Pirelli’s digital revolution has taken a new step forward in enabling a tire to gather and transmit data. At the 88th Geneva International Motor Show, taking place March 8-18, Pirelli is presenting its Cyber Car technology for OE in cooperation with major carmakers. Cyber Car enables the tire to directly interact with the car’s on-board electronics system, and in particular, the driver assistance systems, delivering important information about the car’s operation to ensure a safer drive with enhanced performance. The new Pirelli system will be in-market by year-end on certain electric and traditional cars.
Placing sensors in the tires is an integral part of Pirelli’s Perfect fit strategy, which focuses on developing made-to-measure products and services that meet both driver needs and car manufacturer specializations.
Designed in close collaboration with car manufacturers, Cyber Car supplies important data that improves safety and performance, according to Pirelli. With the exception of tire pressures monitored by TPMS systems, up until now there has been no information collected individually by tires that is transmitted to the car. Therefore, Cyber Car takes car digitalization into a new era. The tire embedded sensor captures and transmits key tire data to the vehicle, such as pressure, internal temperature and tread depth. It can activate systems such as automatic braking systems and stability control. For example, by reading a tire’s ID, the vehicle can alter its set-up for a safer, more comfortable drive. By knowing the car’s accurate weight, the vehicle’s central control unit can calculate precisely how many miles can be driven before recharging.
Cyber Car informs the driver about the tire’s vertical load (vital information for electric cars), temperature and pressure through the carmaker’s interface, allowing timely intervention if the pressures are wrong. Tire maintenance becomes easier, thanks to specific feedback on tread wear and how tires should be seasonally rotated. Cyber Car also offers bespoke services, such as servicing, car valet and roadside assistance.
The first Cyber Car fitted models will arrive this year, with several manufacturers already at an advanced stage of integrating Pirelli’s technology into their own systems. The next evolution will be the Cyber Tire system: the tire of the future, based on a technical platform capable of collecting even more data, transmitting information to the car’s on-board systems with every wheel rotation. While this technology isn’t on sale yet, it is already in action on the Ferrari FXXK: the 1,000-horsepower development hypercar for track use only.
