RFID makes it easier and more efficient to track and perform regular tyre maintenance. It identifies potential problems or failures before they cause a breakdown. Confidex has come out with a tyre tag, smaller than its peers and with an omni directional antenna
As the global tyre industry is witnessing rapid changes in manufacturing, distribution and usage to end of life of tyres, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) will play a significant role in tackling many challenges posed by the growing complexity in the sector.
Demand for data collection is growing, calling for intelligent decisions and fast actions. Data on tyres helps tyre companies to improve their production efficiency, reduce rejections and even help in addressing in legal disputes, while fleet companies can manage lifecycle of tyres and operations cost.
In February this year, Confidex, a leading designer and supplier of short-range wireless identification solutions, launched the new Confidex tyre tag, which is designed for tyre traceability through the lifecycle of tyres. The tags are based on RAIN RFID/EPC global Gen2v2 RFID technology, which has global certification for passive RFID tag.
Highlights
The highlight of the Confidex tyre tag is that it is smaller than its peers and has an omni-directional antenna. “Initially, we had enquiries from two Chinese tyre manufacturers - Jiangsu General Science Technology Co and Hodo Tyres. They were looking for solutions for an embedded tyre tag technology that is different from all the other solutions available in the markets. We took two years to design, develop, and release this embedded tyre tags commercially. Our RFID tag is a bit smaller than the existing tags available in the market, having an Omni directional antenna.
Now these two Chinese companies are ready to release the mini truck tyres with our embedded RFID tags,” said Paul Broekhuizen, Executive Vice President Smart Industries at Confidex Ltd. By integrating RFID tags within the tyre during the manufacturing process, fleet operators and other end users can track tyre wear and usage. This can help to control ongoing tyre costs. RFID makes it easier and more efficient
to track and perform regular tyre maintenance, as well as identify potential problems or failures before they cause breakdown, says the company.
According to the company, its tyre tag can be fitted with a flexible position within the tyre and is 40 mm smaller than other comparable tags on the market. Its omni directional antenna provides greater flexibility for both warehouse and yard management applications. The Confidex tags offer a read range up to 3 metres or 9 feet from all directions and are compliant with the ISO 20909 and ISO 20910 standards. “The main advantage that the omni directional RFID tags provide is that you can take readings from any direction by a handled reader. You can even have a fixed reading tool in your workshop, and you need to take your vehicle near to or pass by the reader. The ratings are accurately taken. That was the key requirement of the Chinese customers too,” said Broekhuizen.
Confidex is also in discussions with major European tyre companies to test its tyre tags. Positioning Tyres come with different designs and materials, compositions and thickness, so the challenge is to fit an
RFID tag at an ideal position. Since the Confidex tyre tag is installed before the vulcanisation process, it can be placed in any position. “Customer can embed a tag at any position. But, better to check with Confidex, we can simulate how it performs in the new position,” Broekhuizen pointed out. Since the Confidex RFID tag is smaller in size compared to the other tags available in the market, with minor changes,
it can be easily fitted in the tyres that have already been into production. During the vulcanisation process, tags o through very high heat and pressure for hours and sometimes, the antenna may get damaged.
The Confidex tyre tag has a spring type of the antenna - not a typical 3D spring, but more like flexible folded wire antenna, which is 2D structure. This is more flexible and provides benefits during the vulcanisation. “Due to the spring-like design, air bubbles cannot form around the antenna, making it more flexible and sustainable during bending and stretching in the vulcanisation process,” said Broekhuizen. The tags are IP68 rated against liquids and dust and provide resistance to common chemicals and UV exposure.
The company’s RFID tyre tags have already been tested in-house and now they are being tested by European tyre companies with specific requirements. Since the embedded tyre RFID tags cannot be taken out without damaging the tyre, they are ideal for identifying counterfeit products and lifecycle monitoring. “So basically, an embedded RF ID tag helps to monitor lifecycle of tyres. This is the most ideal and complex RFID tag solution,” added Broekhuizen.
The other solution is the label type of tag, which is used for after-sales solutions. It looks like a simple label, but has an antenna too. These labels have different additives which are meant for the different materials, and the antenna design is based on the materials. Broekhuizen explained: “The rubber and steel of the tyres are very complex substances. There are always chemical reactions when you stick anything on rubber. There are chances of them peeling off and permanently bond, so we need a special kind of adhesive which are best with the rubber composites.”
During the tyre manufacturing processes, RFID labels are applied to different bags or containers of the chemicals and other ingredients. With the help of the labels and the reader on the loader, the mixing process is strictly monitored and controlled.
The third solution is barcoding, which comes with an RFID ag which is for regulatory compliance. The embedded RFID tags also help to monitor the tyres in the recycling business. “Tyres go to different countries, so it is difficult for the recyclers to understand or have data on the lifecycle. With an embedded tag, recyclers can get info on the manufacturers, location, and date of manufacturing and
other info. And with all such info, recyclers can manage their business more efficiently,” said Broekhuizen. The information on the Confidex tyre tags come up with the extended memory so additional information can be stored. “There is always fixed information on the RFID and then there is an EPC memory which can have more information.”
Broekhuizen sees growing demand for embedded RIFD tags in both developed and developing markets for different reasons. According to him, a more substantial challenge is to tackle counterfeit cases in the tyre industry, and such cases can be avoided by using RFID tags. In the developed markets, RFID will help to reduce labour costs and improve efficiency.
