Infrared microscopy is used to obtain through-thickness oil temperature measurements from EHL contacts between different surface materials (steel, silicon nitride and zirconia) for the lubricants Santotrac 50 and PAO4. The measurement technique was first adapted to overcome focussing issues due to the partially transparent zirconia surface. Results were used to infer in-contact rheological behaviour of the lubricants. Santotrac 50 shows significant shear localisation under all conditions with the position of the shear heating zone being highly affected by the contact surfaces' thermal properties. For PAO4, the shear profile depends on the contact surfaces’ thermal properties with moderate to high surface conductivities favouring uniform shearing, whereas highly insulating surfaces (zirconia) cause shear localisation at the surface for both lubricants. These results are used to interpret friction measurements and show how the thermal properties of surfaces can be used to control rheology and friction. This paper is prefaced by a review of thermal EHL theory upon which our analysis is based.