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

[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.