Goodyear debuts ‘Fitbit’ for tires

Goodyear is testing a smart-tire that, much like a Fitbit, relays condition information based on cloud computing analytics.

The U.S. manufacturer has teamed with California-based car service Tesloop to gauge the efficiency of a tire embedded with a sensor that can monitor metrics such as pressure and temperature.

While many vehicles today are equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems that tell you how low on air your tire might be, this system represents a step toward a more sophisticated approach that will be critical once fleets of selfdriving cars hit the roads.

“Tires are a mystery for most people, but if we can simplify how to properly maintain them or help make replacing them easier, that’s an area we can add value,” says Chris Helsel, Goodyear’s chief technology officer.

The disc-shaped sensor is connected to the cloud through an app. Based on the readings, the app can suggest everything from adding air to recommending the closest tire dealer for a replacement. Tire rotation is suggested based on mileage.

As cars become increasingly maintenance-free, tires become the part of the vehicle that take the most abuse and will need frequent replacement based on use. They are critical to vehicle traction because even the most sophisticated suspension systems can’t make up for a poor rubber contact patch.

“There’s a lot of learning to be done, and we’ll refine what we’ll eventually bring to market,” says Helsel, who adds that smart tires will cost more but he expects the price of such sensors to come down in time. Initially, he adds, Goodyear smart tires are likely to roll out as part of a new car from a major automaker.