The company also plans to explore the penetration of its RFID tags in the OTR segment, where the total cost of ownership and lifecycle are the main drivers of the business. Tyre companies are also exploring tyre leasing business. According to Broekhuizen, huge business opportunities lie before the company as the tyre rental business model needs embedded RFID tags. With the lease model, fleet operators can bring down the operating cost by almost 50%. “Fleet companies have to use as per the usage of the tyres or per kilometre. With RFID tags, all data and monitoring can be done accurately,” he said.
Yokohama Rubber has established a new research and development centre in Hangzhou, China, as the Japanese tyre maker seeks to strengthen localised product development and speed up response times in the Chinese market.
The new facility, named Yokohama China Technical Center, began operations in May within the company’s new passenger car tyre plant in Hangzhou, which started production in November 2025.
The company said the centre would enable the local development of products specifically for the Chinese market, from initial research through to completion, helping to accelerate product launches and improve responsiveness to regional demand.
The centre will consolidate R&D functions for Yokohama Rubber’s tyre and multiple business divisions in China, while expanding engineering staff and testing facilities. Its activities will include tyre development, raw material analysis and evaluation, supplier audits, and mould drawing preparation.
Yokohama Rubber said the new operation would also support research into new raw materials and the development of local suppliers in China.
The company currently operates tyre plants in Hangzhou and Suzhou, alongside multiple business plants in Hangzhou and Weifang.
Aarika Innovation Launches KoolWheel Tyre Cooling System
- By TT News
- May 07, 2026
Chhattisgarh-based technology company Aarika Innovation has introduced KoolWheel, an automated tyre water spray cooling system manufactured in India.
The product is designed for freight vehicles and school buses to manage tyre overheating caused by road surface temperatures.
The system uses IR (infrared) temperature sensors, a 5-bar pump and solenoid valves to spray a mist on tyres when temperatures exceed a threshold. The hardware operates on a 12V setup and includes a controller that requires no driver intervention. Dashboard indicators and buzzers provide alerts regarding system status and temperature levels.
The company has introduced two variants of the product for KoolWheel Freight, which is designed for trucks, trailers and multi-axle vehicles, covering up to 22 tyres across six axles. And KoolWheel SchoolSafe, which is developed for school buses and coaches, featuring a 50-litre stainless steel tank and an automatic shutoff to prevent battery drain.
The company states the system can reduce tyre temperatures by up to 25deg Celsius and extend tyre life by up to 35 percent. The technology is intended to reduce the risk of blowouts and maintenance costs for fleet operators. The product is currently available in markets including Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana.
Swayam Agarwal, Founder, Aarika Innovation, said, “KoolWheel has been created to solve a very real problem faced by Indian transporters and school bus operators every day. Tyre overheating is not just a maintenance issue; it directly impacts road safety, operating costs, and fleet reliability. With KoolWheel, our aim is to offer an affordable, intelligent, and Made-in-India solution that helps fleets run safer, longer, and more efficiently.”
Pirelli Commences Cyber Tyre Production In Georgia
- By TT News
- May 07, 2026
European tyre major Pirelli is starting production of its Cyber Tyre technology at its plant in Georgia. The facility produces tyres for the US market, including products for the motorsport segment.
The announcement occurred during the SelectUSA Investment Summit. Cyber Tyre is a system that collects data from sensors embedded in tyres. This data is processed through software and algorithms to communicate with vehicle electronics. The system is intended to integrate with driving systems to provide functionalities for mobility and safety.
Pirelli is also introducing the Modular Integrated Robotised System (MIRS) at the factory. This manufacturing process uses robots to manage productivity and quality. The system creates a link between product design and application. This update is intended to increase the production capacity of the site.
The Georgia plant has operated for over two decades and includes a research and development centre. The facility uses natural rubber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
Claudio Zanardo, CEO of Pirelli North America, said, “The start of Cyber Tyre production in our Rome, Georgia plant is a significant milestone for Pirelli in this country. It reflects our commitment to bringing advanced technologies like Cyber Tyre closer to the market, further strengthening our industrial footprint and innovation capabilities in the United States.”
Yokohama Rubber Deploys AI And Simulation-Based Mould Design System
- By TT News
- May 04, 2026
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. developed a proprietary tyre mould design support system in April 2026, integrating finite element method (FEM) simulations and the company’s own artificial intelligence technology. This new tool is designed to augment the expertise of development personnel, enabling even less experienced staff to efficiently design moulds. It achieves this by providing data derived from numerous virtual experiments, which clarify how different mould design factors influence tyre characteristics.
The system accelerates mould development, lowers costs and minimises the rework typically associated with realising new designs. Furthermore, by fostering a multi-perspective understanding of the links between mould design elements and tyre performance, the tool equips Yokohama Rubber’s developers with fresh insights. These discoveries are expected to aid in creating tyres capable of achieving higher performance levels.
Developed under Yokohama Rubber’s HAICoLab AI concept launched in October 2020, the system addresses longstanding challenges. Mould design critically affects tyre traits, but traditionally understanding this relationship required expensive, time-consuming trial production and evaluations. The process also depended heavily on the tacit know-how of highly experienced staff, leading to variations in accuracy and development time based on individual expertise.
The support system resolves these issues through automated simulations and AI-based prediction and visualisation. It first generates numerous tyre FEM models with varied mould shapes and calculates their characteristics in a virtual space. These results train an AI surrogate model that instantly predicts design factor-performance relationships. By applying explainable AI technologies like SHAP and Partial Dependence Plots, the company’s developers can quantitatively visualise each factor’s impact, easily determining necessary adjustments to achieve targeted tyre characteristics.
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