Falken tyre maker Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) is advancing its Sensing Core technology to include a new wheel detachment function, which will be incorporated into production vehicles for the first time this year.
Sensing Core is a sensor-less system designed to monitor various aspects of tyre functionality such as pressure, wear, load distribution, and road conditions, without the need for embedded sensors.
This enhancement comes in response to increasing incidents of accidents in Japan caused by wheel detachment, particularly during the winter when drivers switch to winter tyres and may fail to adequately tighten the wheel nuts.
While some commercial vehicles use mechanical clips on wheel nuts for visual checks, these are not foolproof and depend heavily on the driver’s diligence.
The Japanese government has expressed a strong interest in eliminating accidents caused by loose wheels. SRI is set to introduce the wheel detachment detection feature in 2024 as standard equipment on a vehicle from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), with discussions ongoing to expand this technology to more manufacturers.
This feature of Sensing Core can detect even slight looseness in wheel nuts, as minimal as 1mm, by analysing wheel-speed signals and other data from the vehicle’s controller area network.
Sensing Core initially developed from SRI’s indirect tyre pressure monitoring system known as deflation warning system, is now integrated into 15 OEMs’ vehicles across Europe, Japan, China, and India. It represents a key component of SRI’s Smart Tyre Concept, which aims to address the evolving demands of Connected, Autonomous, Shared, and Electric vehicles and mobility services.
