Tyre, Brake, and Safety Check Innovations
WORDS BY ANBY ALCOMENDAS
Tyres, brakes, and regular safety checks are the backbone of keeping vehicles roadworthy and drivers safe. In recent years, technology has transformed the way these systems are monitored and maintained. From smart sensors in tyres to AI-powered inspection tools, innovations are making it easier for fleet operators to spot problems early, prevent breakdowns, and keep vehicles compliant with safety standards.
Let’ s look at the latest developments in tyre, brake, and safety check technology, and how they can help fleet managers reduce downtime, cut costs, and improve road safety.
Smarter Tyres for Safer Driving
Tyres are the only part of a vehicle that touches the road, so their condition plays a huge role in safety and performance. New smart tyre technologies are helping fleets monitor tyre health in real time.
One example is Goodyear SightLine, a connected tyre system with embedded pressure, temperature, and vibration sensors. These sensors collect data on road grip, tyre temperature, and air pressure, sending it directly to the vehicle’ s control systems. If the road is wet or icy, the system can trigger the vehicle’ s Automatic Emergency Braking( AEB) to engage earlier, shortening stopping distances by valuable metres.
Artificial intelligence( AI) is also improving tyre inspections. TyreSwift, for instance, uses highresolution cameras and machine learning algorithms to scan tyre tread depth to within fractions of a millimetre. It can detect uneven wear caused by poor wheel alignment, which, if ignored, can cut tyre life by up to 20 %. For fleets, the savings on premature tyre replacement can be significant.
Airless tyre designs are another exciting development. Bridgestone’ s and Michelin’ s latest prototypes replace pressurised air with reinforced
16 ISSUE 54 AUGUST 2025 / WWW. AFMA. ORG. AU