Michelin embeds RFID chips in tyres, but they cannot track drivers
The technology consists of a small electronic chip and an antenna embedded between protective layers of rubber during manufacturing. Each chip receives a unique identifier containing information such as the manufacturer’s identification code, product reference and serial number. Once programmed, the identifier is permanently locked, allowing the tyre to retain its digital identity throughout its service life.
Michelin provides a service that links these identifiers to information about individual tyres, including their brand, model and dimensions. By scanning the chip at different stages of the supply chain, manufacturers, distributors and service providers can maintain a record of the tyre’s lifecycle.
The RFID chips used by Michelin are passive devices that do not require a battery. Instead, they draw energy from radio waves emitted by a nearby reader. When a compatible reader scans the chip, it receives the identification data stored on it.
This means the chips cannot independently transmit their location or continuously communicate with external systems. A reader must be within range to retrieve their information.
The technology should also not be confused with sensors that measure tyre pressure or temperature. Those functions require additional hardware. An RFID chip alone cannot report tyre pressure, temperature or remaining tread depth.
Michelin uses separate sensor technologies for connected tyres that can collect information about their operating conditions. These systems may communicate through Bluetooth Low Energy, depending on the application.
Could RFID chips be used to track vehicles?
Although every chip has a unique identifier, using it to track a driver would require several additional steps. Someone would need suitable scanning equipment to read the identifier and access to records linking that identifier to previous scans.
Even then, the resulting information would be limited to locations and times at which the tyre had been scanned. The technology does not continuously transmit a vehicle’s position, unlike GPS-based tracking systems.
According to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), electronic tyre identification does not directly reveal an owner’s personal information. The identifier functions primarily as a serial number for the tyre itself.
Nevertheless, the distinction between identifying a tyre and identifying its owner is important. If an organisation could combine tyre identifiers with other databases containing vehicle or customer information, it might be possible to establish additional connections. That would require access to information beyond what the RFID chip itself provides.
Michelin sees RFID as a way to improve tyre management, streamline logistics and support recycling. Reliable identification can help businesses manage inventories, distinguish between individual tyres and maintain records throughout their service lives.
The technology can also simplify warranty claims and help workshops identify tyres when changing between summer and winter sets. For commercial fleets, RFID can make it easier to track tyres across vehicles and maintenance operations.
At the end of a tyre’s life, the unique identifier can help connect the product to information relevant to recycling and material recovery.
Michelin has developed its RFID technology for use throughout a tyre’s lifecycle, including exposure to weather, mechanical stress and the manufacturing process. The company is also working to encourage broader adoption of RFID identification across the tyre industry.
For motorists, the main takeaway is that an RFID-equipped tyre is not automatically a connected tracking device. Its primary function is to provide a reliable digital identity for the tyre, helping manufacturers and service providers manage the product from production to recycling.
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