Tyres are turning smart too. JK Tyre & Industries Ltd. (JK Tyres) has gone down that route to get the early mover’s advantage. Its smart tyre generation is claimed to be a segment first. With a cloud-based monitoring system as its building block, the smart tyres warrant the maintenance through timely diagnostics. It makes use of sensors integrated into the Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS). The sensors relay updates on parameters crucial to assessing tyre health via multiple digital platforms like the company’s indigenous ‘TREEL Care’ app and web page. Averrred V.K. Misra, Technical Director, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd., “Our objective was to have a sensor fitted within the tyre as one whole unit.”
The working principle
An ID sensor fitted in to the smart tyres, captures and relays crucial big data. This feedback is relayed in real-time. The Bluetooth enabled data on pressure and temperature makes the data available on the smartphone providing easy access. The tyre technology paves the way for early prognosis over the prevailing practice of diagnosis. In effect, this allows for early detection of issues and the deployment of timely preventive measures to avoid downtime. The tyre is also claimed to deliver higher fuel efficiency of up to four to five per cent leading to carbon emissions reduction. In addition, through this technology, the tyre life is expanded thereby minimising operational expenses. Monitoring all aspects of the tyre, the smart tyre screens the tyre’s vital statistics, including pressure and temperature. The information collected by this smart monitoring system is further relayed on a real-time basis to the vehicle owner’s smartphone via Bluetooth on to a mobile application. Additionally, the sensor-enabled technology helps the customers maintain optimal tyre pressure ensuring better on-road safety.
The technology is compatible with cars, bikes and heavy commercial vehicles like trucks and buses. It is available in three variants for cars ﹣Smart Tyre Sensor Car Kit Valve; MTrac Smart Sensor Car and Truck Kit Valve and MPower Smart Sensor Car Kit Valve. Similarly, it is available in two variants for bikes ﹣Smart Tyre Sensor Bike Kit Belt and MTrac Smart Sensor Bike Kit Belt. Commenting on the launch of the smart tyre, Raghupati Singhania, Chairman & Managing Director, JK Tyres & Industries Ltd. said, “JK Tyre has always been on the forefront of innovation and technology. Being the market leaders in the Indian tyre industry, we have once again lived up to our leadership role by delivering ‘Smart Tyre’ – an extension of our promise of providing advanced mobility solutions to our customers.” Referring to aggregators, he added, “This technology provides an enhanced value proposition to vehicle owners, particularly fleets, by reducing their operational costs.”
Future of tyre technology
With Bluetooth, smart tyres can be used to track cars for fleet owners with GPS. The company is on talking terms with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Misra stated, “We are also approaching OEMs to fit this in their vehicles and working closely with them. We are approaching each one of them to make the sensor-enabled compatible with the vehicle system, for example.” Misra further explained that all the sensors can be connected to a pod, and that pod is connected to the cloud. So, one can track the vehicle, performance of tyres, pressure, the position of the tyre remotely.
There is an in-built anti-theft mechanism to alert on tyre theft attempts too. The company is confident of its ongoing developments paving the way for new inclusions in the system going forward. To back its claims of benefits, the company undertook surveys where a majority of the owners were found to run tyres with low-pressure and or running on high-pressure. Those driving at the prescribed OEM pressures were far and few. The smart tyre generation will be manufactured in Pune at a dedicated JK Tyre plant. It’s all claimed to be indigenous with 24 x 7 aftersales assistance on offer. ACI
JK Concept Tyres
Puncture Proof Tyres: Punctures are common on Indian roads. This unfortunate situation can jeopardise a driver’s safety. Tyre puncture repair is a tedious task and to address this issue, JK Tyre has introduced puncture-resistant technology. A concept developed for cars and two-wheelers, the puncture-proof tyre has unique sealants known to form a protective layer that repairs puncture on its own and thereby claimed to ensure a hassle-free and safe drive.
EV Tyre: The electric vehicle industry in India is evolving and JK Tyre is ready to cater to the needs of the EV industry. These next-gen tyres have an optimised tread pattern which is ideal for EVs. Loaded with features like low rolling resistance, low noise emission and superior wet traction, these EV tyres offer a greener and environment-friendly drive.
Coloured Tyre: One of the most attractive and eye-catching products from the JK Tyre stable, the coloured tyres are for the auto enthusiasts who do not think conventional. These coloured tyres are made from the specially formulated coloured rubber compound and are available for cars and two-wheelers.
Fuel-Saver Tyre: The next generation of fuel-efficient tyres-the XF series, is built on the cutting edge advanced JETOCT technology, which helps improve tyre efficiency by saving up to eight per cent fuel in comparison to normal radial tyres.
Tubeless Radials: Designed to meet the emerging needs of fleets, these next generations of tubeless Truck and Bus Radials (TBRs) are developed with a new silica compound, which provides longer life, fuel savings and lower cost of operations.
