The present paper investigates the ceiling maximum smoke temperature and longitudinal decay in tunnel fires using a horseshoe shaped 1:3.7 scale-model tunnel constructed by concrete and a full-scale model tunnel established by SIMTEC for the first time. The maximum smoke temperature beneath the ceiling and the longitudinal temperature profiles were obtained and analyzed. The major conclusions are summarized as follows: The ceiling maximum smoke temperature rise right above the fire source is directly proportional to the terms of Q 2 / 3 / H f 5 / 3 and the ceiling maximum smoke temperature decreases as a sum function of two exponential equations of horizontal distance. Modified equations are proposed for maximum smoke temperature rise beneath the ceiling and longitudinal temperature decay, and the predictions show a good agreement with the values measured by experiments and numerical simulations. The results obtained by numerical simulations agree well with experimental results, and SIMTEC is reasonable to simulate the tunnel fires to predict the temperature profiles. The results are of important significance for tunnel fire safety and personnel evacuation.