Bridgestone Firestone Develops "Active" Computer Tag That Can Be Incorporated Into A Tire.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(AutomotiveWire)--March 13, 1995-- Bridgestone/Firestone announced today that it has developed a prototype "active" computer tag that, inside a truck tire, can automatically provide "real time" information on the tire such as temperature and inflation pressure -- a first for the tire industry.

"This breakthrough technology has the potential to revolutionize the tire maintenance programs of truck fleets across America," said Walt Weller, Bridgestone/Firestone division vice president of truck tire sales. "It will significantly reduce the number of man-hours devoted to tire maintenance and drastically improve tire wear and fuel efficiency. For a large national fleet, the annual savings could be in the millions of dollars."

The tag, placed on the inside of a tire, can remain there for the life of the tire, even through multiple retreadings. It consists of an "active" computer chip and a battery with a projected lifespan of 10 years. The system's external components consist of an antenna to receive information from the tag via radio frequency and a computer software package that evaluates and records the information.

For example, when a tractor-trailer rig rolls into the company yard, the tags in each of the 18 tires send information (via radio frequency) to the company's P.C. and monitor. The P.C. receives identifying information on the tire, a multi-digit number which is in accordance with The Maintenance Council (TMC) recommended practices. This permanent I.D. makes every tire unique. But more importantly than tire identification, the P.C. learns and records the exact temperature and air pressure of each tire.

Not only will the P.C. record this information to maintain an ongoing history on each tire, but a tire with low air pressure will be highlighted in the monitor so it can be immediately corrected.

Since tire pressures should be read when tires are cold for accuracy, the computer chip has the ability to correctly adjust the tire's actual air pressure to a cold reading even when the tire is warm from usage. In other words, the monitor will show the equivalent cold pressure regardless of the actual temperature and altitude.

Proper air pressure is the single most important element in tire maintenance. Presently, fleets that have good maintenance programs manually check the air pressure on every tire about once a week (a process that requires approximately 20 minutes per rig).

"You can imagine the labor savings of automatically knowing the exact air pressure of every tire and only manually adjusting those tires that are out of tolerance," Weller noted.

Weller added, "The savings in improved tire wear will be even more substantial. With all their tires at correct air pressure, fleets will get dramatic improvements in tire wear and performance. And by knowing the temperatures of each of their tires, fleets can quickly identify problems that may have developed with the tires, and they can identify individual tires which are the best candidates for retreading, thus eliminating a costly guessing game."

The new technology will also be a tremendous boon to tire retreaders. When retreaders receive these tires and read a particular tire's temperature history, they will be able to select the correct tread pattern and tread depth without guesswork.

For instance, if the tire has been run in the low temperature range, it is ideal for a drive axle tread pattern. If it has been run in the mid range, it will get a trailer tire tread pattern which faces less strenuous forces from the road. And the tire will likely be scrapped instead of retreaded if it has a history of hot temperatures.

Presently, retreaders visually inspect tires to try to determine their temperature history and correct retreading application. Having an actual history of the tire will be an important tool.

Speaking at a press conference at The Maintenance Council convention in Orlando, Fla., Weller said Bridgestone/Firestone expects to have the computer system on the market "within a year."

The revoluntionary system, the first of its kind in the industry, was developed by Bridgestone/Firestone in partnership with Computer Methods Corporation (CMC) of Livonia, Mich. The tag was developed through a cooperative effort of CMC, Amtech Systems Corp. of Dallas, Texas, and Bridgestone/Firestone.

Ryder System has worked closely with Bridgestone/Firestone on this project, and the new technology will play a key role in Ryder's "automated shop of the future" which it announced in 1994. Ryder vehicles will be used to test the system in the field.

"The Bridgestone/Firestone computer tag tire management program will become a very important part of Ryder's Fast Track Maintenance System," said Tom Hjertquist, vice president-maintenance of Ryder Commercial Leasing & Services. "The computer tag improves the speed and accuracy of Ryder's reengineered service island process, while improving tire wear, performance and safety for our customers. And, for Ryder and its customers, the program provides real time information to help us decrease downtime and reduce costs."

Weller said Bridgestone/Firestone and CMC are continuing to reduce the size of the tag for easier application. The system will not be marketed for passenger tires at this point.

A suggested price for the new technology was not disclosed at the press conference. "We knew going into this project that the technology not only had to work, but it had to be priced right and be simple to operate," Weller said. "We have met these criteria and we expect tremendous market demand."

Several tire companies, including Bridgestone/Firestone, have previously embedded or patched computer tags in tires with success. The difference in this breakthrough technology is that the computer chip is "active" as opposed to "passive." Also, a battery which can last many years and withstand harsh environmental pressures was critical.

A passive chip embedded into a tire can only transmit identifying information about the tire such as type and when it was made. This is useful for streamlining inventory operations.

The active chip, however, can do this and much, much more. It can provide real time information on temperature and air pressure and has a memory for storing this information. The chip can also be easily re-programmed.

Nashville-based Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., (the largest subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation) develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton, private brand and house brand tires, as well as a wide range of industrial and synthetic rubber goods.

CONTACT: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., Nashville

John Taylor, 615/872-1417

Trevor Hoskins, 615/872-1410

or 800/851-7000