Nokian Tyres has officially launched its Intuitu smart tire system, making the technology first available in Finland for selected agricultural and contracting tractor tires following its initial unveiling at Agritechnica 2019 in Hannover.
The system combines sensor-equipped tires with a mobile application that provides real-time monitoring of tire pressure and temperature data, offering what the company describes as a "plug & play" solution requiring minimal configuration.
The Intuitu system consists of specially equipped smart tires paired with a smartphone application. Once the tires are fitted and registered in the app, users can monitor tire position, pressure and temperature data across their entire fleet. The system allows fleet owners to invite unlimited drivers and vehicles, enabling individual drivers to receive alerts about their current vehicle whilst managers maintain oversight of the entire operation.
"Fleet managers in particular were excited about the prospect of having vital tire information and alarms available with a minimal need for configuration," explained Matthew Crocker, Product Manager at Nokian Tyres. "Premium tractor tires are an investment you want to look after."
An additional benefit for buyers is that Intuitu registration extends the tire warranty.
Finnish property maintenance contractor Jari Suontausta has been testing the system across his three-tractor fleet and reports significant operational improvements.
"Nokian Tyres Intuitu both makes the tracking of the tire condition easier and provides financial savings," said Suontausta. "Mornings are effortless now that I can check that everything is okay with just one look at my phone."
He particularly values the early warning system for tire damage, which is common in his work environment. "There are sometimes a lot of nails and metal pieces at work sites, which is why tire punctures aren't uncommon," he explained. "Tears are easy and inexpensive to fix if they are spotted early, but a very expensive tire can be ruined if the problem isn't noticed in time."
According to Nokian, the system helps reduce fuel costs and improves working safety through better tire management.
Initial sales in Finland will focus on four flagship Nokian Tyres tractor products: Nokian Ground King, Nokian TRI 2, Nokian Hakkapeliitta TRI and Nokian Tractor King. Factory shipments began in September, with the Intuitu application becoming available for download simultaneously.
Orders are being processed through the Vianor tire dealer chain initially, with other dealers to follow. The company states that smart tires will be delivered within normal delivery timeframes.
"Finland is our home turf and customers are eager to try out new technologies," said Manu Salmi, SVP and Managing Director at Nokian Heavy Tyres. "And we have a roadmap for expanding the availability to other countries as well."
Whilst the current feature set focuses on pressure and temperature monitoring, Nokian has confirmed additional capabilities are in development, including tread depth measurement and integration with machinery operating software.
"This is a big milestone, maybe the biggest, but the development work continues as we speak," stated Salmi. "We are just scratching the surface of the digital realm, and our ambition will not let us stop there!"
The company views the technology as having broader potential beyond current applications. "The digital dimension of the tires has the potential to be much more, and we have many great ideas in the pipeline!" added Crocker.
Tagged with: Nokian Tyres Intuitu, smart tyres, agricultural tyres, tyre pressure monitoring, fleet tyre management, Vianor Finland, tractor tyres, live temperature data, predictive maintenance, tread depth monitoring, connected tyres
Disclaimer: This content may include forward-looking statements. Views expressed are not verified or endorsed by Tyre News Media.
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