Tires Talk Via Phone To Driver

HELSINKI, Finland--Nokian Tyres has developed an intelligent tire technology system that communicates tire conditions directly to a vehicle’s driver--by telephone. The system sends real-time data on tire pressures to the driver’s mobile phone without the need to install any extra equipment in the vehicle.

Nokian owns the rights to the product concept and a patent for the system is pending.

In the Nokian intelligent technology system, there is a constant connection between the tires mounted on the vehicle. The intelligent chip in the tire acts as a measuring instrument, registers the tire pressures and changes in tire temperatures and transmits the data to the receiver--the driver’s Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone--which supports the user interface of the system.

The functionality of the Nokian project will progress along with the development of the required technologies.

In the first phase, Nokian is focusing on measuring tire temperature and pressure. Later applications and further development areas include, for example, preventing aquaplaning and slushplaning, monitoring tire wear, anti-theft devices, vehicle positioning and logistics solutions.

During the year 2001, the company aims to commercialize and globalize the system. “We are already in the process of selecting co-operation partners for the different application areas,” says Kim Gran, president and chief executive officer.

The first commercial applications of the intelligent tire technology system will be implemented on truck and van tires as well as passenger car tires with high-speed ratings.

The system has been developed in co-operation with Flextronics International, Nokia, the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) and VTI Hamlin.

For more information, contact www.nokianrenkaat.fi.