Anyline launches tyre tread scanner smartphone app

Anyline has launched a tyre tread scanning mobile phone app that works “on any camera-enabled smartphone or mobile device”. The company expects the software solution to “revolutionize the automotive industry”. The product is being unveiled at the SEMA Show 2022 in Las Vegas.

Current time- and labour-intensive analogue measurement methods are described as “a breeding ground for measurement inconsistencies and data-entry errors that cost tyre retailers hundreds of millions of dollars every year and can put drivers’ safety at risk.”

On the other hand, Anyline’s solution works by pointing the camera of any standard mobile device at the tyre tread to be measured. Using state-of-the-art computer vision and AI, a 3D model of each tread is created, resulting in a precise digital measurement that can be instantly stored and shared with customers. The solution can be integrated into workforce or consumer-facing apps, meaning that tyre technicians and customers alike can start scanning tyre treads without training and receive “consistent, objective results”, according to Anyline.

“Digitization has revolutionized automotive safety standards in the last decade, yet tyre maintenance has stubbornly remained in the analogue age,” said Lukas Kinigadner, CEO and co-founder, Anyline. “The consequences are severe. According to the NHTSA, there were over 11,000 accidents on US roads in the last year as a direct result of tyre failures. At Anyline, we are replacing outdated manual measurements with digital data capture to make tire inspections easier, faster and safer for drivers.”

Anyline entered the automotive market in 2020 with the launch of a pioneering tire DOT/TIN scanner. Created in partnership with Discount Tire, the world’s largest independent tyre and wheel retailer, Anyline reports that this solution enabled its technicians to digitally capture vital tyre data in seconds, with far greater accuracy. In May, the company exhibited some of its tyre-related technology at Tire Cologne.

“We are excited for what Anyline is working on next, as they continue to push the boundaries of what can be done with mobile data capture technology,” said Tom Williams, CXO, Discount Tire.

Anyline was founded in Vienna in 2013. Since then, the company has built on its mobile data capture and data insight foundations. Anyline reports that its technology is used by “leading manufacturers and retailers across the automotive aftermarket” to scan tyre sidewall and vehicle data, including tyre DOT codes, vehicle identification numbers (VINs), license plates and barcodes, using any standard mobile device or camera-enabled TPMS. Anyline’s mobile data capture technology is CCPA/GDPR compliant. Brands such as PepsiCo, Discount Tire and IBM as well as national governments and the United Nations are amongst those trusting the company.