The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company showcased its intelligent tire protype at the Geneva International Motor Show in 2018. Its tire information system communicates in real time via a mobile app, providing information on tire ID status, including wear, temperature, and pressure. The proactive maintenance possible with an intelligent tire system means tire life, fuel economy, and performance attributes can all be extended, which is important since electric vehicles’s increased torque, especially on heavier and more powerful models, means traditional tires wear out 30% faster on EVs.
Goodyear recently eclipsed 3 million miles of data from road tests and field trials with customers derived from its connected tires. Connected tires — those with embedded sensors — are able to “talk” to the vehicle and the road and measure characteristics of the tire, leading to potential enhanced vehicle performance and safety.
Initial studies have shown that Goodyear’s connected tires can reduce stopping distance lost between a new and worn tire by 30%. With the evolution to electric and autonomous vehicles, connected tires, and the impact they can have on stopping distance, communication with the vehicle will only increase in importance.
Goodyear’s connected, intelligent tire system continuously measures and records tire-derived information, which is paired with other vehicle data and connected to its cloud-based proprietary algorithms.
The intelligent tires can measure tire wear, load, inflation and temperature, along with road surface conditions in real time, allowing the vehicle to adjust and respond to these measurements and optimize vehicle performance.
“Consider someone driving on a slick, curvy road in cold temperatures. The driver adjusts his movements by slowing down, tapping the brakes or avoiding sudden steering,” said Chris Helsel, Goodyear’s chief technology officer. “But what happens when nobody is behind the wheel? The tire is the only part of the vehicle that touches the ground and it can communicate vital information to the vehicle, enhancing safety and performance.”
While Goodyear’s connected tires are not yet available to consumers, the company is continuously testing connected tires extensively with automakers, startups and more, developing custom products and solutions to help enhance safe riding experiences with eventual use by consumers down the road.
Source: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
