Chipped – Goodyear releases its first RFID tyres

Reduced downtime, improved tyre management and greater security are three of the advantages Goodyear claims the introduction of microchips into its truck tyre range will bring. The tyre maker has released its first product to utilise the technology, the Goodyear Regional RHT II RFID (Radio Frequency Identity) 435/50R19.5 trailer tyre; the microchip built into the tyre helps deliver fleet operators the above benefits through interfacing with FleetOnlineSolutions, Goodyear Dunlop’s internet-based tyre management programme.

Goodyear notes that monitoring tyres can be a slow process as each tyre must be identified by its sidewall markings, which are often difficult to see due to dirt or scuffing. With RFID, the relevant information can be swiftly obtained by passing a hand-held scanner across the sidewall. The retention of tyre information on a microchip also means the tyres are much easier to trace if stolen and they can be monitored throughout their service lives, including during and after retreading. The microchip is built into the tyre on the assembly line and is programmed with a unique indentifying code. Goodyear Dunlop says it selected size 435/50R19.5 for its first RFID fitment as it is the most popular tyre size amongst ‘megatrailer’ operators, allowing maximum volume within the European four metre overall trailer height limit.

Field trials of the Regional RHT II RFID have already been conducted. Long-term Goodyear customer Ewals Cargo Care trialled the tyre on some of the 3,100 trailers it operates. “The new tyres offer us significant benefits,” commented Bart van Rens, fleet control manager for the Netherlands-based logistics provider.  “The RFID speeds-up maintenance as it allows us to very quickly and accurately identify the tyres and link into the Goodyear FleetOnlineSolutions fleet management system. It also will reduce the problem of tyres being stolen from our trailers.

 “We have been working with Goodyear on these new tyres. With the first tyres we tested, it took some time to locate the microchips with the readers.  Now the tyres have marks on the sidewalls to show where the microchips are located and the trailer manufacturers mount the tyres so that they are on the outside.  This speeds-up the process even more.”

Regular maintenance is very simple, says Goodyear. The operator scans the tyre with a hand-held reader, the tyre is automatically identified from its microchip and found on the Goodyear FleetOnlineSolutions computer system.  The tyre pressure gauge and tread depth gauge are both linked to the same system by Bluetooth and their readings are automatically recorded for that tyre. “Previously, each tyre’s six digit identity code would have to be read off the sidewall. This took time and mistakes could easily be made. Now it is fast and it is impossible to make a mistake with RFID,” said van Rens. “Every maintenance entry on the computer is 100 per cent correct with these new tyres.”

As already mentioned, another important benefit the RFID tyres deliver is security.  “We suffer from the theft of our trailer tyres,” van Rens continued. “Even when the police recover stolen tyres, proving where they came from is often impossible as the tyre’s identity digits are usually removed. Because the RFID microchip is built into the tyre, it cannot be removed without destroying the tyre.  This means that thieves are not able to disguise the origin of these tyres and will avoid stealing any with RFID logos on the sidewall. We are discussing with Goodyear a way of more visibly identifying these tyres so that the thieves avoid them.”

Goodyear reports it has been working on its RFID system for a number of years and most recently used it in the FIA European Truck Racing Championship; all Goodyear 315/70R22.5 truck race tyres are built with RFID. This system is used by Goodyear for tyre management purposes at races and FIA officials use it for regulatory purposes. Goodyear also shares that earlier this year the significance of its RFID development was recognised when it was selected as “One of the best of the Automotive Sector 2011 – Innovation Technology Category” by a team of journalists from Brazilian automotive industry magazine AutoData Publishing.

The tyre maker anticipates extending RFID to other tyre types and sizes in the near future. Currently RFID tyres are produced at Goodyear Dunlop’s Luxembourg plant, and production will be extended to its Wittlich facility in Germany. A potential further development of the technology is its adaption for the real-time monitoring of tyre pressure and temperature, Goodyear adds.