Super smart tires appear
Pirelli's new tire can collect a variety of data to help keep your vehicle running in optimal conditions.
Along with the concept of smartphones, temperature controllers, and even cars connected to the Internet of Things (IoT), now tires - an equally important part of the car - also have similar capabilities.
The idea of a connected car, or more precisely a connected tire, starts with each tire being equipped with sensors that can record tire pressure, temperature, vertical load, wear, and location.
Now Pirelli has developed a similar system called Connesso that can transmit all this data to drivers via a smartphone app.
Pirelli has taken the Cyber Car concept to the next level by removing the human element from this closed process. All information is transferred to the car's computer for automatic processing. Data is also pushed to the cloud for storage.
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Why is this data useful?
Imagine a tire that could sense when it's cold, sense slippage, and tell the car to switch the stability control and ABS to winter settings.
Not only that, this type of tire can also measure vertical load, calculate tire circumference and accurately calculate the vehicle's travel distance. This ability is very useful for electric vehicles, where battery life can fluctuate greatly if the tire is not in optimal condition.
Pirelli’s technology is developed with a vision for the future. Autonomous vehicles such as driverless taxis will not have a human to check the condition of the tires. If the tires are too worn or under-inflated, the vehicle or its passengers will be in danger. Smart tires will help eliminate this risk.
Pirelli says the technology is currently being tested with a number of manufacturers, from electric cars to supercars. The new tire is the result of a collaboration between Pirelli and Ferrari.