RFID Brings Digital ID to Wheel Balancing

Service equipment manufacturer Fasep has released what it says it the world’s first wheel balancer with an integrated RFID tag reading system.

The system identifies each tagged tire as it is mounted on the V788 balancer and displays details about that tire for system users. Operators then use that data to adjust the settings and ensure proper balance of the tire on the wheel before it is installed on a car. The cloud-based software stores that data, creating a permanent record of what took place with that tire, explained Fabio Boni, Fasep’s sales director.

Global tire manufacturers have been testing and building passive RAIN UHF RFID tags into some of their products over the past two years. Today, all commercial tires from Michelin are tagged with RFID while domestic tires are rolling out as well. The goal is to make them identifiable as they move through a complex supply chain, use case and ultimately into recycling or retreading for further use, as well as proper end-of-life disposal.