Yokohama, electronics firm advancing tire sensor development

Tokyo — Looking to get ahead of the development curve for connected vehicle technologies, Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. is partnering with Japanese electronics components company Alps Alpine on researching tire sensors for passenger vehicles.

The partnership reflects Yokohama's belief that tires will need to be CASE (connected, autonomous, shared, electronic) compliant and part of the Internet of Things (IoT), the Japanese tire maker said at the Tokyo Motor Show, running through 4 Nov.

Focusing on the "connected" aspect, Yokohama said it is conducting R&D with a view to develop a solutions business that uses digital tools to process and manage data about tire wear and road surface conditions. 

This will build on the firm's previous R&D on tire pressure monitoring, it said.

"We believe it is important to develop systems and applications that provide data obtained from tires to drivers and certain other parties," Yokohama said. 

Such systems and apps, according to Yokohama, are widely expected to add value to new tire business."

Linking tire operation history and other vehicle data with Yokohama's tire management system (TMS) will enable users to analyse vehicle operation trends and receive notification of the proper timing for tire inspection, Yokohama said.

Established in 1948, Alps Alpine is an electronic components firm that develops information and communications products used in smartphones and other devices, in-vehicle audio equipment, and information/communications equipment.

In addition to sensor development, Yokohama said Alps Alpine has system design and software development capabilities that it expects will deliver a synergistic effect to its tire business model.

Yokohama claims it was the first tire maker in Japan to develop a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) — dubbed "AIR Watch" — for passenger cars, in 2004.

In addition, since 2003, Yokohama Rubber has been selling its "HiTES" TPMS product to transport companies that require strict tire management.