Continental published its report on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the use of cutting-edge sensors help fleets with their tyre management, further improving overall fleet efficiency.
Tyres Impact on Fleet Efficiency
Today’s market is highly competitive and fleet efficiency is becoming more and more important every day. Tyres are one of the most crucial elements of a truck’s performance and proper tyre management is essential for driver’s safety, comfort and operational efficiency. Although tyres account for only 2% of a fleet’s cost, they have an impact on nearly half of the total driving expenses, further making their role even more strategic in total fleet cost management, according to Continental. Therefore, tyre management systems can help fleets reduce their unplanned downtime and expensive repairs.
Advanced tyre management helps fleets get more accurate and timely interventions by providing reliable data through regular monitoring. This minimises the need for manual inspections and improves overall tyre and fleet performance. Furthermore, tyre management significantly improves cost savings and has several environmental benefits, such as reducing CO2 emissions.
Continental Survey on AI and Digital Technologies
Between June and July 2024, Continental surveyed 850 fleet managers from Germany, France, the UK and the US. The survey showed that digitalisation plays a key role in improving fleet efficiency. In general, 25% of respondents said they were among the first to adopt new technologies. Another 44% said they adopt new technologies once they have been proven and established in the market.
In the same survey, 25% of respondents consider that both predictive maintenance and digital tyre management are key areas of fleets’ investments. Additionally, 24% will opt for predictive maintenance within the next two years and 20% for digital management.
Balancing Between Durability, Efficiency and Safety
Tyre changes can be time-consuming and costly which makes maximising their lifespan essential. However, determining the optimal time for tyre replacement can be challenging. Replacing tyres too early can create unnecessary costs while replacing them too late jeopardises safety and efficiency.
Both tyre pressure and tread depth impact fuel consumption. Worn tyres are more prone to skidding which increases fuel consumption. At the same time, tyres with an appropriate tread depth provide better traction and help reduce fuel consumption. Regular manual monitoring is time-consuming and can lead to drivers skipping necessary checks, increasing the risk of undetected wear.
Several automated tread depth monitoring solutions address these challenges. Fixed monitoring systems check tyres every time a vehicle returns to the workshop or base, using advanced technologies such as sensors, cameras and algorithms to measure tread depth and provide data and information. Opposite of fixed monitoring systems, there are integrated tyre sensors which constantly monitor tread depth.
Continental AI Technology for Predictive Maintenance
New Continental solutions, such as ContiConnect improve fleet safety and efficiency by providing a holistic view of the tyre’s conditions, supporting Continental’s “Lowest Overall Driving Costs” (LODC) concept for efficient and sustainable fleet management.
Using state-of-the-art tyre sensors and AI-based algorithms, the advanced system from Continental measures tread depth by detecting changes in the tyre’s acceleration rate. Together with tread wear data, this allows the sensor to accurately track tread depth changes throughout the tyre’s lifecycle. By reducing the need for manual inspections and optimising maintenance intervals, the system increases data reliability, ensuring timely tyre replacement.
Continental has also refined its predictive models based on data collected from tyres and vehicles, allowing fleets to synchronise tyre inspections with other scheduled maintenance. This further streamlines the inspection process and increases efficiency. The solution has already been successfully implemented with the first customers and will be launched on the market in the summer of 2025.
