Michelin Motorsport has introduced its first connected tire, capable of communicating with drivers and co-drivers thanks to a downloadable smartphone application. The technology will be included in the next rounds of the 2018 French Rally Championship.
Conceived to help competitors improve their performance by optimizing tire factors, the new system is unveiled one year after the launch of Michelin Motorsport’s My Rally Engineer application.
“Our initial My Rally Engineer app is a digital tool designed to allow amateur crews to track and optimize the performance of their tires,” said Serge Grisin, leader of Michelin Motorsport’s innovations program.
“Today, we have gone a significant step further since Michelin Motorsport Connect enables competitors to collect data in real time and benefit from two-way dialog with their tires by means of a practical and intuitive new application.”
The Michelin Motorsport Connect technology combines reusable sensors glued inside the rally tires, an in-car receiver and a smartphone application. This enables constant monitoring of tire pressure, as well as datalogging and notification of other tire-related information.
The company claims that the system, through optimized tire pressures and correct tire choices, not only allows performance to be maximized, but it also contributes to making motorsport safer.
“Connected technology is a realty in today’s tire industry and we are exploring ways of making these innovations a real asset for our customers,” added Grisin. “Rally crews clearly need information that can help them optimize tire performance. Thanks to Michelin Motorsport Connect, all rally competitors have access to in-car data.”
