Pirelli, Continental and Michelin are advancing tire-based data systems, prompting new scrutiny over how vehicle information is collected, transmitted and protected.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Tire manufacturers are moving deeper into connected vehicle technology, with new systems designed to collect tire and road data, communicate with vehicle electronics and support future transportation networks.
The latest development comes from Pirelli, which is expanding its Cyber Tire technology as part of a broader effort to turn tires into data-gathering components of modern vehicles. Autoweek reported that the Italian tiremaker announced the next step in its strategy at the SelectUSA Investment Summit, where it presented Cyber Tire as part of its work on AI-enabled road monitoring.
Pirelli also acquired a 30% stake in Swedish artificial intelligence company Univrses, a move intended to strengthen the use of advanced computer vision technology in the Cyber Tire system.
“Cyber Tire is the world’s first hardware-and-software system capable of collecting data and information from sensors embedded in tires,” the company said, “processing them through Pirelli’s proprietary software and algorithms, and, by communicating in real time with the vehicle’s electronics, enabling new functionalities integrated with driving and control systems to enhance the driving experience and increase safety levels, as well as supporting connected infrastructure.”
The technology reflects a broader shift in the auto industry, where tires are no longer being treated solely as rubber components but as potential sources of information for vehicles, manufacturers, fleet operators and transportation systems.
Pirelli is not alone in pursuing connected tire systems. Continental has also discussed the use of RFID technology in tires, describing it as a tool for tire data management.
“In the rapidly evolving automotive landscape, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology is emerging as a revolutionary tool, particularly in tire data management,” Continental said. “This innovative technology not only simplifies data exchange but also brings about a new level of efficiency and accuracy in tracking and managing.”
Michelin has already embedded RFID chips in tires, according to a Jalopnik article that addressed concerns about surveillance while describing the company’s stated purpose as manufacturing and logistics efficiency.
“OK, so don’t panic, but Michelin has been putting RFID chips in our tires for some time now,” Jalopnik reported. “Before you start watching the sky for black helicopters as you drive to the Piggly Wiggly, Michelin isn’t trying to spy on you. That’s Google’s job. What it is trying to do is to streamline manufacturing, delivery, maintenance, and end-of-life sorting with easy identification of the tire itself.”
The growing use of tire-based sensors and identification systems is raising questions over how much data vehicles may generate and where that information may ultimately go. Pirelli’s Cyber Tire system is described as communicating in real time with vehicle electronics and supporting connected infrastructure, while RFID systems are intended to identify and manage individual tires across their life cycle.
Supporters of connected tire systems say the technologies can improve safety, maintenance, performance and supply chain tracking. Sensors could potentially help vehicles respond to changing road conditions, tire pressure, temperature, wear and other variables that affect driving.
Critics and privacy advocates, however, are likely to focus on the data implications. As more vehicle components become connected, concerns grow over cybersecurity, ownership of driving-related data and whether information collected for maintenance or safety could later be used for monitoring, insurance decisions or other purposes.
Attorney and commentator Steve Lehto raised concerns about the security of smart technologies and the broader risks of data collection.
“I don’t care how secure anybody claims anything is, we have heard about data breaches from everybody,” Lehto said. “Banks? Sure why not. From actual internet security companies? Remember that one? Sure, uhh yeah it turns out that they’re not real good at internet security.”
The debate over connected tires is part of a larger discussion about modern vehicles, which increasingly rely on sensors, software, connectivity and cloud-based systems. As tire companies integrate chips, sensors and AI-linked data tools into products, the boundary between mechanical vehicle parts and digital infrastructure continues to narrow.
For drivers, the question may become not only how well tires grip the road, but what information they collect, who receives it and how securely it is handled.
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