Smart Tires? Smart Idea.
It seems like everything is getting “smart” these days. Your phone, your house, your fridge, and now, thankfully, your tires.
Smart tires may sound like a gimmick at first, but they’re the literal foundation of your beloved ride and they have a lot of beneficial uses.
How Do Smart Tires Work?
Different brands will offer different technology, but the general idea is simple.
Sensors placed directly inside the tire measure various things like temperature, pressure, and tire wear, the data from all tires are collected within the vehicle and then sent that to your phone via Bluetooth. If you know how to connect to a Bluetooth speaker, you’re already halfway there.
An awesome thing to note is that these tire sensors can be factory-fitted to a tire OR retro-fitted. That means you’ll be able to take advantage of this tech without getting a whole new set of tires.
Some brands like Continental offer further solutions like a Yard Reader Station that automatically collects data at a specific checkpoint within the fleet’s yard. They also offer a handheld reader for mobile collection.
Peak Performance
An obvious avenue for smart tires is racing.
Smart tires like the Michelin Track Connect do more than just keep you updated about your tire pressure, temperature, and wear, they help you race better. By offering “personalized, skilled advice for track (or road) on optimal tire pressure adjustment” you’ll be shaving those precious seconds off your lap for your ultimate record time.
You’ll be able to log all your runs, configure multiple vehicles, and research specific tracks all within your profile and app.
Michelin has worked directly with passionate track drivers to meet their expectations in terms of “vehicle handling and performance, not forgetting, of course, driving sensation and pleasure.”
Commercial Cooperation
Another smart tire solution is Continental’s ContiConnect. Anyone, or any company, who manages a fleet of commercial vehicles is going to love this.
By offering digital monitoring from anywhere, and cloud-based logs, commercial vehicles will maximize uptime, fuel savings, and reduce maintenance costs. That stuff really adds up to some serious moolah. Smart tires? Smart idea.
Instead of waiting for the signs of wear-and-tear, you’ll be able to act proactively and more efficiently.
Community Connection
These smart tire connect apps don’t exist in a vacuum either.
The Pirelli Connesso smart tire system does all the monitoring you’d expect and it also offers two foundational ecosystems. The first, Pirelli Concierge, helps you find and book service appointments with the help of a Concierge representative. The second, Connesso Club, is an exclusive social network for Pirelli Connesso customers with special content, playlists, and events.
Just a few ways that these brands are working to elevate the idea of a smart tire from a tool to a lifestyle. That’s just the tip of the iceberg too.
Imagine checking the leaderboards of the world’s tracks and working your way to the top! Imagine everyone else checking out your badass score. Imagine if your car had its own featured page.
You’ll be able to monitor your vehicle from an app, a computer portal, or connected directly to your smart car. Smart tires are the first step in a truly interconnected auto ecosystem.
The Future Is Now
Smart tires are just the start of what is sure to be a bright future of automotive technologies.
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