With the rapid development of technology, even a small tire can become smart. As one of the most famous tire companies in the world, Michelin has added an “electronic ID card” to every car tire since 2023 – this is a small chip called an RFID tag.
What is RFID? Tires can also “speak”!
RFID is the abbreviation of “radio frequency identification”. Its function is like installing an ID card that can send signals on the tire. This tag looks like a small piece of paper, about 100×33 mm in size, a little smaller than a playing card. It contains a chip, such as Alien H9 or Ucode8/9, which can “talk” to the device through radio waves (frequency of 860-960MHz).
When the tire is equipped with this tag, it is no longer an ordinary tire, but a “smart tire” that can communicate with cars, mobile phones, and computers. These tags are also waterproof, windproof and sunproof, and are made of durable materials such as coated paper, PVC or PET, and can also be customized as needed.
What are the benefits of tires with RFID?
1. Tires that can “introduce themselves” are safer
In the past, tires had to be checked by eye or touch, which was time-consuming and not necessarily accurate. Now with RFID tags, you can immediately know the status of the tires, such as temperature, tire pressure, and wear, by using a card reader or connecting to a mobile phone. It’s like the tire is saying, “I’m a little tired from running recently, do you want me to take a break?” In this way, driving is safer!
2. Tracking all the way from factory to car
These tags can also record the life of the tire: which factory it was born in, when it was sent to the warehouse, which store it was sold to, and which car it was finally installed on. It’s like making a documentary for each tire. In this way, factories can better manage tires, reduce waste, and prevent counterfeit goods from entering the market.
3. Make autonomous driving and shared cars smarter
Cars in the future will become smarter and smarter, and they won’t even need to be driven by people. At that time, tires must also become smarter to match these cars. RFID tags can help cars understand the status of tires in real time, such as automatically adjusting speed or braking methods when it rains or snows. Imagine you use your mobile phone to call a shared car, and its tires will first check whether they are healthy before picking you up. Isn’t it cool?
Towards a new life of smart travel
Michelin uses RFID technology to make tires smarter, more reliable and more environmentally friendly. This is not just changing a part, but the entire automotive world is slowly changing. In the future, our cars will become smarter and travel will become more and more convenient. And all of this may start with a small RFID tag.
