Goodyear sees future in ‘Fitbit’ for tires
Goodyear is testing a smarttire that, much like a Fitbit, relays condition information based on cloud computing analytics.
The 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 con- nected 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.
Goodyear says there is no timeline for when smart tires will become commercially available.
Goodyear chose Tesloop as a partner in part because of the high mileage logged by the service’s Model S and Model X cars. Tesloop has eight Model S cars, which rack up an average of 17,000 miles a month. Founded two years ago, Tesloop offers long-distance rides that are meant to supplant train or even air travel. Depending on departure times, a one-way trip from Los Angeles to San Diego costs between $29 and $69.