Pirelli announces AI-powered data-collecting tires, turning vehicles into SURVEILLANCE tools

• Pirelli’s Cyber Tire system featuring embedded sensors that collect data on road conditions and communicate with vehicle electronics will begin production in Rome, Georgia – marking what the company calls the first hardware-and-software system of its kind.
• The technology uses an accelerometer inside the tire to detect forces and road hazards, with future capability to transmit warnings to other vehicles, enabling vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication.
• Major tire manufacturers including Continental and Michelin are also embedding RFID chips in tires for data management, tracking and logistics purposes, raising concerns about data ownership and security.
• Critics and privacy advocates warn that connected tire systems create new entry points for data breaches, enable constant surveillance through digital tracking and raise questions about whether collected data could be used for monitoring or insurance decisions.
• While supporters emphasize safety, maintenance and performance benefits, the real-time data transmission from Cyber Tire systems to vehicle electronics and infrastructure raises unresolved questions about who controls the information and how securely it is protected from third parties.

The convergence of tire technology and artificial intelligence (AI) has reached a new milestone, with Italian tire company Pirelli announcing at the SelectUSA Investment Summit that its Cyber Tire system will soon begin production at the company’s plant in Rome, Georgia.

Pirelli’s Cyber Tire represents what the company describes as “the world’s first hardware-and-software system capable of collecting data and information from sensors embedded in tires.” The system processes that information through Pirelli’s proprietary software and algorithms. These, in turn, communicate with vehicle electronics in real time to enable new functions integrated with driving and control systems.

The stated goals include enhancing the driving experience, increasing safety levels and supporting connected infrastructure. But this development – combined with the growing use of radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips in tires by other manufacturers – raises questions about what information modern vehicles collect, who controls that data and how securely it is protected.

The technology relies on an accelerometer embedded inside the tire itself. Piero Misani, chief technical officer and head of Cyber Tire business at Pirelli, explained that the sensor “detects forces but also road condition, roughness, irregularities, holes, whatever.” He indicated that in the future, that data could be sent to other vehicles to warn them of hazardous conditions.

“The point is that the cars are being able to speak to one another,” Misani said. “The infrastructure is there. With autonomous vehicles it’s already exactly like this. With V2X, vehicle to everything, the possibilities are limitless.”

Pirelli acquired a 30% stake in Swedish artificial intelligence company Univrses to strengthen the integration of advanced computer vision technology into the Cyber Tire system. Claudio Zanardo, CEO of Pirelli North America, called the start of production in Georgia “a significant milestone” that reflects the company’s commitment to bringing advanced technologies closer to the market.

Pirelli is not alone in embedding intelligence into tires. German tire manufacturer Continental has discussed the use of RFID technology in tires, describing it as a tool for tire data management.

“In the rapidly evolving automotive landscape, RFID technology is emerging as a revolutionary tool, particularly in tire data management,” Continental said. “This innovative technology not only simplifies data exchange but also brings about a new level of efficiency and accuracy in tracking and managing.”

Michelin has already embedded RFID chips in tires for manufacturing and logistics purposes. A Jalopnik report noted that the French tire company’s stated purpose is to streamline manufacturing, delivery, maintenance and end-of-life sorting with easy identification of the tire itself.

How your next set of tires will betray you

As tires join the ranks of data-collecting parts, the number of potential entry points for security breaches continues to multiply. Attorney and commentator Steve Lehto offered a blunt assessment of such security claims. “I don’t care how secure anybody claims anything is, we have heard about data breaches from everybody,” he remarked.

Supporters of connected tire systems argue that the technologies improve safety, maintenance, performance and supply chain tracking. Sensors can help vehicles respond to changing road conditions, tire pressure, temperature, wear and other variables that affect driving. The data could potentially be used to inform infrastructure maintenance or improve traffic management.

In contrast, critics and privacy advocates focus on the data implications. As more vehicle components become connected, questions arise over cybersecurity, ownership of driving-related data and whether information collected for maintenance or safety could later be used for monitoring, insurance decisions or other purposes.

BrightU.AI‘s Enoch notes that the integration of “smart” technology into private vehicles erodes individual privacy by enabling constant surveillance and control through digital tracking and data collection, while the potential for system failures or malicious remote shutdowns can leave occupants trapped and vulnerable.

The RFID chips embedded in tires by Michelin, Continental and others are designed primarily for identification and tracking, but the systems are capable of transmitting data that could be read by third parties. The Cyber Tire system goes further, communicating in real time with vehicle electronics and supporting connected infrastructure. This means the system is not merely collecting data but actively transmitting it to other systems, raising questions about who ultimately controls that information and how it is protected.

Pirelli has not announced a specific date for when Cyber Tire production will begin at the Rome, Georgia plant. The selection of an American production site suggests the company expects significant demand from North American consumers. But for drivers, the question moving forward may involve not only how well tires grip the road, but what information they collect, who receives it and how securely that data is handled.

Watch Jefferey Jaxen and Del Bigtree discussing the risks of in-car surveillance in the name of “driver safety” in this clip.

This video is from The HighWire with Del Bigtree channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

Autoweek.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com