Nokian debugs tire-monitoring system

NOKIA, Finland (Oct. 23)—Nokian Tyres P.L.C. claims to have worked the bugs out of a microchip-based tire monitoring system, and plans to offer it in the near future linked to a driver´s mobile phone. Nokian´s "intelligent tire technology" system chip acts as a measuring instrument, registering changes in tire pressure and temperature and then continuously transmitting the data to the receiver—the driver´s ``Bluetooth´´-enabled mobile phone, which supports the user interface of the system. The first commercial applications of the intelligent tire technology system will be implemented on truck and van tires as well as passenger tires with high-speed ratings, Nokian said. Nokian Tyres owns the rights to the product concept and has a patent for the system pending.