Tires including a bodies formed of one or more tire plies are disclosed. In various implementations, a tire may include several split-ring resonators (SRRs), each associated with a natural resonance frequency configured to shift in response to a change in an elastomeric property of a respective one or more tire plies. The elastomeric property may include one or more of a reversible deformation, stress, or strain. In some implementations, the one or more SRRs may include a first split-ring resonator (SRR) including first carbon particles that may uniquely resonate in response to an electromagnetic ping based at least in part on a concentration level of the first carbon particles within the first SRR and a second SRR including second carbon particles that may uniquely resonate in response to the electromagnetic ping based at least in part on a concentration level of the second carbon particles within the second SRR.

Tires including a tire bodies formed of one or more tire plies are disclosed. In some implementations, tire plies may include a temperature sensor that may detect a temperature of a respective tire ply. The temperature sensor may include a ceramic material organized as a matrix and one or more split-ring resonators (SRRs). Each of the SRRs may have a natural resonance frequency configured to shift in response to one or more of a change in an elastomeric property or a change in the temperature of a respective one or more tire plies. The temperature sensor may include an electrically-conductive layer dielectrically separated from a respective one or more SRRs. A thickness each of the SRRs may be approximately between 0.1 micrometers (μm) and 100 μm.

Tire tread monitoring systems and tire tread monitoring sensors are disclosed. In one embodiment, a tire tread monitoring sensor is disclosed that includes a sensor housing having communication circuitry disposed therein; a sensor flange that is disposed adjacent the sensor housing, the sensor flange being manufactured from a flexible or semi-flexible material; and a sensor post having one or more sensor leads, the one or more sensor leads being in signal communication with the communication circuitry. When the one or more sensor leads are worn down to a predetermined dimension, a continuity measurement indicates a change in state that is interpreted by the communication circuitry as a signal representative of the tire wear status of a tire as monitored by the tire tread monitoring sensor. Methods of installing, manufacturing and using the aforementioned systems and sensors are also disclosed.

A tread portion of a pneumatic tire includes a columnar wear measurement magnet that has magnetic flux density or magnetic field strength formed thereby decreased due to wear thereof along with wear of tread rubber of the tread portion and a columnar reference magnet provided at a position where the columnar reference magnet is not worn with the wear of the tread rubber. The wear measurement magnet and the reference magnet extend from a tread surface side toward a tire cavity region of the pneumatic tire, and an end of the reference magnet on the tread surface side is located farther from a tread surface where the tread portion contacts the ground than an end of the wear measurement magnet on the tread surface side.

Thread depth ascertainment for vehicle tires involves a plurality of vehicles transmitting respective adaptation data to a central data processor. The data processing device forming optimization data on the basis thereof and transmitting the optimization data to the vehicles. The adaptation data are formed by the vehicles based on tire type, mileage and rotation speed of the tire and a velocity of the vehicle and at least one operating parameter of the tire, and the optimization data are used by each of the vehicles for ascertaining the tread depth of a relevant tire based on model of the ascertained tire type, wherein the model supplies the tread depth based on the rotation speed of the tire, the velocity of the vehicle and at least one operating parameter of the tire using at least one model parameter, which is determined based on the optimization data received from the central data processor.

A tread wear profile tool for determining wear of a tire is provided, the tool comprising: a body having: a substantially planar shape, at least one groove index member extending distally from the body, wherein the at least one groove index member includes at least one traction element wear gauge, at least one traction element measurement member oriented on a distal edge of the body, and a distal profile; a tire having: a tread having a radially outer profile, the tread having at least one groove, at least one traction element, and two shoulders; and wherein: the distal profile of the body is a negative of the radially outer profile of the tread.

A method of measuring a tread depth of a tire includes transmitting at least one radio wave from a transmitter through a tread of the tire. The at least one radio wave reflected from a road surface is received with a receiver. The tread depth of the tire is determined based on comparing the at least one radio wave reflected from the road surface with the at least one radio wave from the transmitter.

A tire comprising a tread block made of tread material, a tread, of which a part is formed by the tread block, and an insert comprising a primary capacitive component and a primary inductive component. The insert extends in a longitudinal direction from a bottom of the insert to a top of the insert. The insert has a first cross section at a first longitudinal position and a second cross section at a second longitudinal position, wherein the first longitudinal position is located closer to the tread of the tire than the second longitudinal position, and the second cross section is greater than the first cross section. At least a part of the top of the insert does not form an interface with the tread material. A method for applying an insert into a tire. An insert is inserted into a blind hole of the tire such that the bottom of the insert is inserted deeper in the blind hole than the top of the insert.

A tire system includes a tire side device that is arranged corresponding to a tire provided in a vehicle and transmits data related to the tire, and a wear estimation unit that estimates a tire wear state based on the data related to the tire. The tire side device holds data related to an elapsed time since the tire was manufactured as data related to the tire, transmits data related to the elapsed time to the wear estimation unit. The wear estimation unit estimates the tire wear state based on the mileage from the start of use of the tire and a tire deterioration degree indicated by the data related to the elapsed time.

A modular drive-over vehicle inspection system for measuring tire tread depth at multiple points on each individual wheel of a moving vehicle passing through an inspection lane, and which is capable of accommodating vehicles having a range of axle configurations, including three or more of any combination of single-wheel axles, super-single wheel axles, and dual-wheel axles.