TOKYO — Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (YRC) has expanded testing of its tire air-pressure remote-access system (TPRS), an in-house development that enables the monitoring of tire conditions remotely, to include two taxi companies operating in Japan's Kyoto Prefecture.
Yokohama claims the technology, which involves an air pressure-sensor attached to a tire's inner liner, can deliver data on tire air pressure, temperature and vehicle location, offering users the opportunity to "greatly reduce" time spent checking tires at the start of each day.
YRC is working with Kyoto Taxi Co. Ltd. and Koshin Taxi Co. with a goal of verifying the effect of TPRS technology on the safety and economical operation of taxi fleets.
The system is designed to enable early detection of slow punctures that cause gradual air leakage. The system's ability to detect tire abnormalities in real time can help prevent accidents, the company said.
The system transmits detection data to a cloud server, enabling the taxi company's fleet managers and Yokohama Rubber's sales offices to monitor tire air pressure.
Unlike conventional valve-type TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system), air-pressure sensors attached to tires' inner surfaces can be used on a wide variety of vehicles and wheels as an aftermarket part that can be used with any wheel type.
