This application relates to a tire monitoring system. In one aspect, the system includes a sensor module installed in a tire provided in a vehicle to obtain tire data and a communication module. The communication module may include a transceiver configured to transmit and receive the tire data, and an output unit configured to output one of a caution signal and a warning signal. The communication module may also include a controller configured to determine whether a state of the tire is abnormal based on the tire data and control the output unit to output one of the caution signal and the warning signal based on the determination result.

An automated tread analysis system and methods for using are described. The automated tread analysis system may include a sensing system having a plurality of cameras providing a plurality of sequential two-dimensional images. The automated tread analysis system may also include an analysis system configured to provide at least one surface model of a first object via photogrammetry using the plurality of sequential two-dimensional images. The automated tread system may execute processing software reading data corresponding to the at least one surface model of the first object. The surface model may correspond to a current condition of the first object. The processing software executed by the user system may analyze the at least one surface model of the first object and provide at least one indicative wear metric based on the analysis of the surface model of the first object.

A method for reconfiguring a device for monitoring a tire, incorporating a pressure sensor and a communication module. The device may receive and store configuration data intrinsic to the tire. Based on pressure measurements and the configuration data, the device generates and stores advanced data relating to use of the tire over time. Following reception of new configuration data, the method includes: detecting a tire change based on the previously stored configuration data and the newly received configuration data, if a tire change is detected: erasing the advanced data from the memory means of the device, if not, retaining the advanced data in the memory of the device.

A computer-implemented method for vehicle wheel position localization includes accumulating in data storage information regarding temperature characteristics corresponding to each of a respective plurality of wheel positions for each of one or more types of vehicles. The information regarding temperature characteristics may be information regarding temperature rise characteristics associated with a given load. Contained air temperature data is collected from sensors respectively associated with a tire mounted on a vehicle. The sensors may for example be TPMS sensors. A local computing unit or remote server identifies a wheel position associated with the tire, based on a comparison of the collected contained air temperature over a period of time with respect to the stored information regarding temperature characteristics. The wheel position information may be implemented to estimate and/or predict tire wear status for the corresponding tire, and optionally further to predict tire traction status further based on collected vehicle-tire data.

A computer-implemented method enables vehicle tire wear prediction based on minimal input data points. Information is aggregated in a hierarchical data structure regarding historical tread values for multiple tires, and respective values associated with the historical tread values for each of multiple parameters that are hierarchically defined from highest to lowest levels. A current tire tread value is provided from a sensor associated with a first tire, and respective values associated with the current tire tread value are provided for each of the multiple hierarchically defined parameters. The current tire tread value is matched with information from the hierarchical data structure corresponding to matching values for one or more of the hierarchically defined parameters having at least a predetermined threshold number of available tread values, and a tire wear rate is predicted for the first tire based at least in part on the matched information from the hierarchical data structure.

A tire is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation. The tire includes a tread block forming part of a tread of the tire and a circuit having a primary capacitive component. At least a part of the primary capacitive component is arranged a first distance from the tread and inside the tread block and a primary inductive component of which at least a part is arranged a second distance towards the interior of the tire from the tread. The tire includes an interrogator having an electric source, a communication circuit, and a secondary inductive component. The secondary inductive component is arranged on the same side of the tread as the primary inductive component and part of the secondary inductive component is arranged a third distance from the tread, the third distance being greater than the second distance. A method arranges a wear indicator on a tire.

A tire is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation. The tire includes a tread block forming part of a tread of the tire and a circuit having a primary capacitive component. At least a part of the primary capacitive component is arranged a first distance from the tread and inside the tread block and a primary inductive component of which at least a part is arranged a second distance towards the interior of the tire from the tread. The tire includes an interrogator having an electric source, a communication circuit, and a secondary inductive component. The secondary inductive component is arranged on the same side of the tread as the primary inductive component and part of the secondary inductive component is arranged a third distance from the tread, the third distance being greater than the second distance. A method arranges a wear indicator on a tire.

A tire deterioration state prediction method for predicting, by a computer, the deterioration state of a tire using a tire model configured from multiple elements comprises an information acquisition step for acquiring information relating to a use environment, which includes the pressure history and the temperature history in an air chamber during tire use, and the history of load acting on the tire, and information relating to the tire characteristics, including the material characteristics of members configuring the tire; a temperature history calculation step for calculating, for each element, the temperature history of the tire on the basis of the information acquired in the information acquisition step; an oxygen concentration history calculation step for calculating, for each element, the oxygen concentration history on the basis of the information and the temperature history of each element; and a tire deterioration state evaluation step for evaluating the deterioration state of the tire on the basis of the oxygen concentration history of each element.

A tire includes a tread portion including a ground contact surface, a first rubber layer made of a first cap rubber forming part of the ground contact surface, a second rubber layer made of a second cap rubber disposed radially inwardly of the first rubber layer, and at least one groove portion opening to the ground contact surface. The first cap rubber has a loss tangent tan δ1, and the second cap rubber has a loss tangent tan δ2 greater than the loss tangent tan δ1. The groove portion includes a first indicator in which a bottom of the groove portion locally raises, the first indicator having an outer surface in a tire radial direction. The radially outer surface of the first indicator substantially coincides with a first wear line that is parallel to the ground contact surface and passes through a radially outer surface of the second rubber layer.

A tire includes a tread portion including a ground contact surface, a first rubber layer made of a first cap rubber forming part of the ground contact surface, a second rubber layer made of a second cap rubber disposed radially inwardly of the first rubber layer, and at least one groove portion opening to the ground contact surface. The first cap rubber has a loss tangent tan δ1, and the second cap rubber has a loss tangent tan δ2 greater than the loss tangent tan δ1. The groove portion includes a first indicator in which a bottom of the groove portion locally raises, the first indicator having an outer surface in a tire radial direction. The radially outer surface of the first indicator substantially coincides with a first wear line that is parallel to the ground contact surface and passes through a radially outer surface of the second rubber layer.