RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) in motorcycle tires involves embedding a small, passive electronic chipset and antenna within the tire itself. This technology is revolutionizing tire management and traceability throughout the entire lifecycle of the tire.
How RFID Tires Work
Embedded Chipset: A passive (battery-free) RFID chipset, often encased in rubber for protection, is cured into the tire during the manufacturing process.
Unique Identifier: The chip stores a unique, tamper-proof identifier, typically a Serialized Global Trade Item Number (SGTIN-96).
Reading the Data: When an RFID reader is brought near the tire, it emits radio waves that power the passive chip. The chip then transmits its unique ID back to the reader.
Data Access: This unique ID links to detailed information about the tire (like manufacturing date, model, materials, and maintenance history) stored in a cloud-based system or database.
In later generations, the RFID processors will also be able to monitor tire wear and air pressure.
Key Benefits and Applications
RFID technology brings significant benefits across the tire supply chain:
Manufacturing and Quality Control:
Enables precise tracking of each tire through the production line.
Improves quality control and reduces the risk of errors.
Facilitates rapid and targeted recall management by quickly identifying tires from a problematic batch.
Logistics and Inventory Management:
Streamlines the supply chain by automating data collection.
RFID readers can scan multiple tires simultaneously without a line of sight (unlike barcodes), making inventory counts in warehouses and during shipping much faster and more accurate.
Fleet Management and Maintenance (especially commercial vehicles):
Tracks the entire lifecycle of a tire from production to disposal.
Allows fleet operators to monitor mileage, location, and maintenance history.
When integrated with sensors, it can enable predictive maintenance by relaying data on tread wear, pressure, and temperature.
Recycling and Sustainability:
Supports a circular economy by providing a reliable way to track tires to their end-of-life.
The unique ID can be used for compliance with upcoming regulations like the European Digital Product Passport (DPP), which requires a digital record of a product's history for sustainability.
Standardization and Adoption
Industry Standard: RFID for tires is governed by several ISO international standards (e.g., ISO 20909, 20910, 20911, 20912) which standardize the communication protocol, tag classification, and data coding (like the SGTIN-96 format).
Major Manufacturers: Companies like Michelin and Continental are major adopters and are committed to integrating RFID tags into a large percentage of their new tires. Not yet in motorcycle tires.
GDSO: The Global Data Service Organization (GDSO) was established by major tire manufacturers to create a standardized platform for sharing tire-related data based on the unique RFID ID.
Motorcycle racing has always been one of the most important ways to test new technologies. Since 2013, Dunlop has been testing a new generation of smart microchips to be integrated into the tires of the Moto2 and Moto3 classes of the Motorcycle World Championship. These chips, which use RFID technology, are intended to allow riders and teams to receive information from the tires in real-time in the future. An initial test deployment took place during the official Moto2 and Moto3 test days at Spain's Circuito de Jerez.
