Tire traceability

[Dtuck]

I keep hearing about the possibility of increased traceability requirements for tires. What methods are available to manufacturers to meet these should they become more stringent?

 

[NickE]

serial coding could probably be implemented using some sort of die insert that can imprint one of those neato 2-D dot codes, I saw a device read one on a green sand casting surface once.

 

[Dtuck]

What kind of information would have to go on each tire? Also, could a rotating insert like a date code do the job?

 

[GregLocock]

Tires are already identified by week/year code and source. That's how we knew that it was only one of Firestone's factories that was producing deflating tires of a particular size and model.

I have a strong feeling that all Australian passenger tires are bar coded.



Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[crysta1c1ear]

Some tyre manufacturers are looking at RFID chips, but these aren't common and cheap enough yet. For example supermarkets are using them to cut down on trolley theft in anticipation that the technology will get cheap and good enough to use for product check-out.

Eventually RFID will be everywhere: go in the supermarket and they will know if you have changed your underpants since yesterday.

 

[CapriRacer]

Dtuck,

I think you've overstated the situation. I'm not aware of any pending legislation / regulation / requirement for better documentation, nor have I heard any discussions on it - except to say that all the tire manufacturers are trying to find ways to improve their products, and we are at the point where information is becoming insufficient to make significant progress.

But the key is that the ID system has be nearly 100% reliable, which is where RFID seems to fall short. Bar coding is currently reliable enough.

 

[tireguru]

At this time there is no legislation in any state requiring RFID in tires, but vehicle manufacturers are doing things like attaching tire ID information to specific vehicles at assembly plants. This will allow them to notify specific vehicle owners if their tire is ever involved in a recall.