Tyres that can collect loads more live data are coming: are they the next big thing for cars?

Pirelli has coined the catchy name 'Cyber Tyre'. Other manufacturers are working on similar but haven’t launched. We’re talking about a tyre that can introspect on its own health, and examine the road it’s rolling over, and report to the car. Among other benefits this brings usefully earlier warning of danger, and more sensitive ABS, ESP and traction control.

Yes, we’ve had pressure and temperature sensors before, but mostly in the valve, which isn’t so accurate or immediate. The Cyber Tyre’s sensors are tiny chips right in the tread. They take acceleration measurements in both the three linear dimensions and twist, which pass up to a control unit that can calculate deformation and contact patch size. Similar chips sense pressure and temperature.

If the tyre’s contact patch shrinks, the car’s probably aquaplaning, and if it grows you’re on a soft surface. If its shape changes, that wheel is suddenly losing grip. And that shape change is different for lateral grip or traction or braking. So the car’s stability controls have a quicker and more accurate picture, and can react better.

The first use of the tech was with the McLaren Artura, which mostly told what tyre – winter or summer, road or track – was fitted. Each type has different ideal slip percentages, so that’s useful. Pagani first used Cyber Tyres on the Utopia Roadster.

Aston Martin is claiming a wider set of advantages, activating the acceleration sensing piece to link directly with all the car’s stability control electronics, made by Bosch. Other chassis systems including the active diff will also be wrapped in.

The system, properly integrated with the car itself, can come up with more insights. After a shock, the tyre would interrogate itself for damage. Tread depth is another straightforward derivation. Temperature, pressure and contact patch data affects rolling resistance, so the car can warn the driver of an efficiency deficit, which is good for both mpg and mpkWh. The tyre will report if it’s overloaded, or if the wheel is out of alignment.

That list that will surely grow as engineers understand how to use the data and commerce shares it via the cloud. Changes in grip are useful to other drivers. Shocks to the tyre are in affect a map of potholes – again, info worth uploading.