Continental Announces TPMS Sensor That Reads Tread Depth

Continental AG has announced that it is developing a new type of tire pressure monitoring sensor capable of detecting tread depth. Continental AG claims that this new type of intelligent TPMS sensor obtains tread depth data based on changes in tire rolling characteristics. If a tire’s tread is run down to below a tire-specific threshold value, the sensor then signals the user that a tire change is due. This new TPMS technology may be available in Continental TPMS equipped vehicles by 2017.

“Legislators all over the world have defined a minimum tire tread depth for safe driving….We are delighted that we will, in future, be able to conveniently read tread depth electronically with the aid of sensors embedded in the tires.”

- Andreas Wolf, head of Continental’s Body & Security business unit.