Get ready for ‘intelligent’ tires from Goodyear

KUALA LUMPUR: Goodyear is currently working on a rather intelligent breed of tires that’ll tell the driver as to how long they’ll last depending on the tread wear and road conditions.

The company described it as a connected, intelligent tire system. These connected tires will continuously measure, record, and send tier-derived information. How? Well, these smart tiers that are currently under development have sensors embedded in the rubber, which will send vital information to the driver and compatible devices.

These connected, intelligent tires can measure real-time road surface conditions, load, inflation, tire wear, and temperature. We believe this kind of technology and first-hand information will allow the car to make appropriate adjustments for optimised driving experience and better safety.

Chris Helsel, Chief Technology Officer at Goodyear, said, “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. 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.”

Goodyear mentioned that the said tier technology is not yet available to the customers, and it is currently working with startups and automakers on developing the smart tier system. Besides, the company is also busy working on custom solutions and products that’ll help enhance customers on-road safety.

The tier company also claims the new technology to reduce stopping distance lost between the new and worn-out tires by 30 percent. Perhaps the new system will mitigate the owners from forgetting to change worn tiers on their cars.

We hope Goodyear smart tier system soon becomes available to the public.