Pirelli and Bosch developing software-based smart tires

Pirelli and Bosch plan to jointly develop tires with embedded sensors that can transmit data directly to a vehicle’s onboard computers.

These software-enhanced tires will deliver “greater safety, comfort, and sustainability, as well as improved driving dynamics,” the two companies said. That will be made possible by harnessing data from tires to help fine tune software-controlled features for different road conditions, according to the companies.

Pirelli and Bosch have already demonstrated this concept with tires for the Pagani Utopia Roadster supercar, which uses a specially developed version of the Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS with embedded sensors that connect to a Bosch-supplied stability control system, as well as the ABS and traction control systems, to better tame the 852 hp generated by the Utopia’s twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V-12.

As cars get more fuel-efficient, or abandon combustion engines entirely for electric powertrains, tire wear becomes a bigger part of their overall environmental impact. While Pirelli is looking to software to boost sustainability, some rival tire makers are focusing on alternative materials.

In 2023, Continental discussed making tires out of rice husks and plastic bottles in order to meet a goal of making all of its tires from sustainable materials by 2050. Bridgestone is already making tires with rubber from a desert shrub called guayule that’s native to the southwestern U.S. It’s even demonstrated these tires at IndyCar races.

Airless tires are another possibility. With no need to maintain air pressure, punctures and sidewall damage are no longer an issue, meaning tires could last longer. They also create an added safety margin by avoiding the danger of blowouts.