fuel.

Driving impressions, now:
Greatly reduced understeer...
Straight line stablilty...Very good
Stability under extreme high speed braking...excellent.

The rear still feels a bit twitchy...and I sense it want to come around, but it doesn't.

**The caster angles are about 1 deg below the minimum spec, which is a bit perplexing. In that I did not do, nor involved in the previous alignment...I suspect an error was made in the measurement.

Before I go any further evaluating "feel" and further chassis tweaks, my intention is to dial the caster back into the front end. I believe that this is the reason for the on-center numbness...and (obviously) affects straight line stability.

Although not the best indicator of proper set-up, but a guide never the less, after a 25 mile run down the highway, the insides of the rear tires are hot...and the outsides are stone cold.

My gut..and tire temperatures tell me less camber and more toe-in in the rear is in order...

Caster adjustment first though...to help me "get over" the numbness issue.

Regards,
David