Abstract: A method of estimating the available grip margin of a tire of a vehicle rolling on a ground involves: estimating a quantity Rslip ca, i.e., the ratio of the slip contact area and the total contact area of the tire on the ground; determining, in a signal processing unit, the grip potential used P?,used and/or the available grip margin of the tire P?,avail from the quantity and pre-established data corresponding to the type of the tire, where P?,avail=1?P?,used; and recording in a memory the grip potential used and/or the available grip margin of the tire.

Abstract: In a method of detecting an occurrence of hydroplaning of a tire of a vehicle travelling on wet ground, a tread of the tire of the vehicle is equipped with one or more sensors each capable of measuring a compression experienced locally by the tread when the tire is rolling on the ground and of producing a signal corresponding to these measurements. According to the method, measurements are obtained of a compression when the tire is rolling on the ground; a signal corresponding to these measurements is produced; a portion of the signal relating to a passing of one or more sensors into an apparent area of contact between the tire and the ground is extracted; an instantaneous value (?E, Rz), corresponding to a presence of an indirect contact region of the apparent area of contact between the tread and the ground, is determined from the extracted portion of the signal; and an alarm is triggered when the instantaneous value satisfies a given relationship.

Abstract: A method of estimating the height of water (hw) that is present on a wet ground of a road and that is in contact with a tread of a tire of a vehicle travelling on this wet road utilizes one or more sensors in the tread of the tire. Each of the one or more sensors is capable of measuring a characteristic quantity of stresses that the tread experiences locally when the tire is rolling on the ground. A signal corresponding to these measurements is produced, and a portion of this signal relating to a passing of the one or more sensors into an apparent area of contact between the tire and the ground is extracted. An instantaneous value (?L), relating to a length of an indirect contact region of the apparent area of contact between the tread of the tire and the ground, is determined from this information, and a water height (hw) is estimated from a calculation that takes into account the determined instantaneous value.

Abstract: In a method of detecting hydroplaning and estimating an intensity of hydroplaning of a tire of a vehicle travelling over a wet ground of a road, measurements are made of stresses in the tread of the tire, a water height present on the road is estimated, and, based on the measured stresses and the estimated water height, hydroplaning is detected and its intensity is estimated.

Abstract: A tire provided with a Seebeck effect thermoelectric generator to deliver electrical power to a member, the generator comprising a cold pole and a hot pole respectively in contact with a cold element and a hot element, the hot element forming a portion of the tire.

Abstract: A method of estimating the available grip margin of a tire of a vehicle rolling on a ground involves: estimating a quantity Rslip ca, i.e., the ratio of the slip contact area and the total contact area of the tire on the ground; determining, in a signal processing unit, the grip potential used P?,used and/or the available grip margin of the tire P?,avail from the quantity and pre-established data corresponding to the type of the tire, where P?,avail=1?P?,used; and recording in a memory the grip potential used and/or the available grip margin of the tire.

Abstract: A system for estimating the maximal grip coefficient ? in the contact area of a tire on a road. A tire tread is fitted with at least one tread sensor for measuring at least the tangential stresses which the tread experiences locally when the tire rolls on the ground. a signal processing unit and means for transmitting to the processing unit at least one signal delivered by the tread sensor are provided. The processing unit comprises means for finding in the signal the values corresponding to the sensor passing through the contact area of the tire on the ground, means for calculating an instantaneous value of a preselected criterion as a function of a series of values chosen from those relating to the sensor passing through the contact area, and means for extracting an estimate of the maximal grip coefficient ? by using the said instantaneous value.

Abstract: A method of estimating the height of water (hw) that is present on a wet ground of a road and that is in contact with a tread of a tire of a vehicle travelling on this wet road utilizes one or more sensors in the tread of the tire. Each of the one or more sensors is capable of measuring a characteristic quantity of stresses that the tread experiences locally when the tire is rolling on the ground. A signal corresponding to these measurements is produced, and a portion of this signal relating to a passing of the one or more sensors into an apparent area of contact between the tire and the ground is extracted. An instantaneous value (?L), relating to a length of an indirect contact region of the apparent area of contact between the tread of the tire and the ground, is determined from this information, and a water height (hw) is estimated from a calculation that takes into account the determined instantaneous value.

Abstract: In a method of detecting hydroplaning and estimating an intensity of hydroplaning of a tire of a vehicle travelling over a wet ground of a road, measurements are made of stresses in the tread of the tire, a water height present on the road is estimated, and, based on the measured stresses and the estimated water height, hydroplaning is detected and its intensity is estimated.