Technological advances in the automotive industry don't leave tires aside. In fact, Pirelli has introduced a new set of tires, the Pirelli Cyber Tyres, capable of making the tires "communicate with the vehicle." The driver will be informed in real time about various data regarding the tires, allowing for safe driving.
The system is already standard on the new McLaren Artura and represents the future of the industry. Each tire is equipped with a sensor capable of collecting the information necessary for driver and driving safety. In addition, as far as McLaren is concerned, the system is integrated into the car's electronics, allowing direct communication. Among the information provided, we find some carrier elements in the car's diagnostics, such as tire temperature and pressure, load and speed index, as well as a complete specification of the type of tire in use.
For example, when driving on the road, the Pirelli Cyber Tyre system can warn you that you need to check the pressure to continue driving safely, or it warns you when you've exceeded the maximum speed allowed for the type of tire in use. For speed lovers on track days, tire pressure thresholds can be changed to achieve better performance according to your driving style.
Compared to the systems in use up to now, the information is collected with greater precision: the sensors are in direct contact with the tires and not with the rims. The software developed by the car manufacturer then processes the data. Some information can be displayed on the dashboard and on the central display of the car, while others are sent to the electronic control unit to calibrate the alerts according to the condition and state of the tire.
The Pirelli Cyber Tyre system is in some ways the future of tires, capable of providing cars with a sense of touch, able to identify and anticipate potentially dangerous situations such as loss of grip and aquaplaning, thus allowing the car's electronics to intervene promptly.
This is a continuously evolving system that will become fundamental as the level of autonomy of cars grows. In fact, the ability that the driver has today to perceive the conditions of adherence given by the type of road surface and weather conditions will have to be absolved by the tires: the car will be able to slow down if the asphalt is found to be slippery, adapt the electronic controls to increase safety and, with a hypothetical connectivity between vehicles, warn other self-driving cars of a potential imminent danger. A true sixth sense offered by the only point of contact between the car and the road, the tires.
Written by Gianmarco Frangipane of the VGen Engineering Hub
