Tactile Mobility Launches First Tire Tread Depth Measurement Solution to Ensure Driver and Passenger Safety

According to foreign media reports, Tactile Mobility, a global leader in tactile data and virtual sensing technology, announced the launch of the first tire tread measurement solution, which can greatly improve the safety of drivers and passengers and significantly reduce costs. The solution receives tactile data from existing vehicle sensors and converts it into real-time actionable information, thereby warning the driver when the tire tread is damaged and affects grip.

Tread depth is critical to vehicle safety, not only because it improves the vehicle's grip, but also because it allows for effective braking on wet roads and prevents skidding, thereby ensuring the safety of the driver and passengers. Currently, even the most advanced vehicles use tire safety measurements that automatically monitor air pressure and temperature and provide prompts to the driver. Measuring tire tread depth and grip is technically challenging and not cost-effective.

(Image source: Tactile Mobility)

“To ensure driver and passenger safety, vehicles must be equipped with cost-effective virtual sensors that can measure tire tread depth in real time and notify drivers when a tire change is necessary,” said Boaz Mizrachi, CTO and founder of Tactile Mobility. “This is the automotive industry’s first affordable in-vehicle solution that automatically monitors tire tread depth and alerts drivers when a tire is at risk.”

Tactile Mobility collects data from existing vehicle sensors, such as wheel speed, wheel angle, RPM (rotational speed), etc., to generate real-time actionable information related to the vehicle, road, and vehicle-road dynamics. Among them, tire tread depth is an important data indicator. Finally, Tactile Mobility will provide this real-time actionable information to OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, fleet managers, repair shops, insurance companies, and drivers. Currently, Tactile Mobility is developing a comprehensive set of automated tire health monitoring functions that can provide important information for all tires, such as tire stiffness, tire type mismatch, tire blowout prediction, etc.

By using tread depth data, OEMs can optimize vehicle configuration, provide in-vehicle alerts, pre-process vehicle systems, and remind drivers to go for maintenance, thereby improving driver and passenger safety. Tier 1 suppliers can use this data to produce safe and durable tires. Replacing tires is one of the largest expenses in fleet management. Therefore, real-time monitoring of tread depth can effectively reduce maintenance time caused by excessive tire wear, thereby reducing costs. Insurance companies can also use tire tread depth data to conduct personalized risk analysis and customize optimized insurance plans for different driving styles, thereby encouraging drivers to repair their tires.

Tactile Mobility recently announced a commercial partnership with the BMW Group to install virtual sensors in vehicles. In addition, Tactile Mobility has also reached cooperation with six other OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, including Porsche and Nexteer Automotive. It has also established partnerships with 10 road authorities and municipalities around the world, including the UK, Germany, Israel, Singapore and Detroit.