TIRE-INTEGRATED PRESSURE SENSORS?

By Éric Descarries

The idea has been brewing for decades in the imaginations of tire designers, but all signs point to the possibility of a final version in the near future. We’re talking here about the pressure sensors (TPMS) already built into tires.

I first came across them over twenty-five years ago, on Goodyear’s test track in San Angelo, Texas. These sensors were “glued” into the carcasses of heavy truck tires. Today, the technology is so advanced that miniaturized prototypes are being studied for car tires of all sizes.

Researchers have now reached the stage where they can be repaired in the event of damage. Instead of being integrated into the tire valve, the sensors are mounted inside the tire sidewall or tread, enabling them to transmit data on temperature and road conditions. After more than 25 years of study, we can finally get back to work on this project, which we’ll be following closely!