A tyre condition monitoring system comprising a sensing unit adapted for approximation to a tyre to take a measurement of, or at least from which can be derived, tread depth, the sensing unit being adapted for deployment by manual approximation to a tyre and to store and/or transmit measurement data from one or more or all of a set of tyres on a vehicle as well as for mechanical approximation to a tyre for continuing and/or programmed measurement.

An apparatus and method for detecting the mileage of a tyre. The apparatus includes a tyre state detector (100) and a data processor (200). The tyre state detector (100) is configured to detect and send a first identity identifier and state detection parameters of the tyre state detector (100) to the data processor (200); and the data processor (200) is configured to obtain a second identity identifier of the tyre and usage scenario information of the tyre and determine mileage data of the tyre, so as to generate and send tyre mileage detection information corresponding to the tyre. By determining the mileage data of the tyre, and establishing a correspondence relation so as to generate and send the tyre mileage detection information corresponding to the tyre, the detection of the mileage of the tyre can be realized, thereby realizing the intelligent management of the tyre.

A tire wear estimator includes a tire measurement system adapted to be mounted in or on an inner surface of the tire. The tire measurement system comprises a sensor adapted for sensing a physical property of the tire, and an acquisition system adapted for sampling a signal of the sensor into memory, to acquire a perturbation in the sampled data induced by a contact patch of the tire when the sensor is mounted in or on an inner surface of the tire. A sample rate of the acquisition system is high enough so at least one oscillation, which indicates a tread depth of the tire, becomes detectable in the sampled data in and/or around the perturbation.

A hand-held device for obtaining a three-dimensional topological surface profile of a tyre, the device comprising: a base comprising an aperture; a light source arranged in use to generate an elongate pattern of light, and to project said pattern through the aperture onto a rolling surface of the tyre; a detector arranged to image a region of the rolling surface of the tyre; a plurality of pairs of guide wheels mounted on respective axles mounted on the base, wherein the guide wheels on adjacent axles are linked by gears; and a rotary encoder arranged to generate a signal corresponding to rotation of an axle.

A tire system includes a tire-side device and a vehicle-body-side system. The tire-side device may be attached to a tire included in a vehicle. The vehicle-body-side system may be attached to a body of the vehicle. The tire-side device may output a detection signal corresponding to each of a plurality of types of detection targets. The tire-side device may perform processing of the detection signal and generate the data related to the detection target. The tire-side device may perform bidirectional communication with the vehicle-body-side system and transmit the data to the vehicle-body-side system. The vehicle-body-side system may perform bidirectional communication with the tire-side device and receive the data. The vehicle-body-side system may acquire the detection result for the detection target based on the data.

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.

Tire wear detection apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example vehicle includes a tire including a wear bar coupled thereto. The example vehicle also includes a light source to emit a light and means for directing the light to the tire. At least a portion of the wear bar is to glow when exposed to the light.

A method of measuring thickness of a material generally includes applying an oscillating signal to a first electrode at a fixed frequency, passing the signal through the material to a second electrode, and measuring the magnitude of the signal reflected back to the first electrode. The thickness of the material is determined based on the measured magnitude of the reflected signal by: 1) comparing the determined magnitude to a predetermined baseline to establish a difference; and 2) identifying the thickness based on the difference. Related apparatuses are also disclosed. The material may be a vehicle tire.

A system includes a computer including a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions executable by the processor to identify a degraded state of a vehicle component when a component usage exceeds a first threshold and a weather datum exceeds a second threshold, and then actuate the vehicle component in response to the degraded state.

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.