CLERMONT-FERRAND, France (Jan. 22, 2002)—Group Michelin and braking systems company Wabco have launched what they claim is the first tire pressure monitoring system for commercial vehicles.
The system, called the Integrated Vehicle Tire Monitoring (IVTM), identifies slow leaks and warns the driver before the tire risks further damage or failure. IVTM will be commercialized by WABCO first in Europe, both on the original equipment and the retrofit markets for vehicles such as tractors, trucks, buses, Michelin said.
The system consists of modules attached to the outside of the wheel to measure tire pressure and transmit the data to an electronic control unit on the vehicle chassis. Pressure data are then displayed on the driver's dashboard.
Tire failures account for more than a quarter of commercial vehicle downtime, according to Michelin. About 85 percent of these tire-induced breakdowns start with slow leaks, it added.
IVTM also offers savings possibilities by helping operators keep tire pressure at optimum levels, thereby keeping rolling resistance low, reducing fuel costs and increasing tire life, Michelin said.
The system can be retrofitted readily, Michelin and Wabco claim. Wabco, part of the American Standard Group of New Jersey, supplies pneumatic and electronic braking and control systems for the commercial vehicle industry.