The tyre bay 24 www.aftermarketonline.net APRIL 2025 AI solution to gauge tyre pressure Making tracks in the tyre care space PCL is celebrating 80 years of handheld tyre inflation with the launch of an icon reflecting the design and engineering excellence for which its made-in-Sheffield products are known. Next month, on May 6, marks the anniversary of the date that the design for the original Vertex tyre inflator, better known as the MK2, was finalised. The MK2 became one of the UK’s most familiar tools in garages and service stations between 1945 and 1993 and is still used by many today. PCL said the MK2 promises guaranteed accuracy, a speedy and unrestricted filtered air flow and a weatherproof design. The Airforce MK4, which hit the market in 2017, is a leading linear tyre inflator, and takes performance to a new level, PCL said. Its two-stage valve design ensures accuracy and longer life compared to competitors’ single-stage mechanisms. Tests show it can cover more than ten times as many cycles as its main contender, according to PCL. Managing director Lee Wright said: “While it has undergone many innovative advancements, the MK4 retains the MK2’s core benefits and reputation.” Ring Automotive exploded into the tyre care market 20 years ago and has since been determined to create one of the best tyre care ranges in the auto industry. Ring’s tyre care range consists of more than 25 products, including tyre inflators, footpumps, pressure gauges and sealant. One such product that has won multiple awards — including expert reviews and IAAF’s highly commended product of the year — is Ring’s cordless digital tyre inflator (RTC4000). This is a high quality, compact, yet powerful cordless tyre inflator that can be used for cars and motorcycles. Unlike the many cordless tyre inflators on the market that can only top up one or two tyres at a time until the battery goes flat, the RTC4000 can easily inflate four tyres, each by more than 10 PSI and has a battery capacity that will even inflate a tyre from flat. It is also easily chargeable via a USB type C or 12V DC cable. Another award winner is Ring’s RTG4 digital keyring tyre pressure gauge, which won Auto Express’s tyre gauge test in 2024, with the product becoming the journal’s best buy in 2024. The RTG4 is a digital tyre gauge with keyring attachment, making it lightweight and convenient to carry around. It gives accurate readings in PSI, kPA, BAR and kg/cm2, and comes with an integrated LED light. A more recently launched product in Ring’s tyre care portfolio is the flat tyre repair kit, RTK6, that includes a particle gel sealant, which is a liquid sealant with through valve technology, as well as Ring’s inflator, the RAC610. The sealant included in the RTK6 is a direct replacement for OE tyre sealant and will seal punctures up to 6mm in size and can be easily washed out with water, allowing the tyre to be repaired if necessary. Ring MD Henry Bisson said: “While our heritage and specialism is lighting we have always offered a wide range of car accessories.” Yokohama Rubber has begun practical testing of technology that uses artificial intelligence to gauge the air pressure of tyres. Using AI to gauge tyre air pressure from the sound made by tapping the tyre, which previously relied on the driver’s own experience, will provide logistics companies with solutions to various issues, the firm said. Issues include safe vehicle operation through improved air-pressure measurement and cost reductions. It will also raise fuel efficiency by appropriately managing tyre air pressure. Daily checks of the air pressure of truck and bus tyres with pressure gauges can cause valve failure and air leakage. In addition, real-time monitoring can be costly, Yokohama said. As a result, tapping the tyre with a hammer remains the main method for checking air pressure, but that can be difficult, even for the most experienced drivers. Yokohama is working with Japanese data analysis company Metrika to develop an AI algorithm that can distinguish the sounds created by tapping the tyre from a variety of environmental sounds, determine when and how long the sound occurred (the sound interval), and estimate the tyre’s air pressure based on the detected sound. The partners have already developed a prototype application for use in conjunction with a smartphone, which is undergoing practical testing. This technology will make it possible for anyone to perform a precise airpressure check without the need for a special device or particular skill. Testing aims to further improve the accuracy of the AI algorithm and the usability of the application. Yokohama HPT is the UK distributor of passenger car, 4x4, motorsport and commercial vehicle tyres from the Japanese manufacturer. 3&/ PDUNV \HDUV RI W\UH LQᎯDWLRQ H[SHUWLVH
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