I do the similar way as CaptainSandL. Put the tip of my fingers onto the inner part of the tyres closest to the rim or wheel. After some practises,you could develope a scle yourself.
My company used to operate 737-400 (landing wt 54,884kg) into strip with 5600ft in lenght. The strip is so short that its markings are a set of Ls painted white known as Boeing markers.(boeing reckon if you don't land within the markers you won't makeit at the end!). Those landings heats up the brakes alot. you can see the white smoke comes out from the brakes everytime. 9 years on and not a single burst tyre or overrun! Nowadays the shortest we do is 5900ft. Smokes still but not as much. DON"T PUT YOUR HAND IN WHEN IT SMOKES, NOT EVEN THE TYRES!!
Cheers!