Goodyear and Siemens Raise Tire IQ

AKRON, Ohio, Jan. 10, 2005 -- The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and Siemens VDO Automotive have teamed to create "Tire IQ," the most advanced tire information system to be developed.

A fully functional Tire IQ prototype system was featured on the Ford Shelby GR-1, a high-performance concept coupe, unveiled yesterday at the 2005 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Mich.

"For the past 100 years, a vehicle's performance was based solely on the mechanical properties of tires," said Joe Gingo, Goodyear's Chief Technical Officer. "By extending the vehicle electronics to the tire with a system such as Tire IQ, we can now add an advanced level of performance monitoring and control."

A Tire IQ system consists of a passive sensor tag and miniature antenna permanently attached to the inside of each tire. A corresponding transceiver is mounted in each wheel well of the vehicle. When data is accessed through the Ford Shelby GR-1's on-board computer, the transceiver sends an energy signal that powers and operates the sensors in the battery-less tag.

Tire IQ collects and displays tire pressure and tire temperature data on a readout for the driver. In addition, sensors placed on the car body measure "g-force," to quantify cornering and braking performance. While the Ford Shelby GR-1 at the Detroit auto show features a fully functioning prototype Tire IQ system, the timing for first application of this technology as original equipment is for new vehicle platforms slated to start production in 2008.

"With a Tire IQ system, the tire can talk back and forth to the vehicle," added Gingo. "It will both send and memorize detailed information and uniquely utilize its memory functions to send and record key tire performance data to advanced vehicle control systems."

The Tire IQ system will be designed to fulfill the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Tread Act requirement for tire pressure monitoring. Tire pressure monitoring systems will be required on all vehicles made in North America beginning with the 2006 model year.

While Tire IQ may now seem like an extreme application of technology, Gingo pointed out that many features that are now standard started out the same way. "Current antilock braking, vehicle stability and roll over control systems were once seen as radical ideas," said Gingo. "Now many are standard."

"We believe the Ford Shelby GR-1 has the most advanced tire monitoring system developed to date," said Siemens VDO Automotive Body Chassis Electronics Chief Executive Officer Helmut Matschi. "This innovative solution allows the driver to easily monitor tire temperature and pressure through an intuitive, color display helping to enable much greater level of vehicle performance."

Further information about Goodyear products can be found at http://www.goodyear.com/ .

Goodyear is the world's largest tire company. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, the company manufactures tires, engineered rubber products and chemicals in more than 80 facilities in 28 countries. It has marketing operations in almost every country around the world. Goodyear employs about 85,000 people worldwide.

Siemens VDO Automotive is a tier-one supplier of automotive electronic/electrical systems and components with applications covering gasoline and diesel powertrain technologies, safety and chassis systems, body electronics, plus interior products including infotainment systems. For more information, visit http://www.usa.siemensvdo.com/ .