24/03/2025

Tyre Temperatures: The Key to Motorsport Success

Tyre temperature is a critical factor in the performance of any racing vehicle. It directly influences road grip, handling balance, and overall vehicle control. Maintaining the optimal tyre temperature is essential for achieving maximum grip and minimal degradation, which can ultimately make or break a race.

When tyres are too cold, the chemicals in the rubber harden, reducing grip. Conversely, if tyres become too hot, the rubber starts to melt, leading to rapid wear and loss of traction. The key is finding that sweet spot in the middle—optimal temperatures ensure the tyres offer the best grip while experiencing minimal degradation. This is why digital thermometers and tyre probes are indispensable tools for any competitive driver.

To better understand how tyre temperatures impact performance, we spoke to Aiden Hills, a professional racing driver and owner of Hills Motorsport.

Grip and Handling Balance

Tyre temperature plays a fundamental role in motorsport success. It affects road grip and the handling balance of the car, both of which are crucial for competitive performance. “If the tyres are too cold, the chemicals in the rubber will go rock hard; if they’re too hot, the rubber will literally melt,” says Aidan. “Both scenarios compromise the drive. A temperature somewhere in the middle gives you the best grip with minimal degradation, so a digital thermometer and tyre probe are essential kit.”

Making Tyres Last

The optimal temperature range varies depending on the vehicle and tyre type. When tyres exceed their perfect temperature, degradation increases rapidly, causing a loss of grip. This is particularly important in motorsports, where costs are high, and tyres are one of the most expensive components. Managing tyre degradation is essential not only for performance but also for cost control.

Many race teams have a limited tyre allocation per season, so burning through tyres too quickly means they’ll only have degraded ones left towards the end of the season. Keeping track of tyre temperatures helps ensure drivers get the most out of their tyres, maintaining optimal performance without excessive wear.

Track Temperature and Its Impact

Track temperature is another crucial factor that can affect tyre performance. On a hot day, the asphalt will retain more heat, causing the tyres to heat up more quickly and potentially reach higher temperatures than expected. In contrast, a cooler track can result in slower tyre warm-up, making it harder for drivers to achieve optimal grip early in the race. To stay on top of these conditions, it’s essential to measure track temperature accurately. Our surface temperature probes provide racers with precise readings, enabling them to get an accurate understanding of the track’s temperature and adjust their tyre strategies accordingly.

Optimising Tyre Temperature

Several factors affect tyre temperature, and these must be carefully managed to ensure the tyres stay within their optimal range for as long as possible during a race.

“Tyre temperature and pressure work hand in hand,” Aidan explains. “The lower the tyre pressure, the more the tyre moves over the rim, making the tyre hotter. But when the tyre gets hotter, the pressure increases, so you have to find a balance between the two to achieve perfect grip.”

Another important factor is the camber angle. Tyres have three sections—inside, middle, and outside—which heat up differently depending on the wheel tilt. “The inside is always the hottest, the middle is the target temperature, and the outside is the coolest,” Aidan says. “By checking the temperatures, you can adjust the camber angle to ensure the heat is distributed evenly across the tyre.”

Accurate tyre temperature measurement is crucial for making these adjustments, and our digital thermometers and tyre probes are designed specifically for this task. Built for precision and durability, they provide reliable readings to help drivers maintain optimal tyre temperatures throughout the race.

Keeping it Steady

Formula 1 teams use tyre warmers to ensure their tyres are at optimal temperatures from the moment they hit the track. However, lower levels of motorsport don’t have this luxury. Drivers must adjust their driving styles accordingly to raise tyre temperatures and avoid overheating as the race progresses.

“It really affects how people drive,” Aidan says. “At the beginning of the race, you can be quite aggressive with the wheel to warm up the tyres, but in the middle, you’ve got to be really smooth with the steering to prevent overheating.”

Summary

Tyre temperature is more than just a consideration on race day; it’s an ongoing factor that teams must manage throughout both practice sessions and races. Missteps in temperature management can result in costly losses.

Aidan concludes: “Even if you’re in the lead, if you enter the final minutes with overheated tyres, you’re not going to win.”