TRW and Goodyear Create New ESC System Thanks to ‘Talking Tyres’

TRW Automotive Goodyear Tire & Rubber have jointly developed a new system that is designed to automatically adjust the performance parameters of a vehicle’s electronic stability control (ESC) system based on the dimensions and other characteristics of the vehicle’s tyres.

“As more people seek to customise their vehicles through the use of larger wheels and tyres, or exchange tyres seasonally, we want to ensure that the onboard systems such as electronic stability control will still offer the intended safety and performance benefits,” said Phil Cunningham, product business director for TRW chassis products. “To accomplish this, TRW and Goodyear have developed a system that enables vehicle control units to recognize tyre characteristics and adjust the electronic stability control trim level accordingly.”

“The system being developed demonstrates the synergies created through the collaborative effort launched by TRW and Goodyear in 2003,” said Steve Roth, Goodyear’s director of vehicle systems. “Through Goodyear’s leadership in tyre embedded electronics and tyre/vehicle interaction, and TRW’s expertise in electronic stability control, we are introducing a system that will help to enhance vehicle safety.”

The system is expected to be particularly helpful in the SUV segment when winter tyres where custom wheels and large diameter tyres are common, although the people behind the system say tuning ESC is useful for any vehicle. The new system is targeted for production for the 2009 model year.