Goodyear creates the smart tyre for semi-autonomous cars, capable of predicting when it should be replaced

When we talk about autonomous vehicles, we always have in mind the tremendous technology they will use to communicate with us, as they will with other vehicles, and even how they will adapt to their surroundings. But whether autonomous or not, the cars of tomorrow will still fit tyres, at least in the near future, and these will have to adapt to both autonomous vehicles and smart roads.

Today, more or less everyone who owns a vehicle knows how many kilometres their tyres usually last, something that generally depends on factors such as the type of rubber compound fitted, the condition and quality of the road surface and, perhaps to an even greater extent, the driving style. This last factor becomes especially important in the semi-autonomous vehicles already on the market, and of course in the autonomous ones that will arrive in the medium to long term.

The tyre industry will not stand aside from this evolution in the intelligence of our vehicles, since they will have to adapt their tyres to the driving style these vehicles will have. That is why Goodyear has got down to work to create the smart tyre, partnering for this with the company Tesloop, which offers an intercity mobility service with a fleet made up solely of Tesla models.

This Goodyear tyre incorporates a series of wireless sensors, which continuously record the temperature and pressure of the tyres, along with other vehicle data, will make it possible to know when they need service or should be replaced. This will be a great advantage for fleet services, as they will be able to improve tyre purchasing management and maximise fleet uptime, a very important factor in keeping vehicles off the workshop floor for as little time as possible.

But this Goodyear project is not new, as it forms part of the Goodyear Proactive Solutions project for truck fleets, in which, using advanced telematics and predictive analytics, trucks can optimise fuel consumption and identify and resolve tyre problems precisely, all before they happen. In addition, they are also working with the main car manufacturers to relay tyre information to the vehicle’s control systems, thereby improving safety and performance.