Intelligent tyres.

[fungus]

I've just read this on Piston Heads. Could be a good idea.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/news/defau ... ryId=21864

[TripleS]

I've just read this on Piston Heads. Could be a good idea.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/news/defau ... ryId=21864

More technocrap. 'Tis only to be expected.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[Daaave]

More technocrap. 'Tis only to be expected.

Don't be such a luddite! Enjoy technology, it may meander along the way and result in a few less useful products; but just think how different your life would be if we were all only able to take the piss out of your steering technique whilst you rode your penny farthing...

[gannet]

It all sounds like a good idea in principle...

I will reserve judgement for now though having nearly been burnt once by DSC...

[GJD]

It doesn't appear to solve any problem I worry greatly about so it had better not make my tyres any more expensive.

[gannet]

It doesn't appear to solve any problem I worry greatly about so it had better not make my tyres any more expensive.

a very good point, my wallet hurts enough buying Run-flat tyres for the Z4

but for the those drivers that don't check their tyres regularly it could be a good thing - ie alerting them to uneven wear etc?

it's the proposed links to the car stability systems that scare me.

[GJD]

but for the those drivers that don't check their tyres regularly it could be a good thing - ie alerting them to uneven wear etc?

Only if they chose to fit 'intelligent' tyres in preference to 'normal' tyres. Would someone who doesn't check their tyres for themself go out of their way to fit an intelligent tyre to do the job for them? They'd have to:

a) recognise that there might be some benefit to checking their tyres and
b) not be doing it already.

I wonder whether many people are both a) and b). They seem a bit mutually exclusive to me.

it's the proposed links to the car stability systems that scare me.

I don't think I'm concerned by that. Presuming that a stability control system of some sort already exists, giving it additional information to work with seems unlikely to be detrimental.

[ScoobyChris]

Only if they chose to fit 'intelligent' tyres in preference to 'normal' tyres. Would someone who doesn't check their tyres for themself go out of their way to fit an intelligent tyre to do the job for them? They'd have to:

a) recognise that there might be some benefit to checking their tyres and
b) not be doing it already.

I wonder whether many people are both a) and b). They seem a bit mutually exclusive to me.

I suspect that when buying tyres, cost is by far the biggest consideration for most people and until "intelligent" tyres become cheaper than the alternatives or required by law (and thus the only option), I can't see there being a massive take up.

Perhaps I'm wearing my cynical hat today

Chris

[gannet]

but for the those drivers that don't check their tyres regularly it could be a good thing - ie alerting them to uneven wear etc?

Only if they chose to fit 'intelligent' tyres in preference to 'normal' tyres. Would someone who doesn't check their tyres for themself go out of their way to fit an intelligent tyre to do the job for them? They'd have to:

a) recognise that there might be some benefit to checking their tyres and
b) not be doing it already.

I wonder whether many people are both a) and b). They seem a bit mutually exclusive to me.

Depends how it is implemented I suppose. If the car expects them to be fitted, it could limit the max speed or other parameters if they aren't fitted. Not a solution I would advocate however...

Quite a few people over on z4-forum have switched their Run-flats to non-runflat tyres for varying reasons, a main one being cost - for example you can buy 4 reasonable 'normal' tyres for my car for £400, whereas a set of rear runflat tyres alone is just shy of £500, a full set being nearer £1000. Give it 5 years or so and every car will be running on runflats though and the cost should come down (well here's hoping ).

it's the proposed links to the car stability systems that scare me.

I don't think I'm concerned by that. Presuming that a stability control system of some sort already exists, giving it additional information to work with seems unlikely to be detrimental.

It is the increasing reliance on technology with DSC/ESP etc etc that worries me - especially having had a very scary episode where the car decided to overrule my driving obviously thinking I was out of control when I really wasn't and was actually trying to avoid a dangerous situation making me have to do the manoeuvre twice I am in the minority on that though I realise!

[GJD]

Only if they chose to fit 'intelligent' tyres in preference to 'normal' tyres. Would someone who doesn't check their tyres for themself go out of their way to fit an intelligent tyre to do the job for them? They'd have to:

a) recognise that there might be some benefit to checking their tyres and
b) not be doing it already.

I wonder whether many people are both a) and b). They seem a bit mutually exclusive to me.

I suspect that when buying tyres, cost is by far the biggest consideration for most people and until "intelligent" tyres become cheaper than the alternatives or required by law (and thus the only option), I can't see there being a massive take up.

Perhaps I'm wearing my cynical hat today

Chris

Of course. Despite what I wrote, personal choice is not the only way intelligent tyres might end up on one's car. Nanny might one day make them compulsory.

I was well aware of that possibility, but I wasn't wearing my cynical hat at the time

[waremark]

It is the increasing reliance on technology with DSC/ESP etc etc that worries me - especially having had a very scary episode where the car decided to overrule my driving obviously thinking I was out of control when I really wasn't and was actually trying to avoid a dangerous situation making me have to do the manoeuvre twice I am in the minority on that though I realise!

Would you tell us more about his incident?

[zadocbrown]

It is the increasing reliance on technology with DSC/ESP etc etc that worries me - especially having had a very scary episode where the car decided to overrule my driving obviously thinking I was out of control when I really wasn't and was actually trying to avoid a dangerous situation making me have to do the manoeuvre twice I am in the minority on that though I realise!

Would you tell us more about his incident?

+1

How long before 'intelligent driver' becomes standard equipment?

Or will the fitment of 'intelligent big brother' as a legal requirement render this 'unnecessary'...?

[Gromit37]

How long before 'intelligent driver' becomes standard equipment?

It depends on whether you believe in miracles. If you do, then it could be anytime. Otherwise, you'll probably be seeing intelligent cup holders with built in drinks dispenser before then

[gannet]

It is the increasing reliance on technology with DSC/ESP etc etc that worries me - especially having had a very scary episode where the car decided to overrule my driving obviously thinking I was out of control when I really wasn't and was actually trying to avoid a dangerous situation making me have to do the manoeuvre twice I am in the minority on that though I realise!

Would you tell us more about his incident?

I will try...

I forget the road numbers etc involved but, I came off a roundabout following a few other cars which I had been looking to overtake for some time. The road we came off the roundabout onto went down quite a long hill which had a crawler lane mainly for use by vehicles coming up the hill but the road markings indicated that it could be used for those going down the hill. There was NOTHING coming up the hill so I went to overtake Got past 2 of the cars when a couple of cars appeared round the bend at the bottom - I could have pushed on and taken the 3rd but decided on caution so had to brake quite hard and pull in behind the remaining 3rd car... All went to plan until I then found myself *back* out in the overtaking position and thus in the way of one of the cars coming up the hill who was now overtaking the other... Needless to say I then had to do the whole thing again (pulling in behind the last car and braking).

There is simply no other explanation for this other than the car's electronic systems be they the Brake force Distribution System or the Stability control system deigned that I was in trouble and had gone off the intended course.

Simply frightening to think of what could have happened had there been less room

The car I was driving at the time was a 2003 Peugeot 206 GTi

[waremark]

Thanks for the description of the event. I wonder whether anyone can explain what you experienced. In general, stability control systems are designed to make the car go where you steer, and they would help an emergency brake and steer manoeuvre.