When the smart rubber meets the road

[unixronin]

Reuters reports Purdue University researchers have found a way to make a smart tire.  Reportedly, the tire can warn the driver of not just improper tire pressure, but also cuts, punctures, imbalances, improper mounting, physical degradation of the tire, and manufacturing defects.  (And presumably other physical damage from potholes, road debris, etc.)

Interesting final comment in the article:

[Gary Krutz, director of Purdue's Electrohydraulic Center] said the technology would cost manufacturers about $1 per tire, translating into something like $50 per tire for consumers.

Yowzah.  Nothing like a good old 5000% markup for a new safety feature...

Comments

[otherbill.livejournal.com]

And yet, I'm sure many tire manufacturers will claim $1/tire is too expensive.

</cynic>

[dafydd.livejournal.com]

The comment is unclear as to whether he is talking about mark up or relative cost at a particular price point. I can't see a $35 tire jumping to $85. I can see $1 of a $50 tire being attributable to the new technology.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Considering you pretty much can't buy a car tire worth the paper the label is printed on for $50 these days, and the context of the statement, I'd say it's pretty clear he's talking about a $50/tire markup, so that what would have been a $180 tire becomes a $230 tire.

(Sure, there are $50 tires ... if your car takes 155/75R13 tires, and you don't even know what a UTQG rating means, and you're prepared to buy K-Mart's "Our most economical!" house-brand tire, rated 70-B-C, guaranteed to last 12,000 miles or we'll give you $10 off the next one.)

[dafydd.livejournal.com]

Walmart more than K-mart, these days. And, if there wasn't a demand for those tires, there wouldn't be a supply...

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Walmart more than K-mart, these days.

Well, yeah. My first thought was actually Sears and Montgomery Ward. I only ever bought tires from Montgomery Ward once, and they weren't even house-brand tires, they were General Tire ... and they still sucked wet farts out of dead pigeons.

[lisa-marli.livejournal.com]

I can see $50 meaning Per Vehicle - 4 or 5 tires, that would be $10-12.50 per tire and considering the manufacturer makes a profit (3 times cost) and the wholesaler makes a profit (2 times cost from manufacturer) and the tire seller makes a profit (2 times wholesaler) that actually isn't bad at all.
Note Sometimes manufacturer's mark ups are even higher, depending on other costs associated with manufacture. The wholesaler and final seller's mark ups for retail are pretty standard 2 times their cost.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

But he didn't say $50 per vehicle. He said $50 per tire.

[fruitylips.livejournal.com]

As is usual for Reuters, this is a terribly written article. I would guess that what they meant was that there is about a $1/tire increase in manufacturing costs plus some undetermined cost for licensing the technology and patents.

Reuters should just hire a few monkeys to randomly hit keyboards with their faces. The results would be about as useful.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

And entertaining, if they post video.

[house-pundit.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, all I can think of is your tires bitching you out every time you drive anywhere. Nag nag nag nag nag. :-)

[tabbifli.livejournal.com]

Better than some of the passengers. You ought to hear my cats....

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

"You never properly inflate me any more. C'mon, sugar, blow in my valve."