Goodyear Moves Closer Toward Tire Pressure Monitoring System
20 October 2000
Goodyear Moves Closer Toward Tire Pressure Monitoring System
AKRON, Ohio, Oct. 19 Goodyear has forged another agreement
aimed at fully developing a tire pressure monitoring system to help motorists
maintain recommended tire inflation.
The latest pact is with Phase IV Engineering, Inc. of Boulder, Colo., a
developer of custom radio frequency identification (RFID) and radio telemetry
systems. Under this agreement, Goodyear has acquired a 20 percent equity
interest in Phase IV and the two companies will continue to develop tire
pressure monitoring technology.
Similar technology was unveiled last week when Goodyear announced an
"intelligent" tire system that monitors and reports tire pressure and
temperature for tires on large haul trucks used in mining and other off-
highway, heavy-duty applications. The product, developed with Phase IV and
unveiled at MINExpo 2000 in Las Vegas, is the only commercially available
system.
"Our agreement with Phase IV is yet another sign of Goodyear's commitment
to tire safety, durability and performance," said Joe Gingo, Goodyear senior
vice president for technology and global products planning. This is the third
such agreement over the past few months that involves runflat tire and wheel
technology and air pressure monitoring and maintenance systems.
Last month, Goodyear announced a technology agreement with Cycloid Systems
of Cranberry, Pa., a developer of continuous air pressure monitoring and
maintenance systems.
"Taking minority positions with technology companies is also part of our
"corner" strategy to be more than a tire supplier to automotive
manufacturers," Gingo said. "This strategy is to provide the best wheel-end
solution for run-flats and conventional tires and develop integrated
components and technology for vehicle suspension systems. We are committed to
run-flat tire technology and developing vehicle systems for the automotive
market."
In June, Goodyear signed an agreement with Michelin to combine its EMT and
Michelin's PAX technologies to set an industry tire and wheel standard and
broaden run-flat tire appeal and availability.
Goodyear's ultimate goals are tire safety and providing systems that will
enable consumers to safely, conveniently and regularly maintain proper tire
pressure, which can lead to longer and more-even tire wear and increased fuel
economy, Gingo said.
Based in Boulder, Colorado, Phase IV develops and supplies custom radio
frequency identification (RFID) and radio telemetry systems to the OEM and
other markets. Phase IV specializes in passive sensing transponders based on
their custom chip and low cost, battery powered temperature and sensing
telemetry systems.
"We're very pleased to be associated with Goodyear, a company with a long-
standing commitment to technical innovation," said Rich Pollack, president of
Phase IV. "We look forward to continuing to create the synergies that result
from the combination of our two companies' tire, vehicle systems and
electronics experience and technologies." Under the agreement, Phase IV is
licensed to use passive sensing transponder chips and related technologies
developed for Goodyear in non-tire fields.
Goodyear has been working with Phase IV since 1992 to develop a system
that could be embedded in a tire for identification purposes and monitoring
air pressure and tire temperature. The results can be displayed through an
external device or a display on the vehicle's dashboard.