New Falken tires that warn of wear from the inside with sensors
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Keeping your tires in good condition is vital to your safety on the road, a tire that is in poor condition or worn out can cause an accident. Falken has developed a new system that provides the driver with detailed tire usage information to know their lifespan.
As a rule, measurement is not an ultra-precise science, at least not for most drivers. Just look at the many bald, old, unevenly worn tires we see on the roads every day. But what if there was a way to do the same thing that tire pressure monitoring systems do to tire wear?
Falken offers a solution to the problem of tire wear
The good news is that there may be a solution to this problem soon. The parent company of the tire brand, Sumitomo, has worked with Hiroshi Tani of Kansai University in Japan to develop a way to monitor tire wear from inside the tire and power sensors without a replaceable battery.
How will this system work?
To monitor tire wear, the system uses sensors placed inside the tire carcass that measure the amplitude and frequency of road vibrations that occur as the tire rolls. This data is then used to determine if the tire is performing as expected, whether it is old and stiff, worn to the limit, or worn unevenly. This information can be passed on to the driver.
No need to change sensor batteries
Wear sensors are also used to generate their own energy by rotating the tire. They are called miniature power harvesters, and there are several examples of this in the system. Falken understandably didn't share details on exactly how they work, but that means you won't have to go in and change the sensor battery or scrap the tire due to a dead battery.
Why is it important to have a wear-free tire?
Having tires that are properly inflated and within their wear and age operating parameters is vital for several reasons. First, old or worn tires do not hold the road well, which can lead to loss of control. Second, unevenly worn tires can affect a car's fuel economy and therefore emissions. Ultimately, if the tire's contact patch can be optimized for traction, a lighter, more efficient tire can be developed that improves traction and efficiency. It's all a big win.
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