Finland-based tyre manufacturer Nokian Tyres has teamed up with service chain Vianor to launch an innovative tyre monitoring service that uses 3D scanning technology to measure tread depth quickly and efficiently.
The drive-over scanners are designed to be installed along the daily routes of drivers – such as parking lots and service centers – and do not require separate equipment to be installed on the vehicle.
“Too many people are unaware of the condition of their tyres, and the threshold for replacing tyres seems to be high. We want to use this new technology to raise drivers’ awareness of the condition of their tyres by making it as easy to access as possible,” said Ville Nikkola, head of Vianor’s Retail Business Area.
SnapSkan is an entyrely new tread depth measuring and safety tool for tyres. The automated drive-over scanner reads the tyres while a camera identifies the vehicle based on its registration number. When the scan is complete, the driver can opt to receive a personal tyre report by text message or email free of charge, regardless of which manufacturer’s tyres are fitted to the car.
The technical solution was developed in collaboration with Finnish technology partners Futurice and Affecto. The entyre service is enabled by unique 3D scanning technology patented by British Sigmavision.
According to studies, 25% of tyre-related accidents occur because the tread depth is below the minimum level. Driving with tyres in good working condition allows drivers and other road-users to react safely and more quickly.
Taking the hassle out of tyre maintenance, SnapSkan automatically sends the information to the vehicle owner electronically, ensuring that drivers know when they should service or replace their tyres before it’s too late.
Nokian Tyres aims to lead the charge in moving the tyre industry forward by creating innovative, consumer-friendly services that take the stress out of tyre care. The vision of SnapSkan is to promote road safety with millions of people around the world in a quick hassle-free way.
“There is a big change ahead for our industry in the near future. Until now, the tyre sector has lagged clearly behind other industries in terms of digitalisation. It is high time to harness technology to serve motorists with regard to their tyres. The sector needs a bold forerunner,” said Nokian Tyres’ President and CEO, Ari Lehtoranta.
“It’s our job to make our roads and environment safer. Our company’s roots stretch back to 1898, and we have been at the forefront since then, providing a range of products and services related to road-users’ safety. We launched the world’s first winter tyre and now we are launching the first service to report to motorists on tyre safety directly by email or text message.”
The first SnapSkan scanning point will be taken into use along the access road to the Q-Park Iso Erottaja underground car park in Helsinki, Finland. In the near future, scanning points will also be rolled out elsewhere in Finland, and later they can be found in all Vianor outlets in Finland. The service will also be introduced in several other countries in forthcoming years.