SAF-Holland, manufacturer of trailer suspension and axle systems, truck suspensions, fifth wheels, landing gear, and coupling products, announced the launch of SMAR-te Tire Pilot, an electronic load-based tire pressure management system, at the North American Commercial Vehicle (NACV) Show in Atlanta this week.
ATA’s Technology and Maintenance Council’s Future Tire Durability and Reliability Task Force issued a position paper in December of 2018 highlighting the need to improve today’s trailer tire inflation systems to include the ability to dynamically change tire pressure based on trailer axle load.
SAF-Holland, through its global Smart Steel Initiative, is responding to this need by partnering with AKTV8 LLC, combining patented electro-pneumatic controls with SAF’s Tire Pilot Plus wheel ends to deliver SMAR-te Tire Pilot. This intelligent tire management system is engineered to work with SAF integrated suspensions and functions to:
- Inflate, deflate, and equalize all tires to ensure tires wear evenly.
- Optimize tire pressure based on axle load to maximize tire sidewall and tread life.
- Fast, accurate tire pressure control, no regulators to wear out or recalibrate.
- Smart-Alerts provide real system status; no more nuisance alerts.
- On-board scale with overload alert features reduces citation potential, improves CSA scoring.
- Improve cushioning of both the vehicle and cargo, especially when lightly loaded.
- Reduce tire and vehicle maintenance, ease of service and troubleshooting.
- Enhance fuel economy and reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.
SMAR-te Tire Pilot delivers a new level of tire management performance, enhancing vehicle safety and providing fleets with confidence and security that they are maximizing tire life, vehicle efficiency and uptime.
The patented SMAR-te Tire Pilot incorporates AKTV8’s iAir electro-pneumatic control module with integrated solenoid valves and sensors to dynamically measure and adjust tire pressure based on trailer axle load. The Smart-Alert diagnostic LED light warns of minor tire leaks, severe leaks, and overload conditions. Bluetooth and CAN connectivity allow enhanced configurability and serviceability, with optional telemetry integration.
Unlike traditional mechanical tire inflation systems, SMAR-te Tire Pilot requires no maintenance or calibration. The ability to more accurately control the proper tire air pressure per the tire Mmnufacturer’s load and inflation standards reduces tire stress, resulting in optimized tire tread and casing life and reduced rolling resistance. SMAR-te Tire Pilot could revolutionize tire inflation by providing automatic adjustment of tire pressure based on trailer axle loads at a price point that makes sense for North American fleet operations. Because SMAR-te Tire Pilot leads to increased tread and tire casing life, safe and reliable tire performance, enhanced fuel economy and GHG reduction as well as reduced tire and vehicle maintenance, it’s the smart way to maximize tire life.
