FORT MILL, S.C. — Automotive supplier and tire manufacturer Continental has unveiled a new digital tire monitoring platform that is designed to help enhance tire maintenance by using the Internet of Things (IoT).

ContiConnect uses Vodafone’s IoT SIM technology to collect tire pressure data for commercial vehicle fleets every time vehicles return to the fleet terminal. It then displays that data in a mobile-friendly web portal that can be accessed from anywhere.

ContiConnect can help replace manual and routine tire care with automatic and targeted care, fixing issues where they are known to exist and saving inspection and maintenance time, according to the company.

Continental’s wireless sensors, mounted inside the vehicle's tires, collect tire pressure and temperature data. The data is transmitted as soon as the sensors come within range of the receiver unit, which is known as a yard reader station, since it is typically mounted in the fleet yard. The yard reader station then transmits the data in real time to the Continental back end, where a software program analyzes it and displays it in the ContiConnect web portal. If any of the values are critical, ContiConnect sends an alert via text or email so that the fleet manager can take action immediately.

“Fleets no longer have to rely on performing tire pressure checks on tens, hundreds, or even thousands of tires on their vehicles,” said Paul Williams, Continental’s executive vice president of Commercial Vehicle Tires in the Americas. “With ContiConnect, they will know immediately upon returning to the fleet terminal whether any tires have low pressure. Leveraging the Internet of Things saves fleets time and money by protecting their tires, and improves safety for everyone who drives on the roadway.”