By ATN
Michelin, a pioneering tire manufacturer and innovative expert in composites, together with Sonatus, a leader in intelligence-driven software-defined vehicle technology, will demonstrate the latest developments of predictive tire health and maintenance at CES 2026. The collaboration highlights how Michelin’s proven SmartLoad and SmartWear technologies, deployed via Sonatus AI Director, deliver real-time insights into tire performance directly within the vehicle.
Traditional tire monitoring systems often rely on pressure sensors or mileage-based estimates, which do not capture inputs like braking intensity, vehicle load, cornering forces and other dynamic conditions that are hard on tires. Michelin’s SmartLoad and SmartWear models analyze these high-frequency vehicle signals to provide continuous, accurate insights into the actual health of a vehicle’s tires, enabling fleets and drivers to optimize tire usage, improve safety, and reduce operational costs. Software-based tire monitoring has the potential to replace legacy sensor hardware and associated costs, effectively virtualizing the sensors and reducing the bill of materials (BOM), which the analyst firm Frost & Sullivan estimates could contribute to cost savings of $1.68 billion by 2030.
Michelin’s expertise in tire physics, modelling and data, combined with Sonatus’s advanced in-vehicle AI orchestration, demonstrates how Michelin Tire Digital Twin, being used for predictive maintenance, can be operationalized at scale. Sonatus Collector AI enables Michelin to calibrate its algorithms for new automakers, while Sonatus AI Director provides secure, containerized deployment across diverse electronic control units (ECU). Together, these technologies allow Michelin’s proprietary models to run at the edge — in-vehicle — reducing reliance on the cloud and protecting sensitive data.
Showcasing Powerful Deployment of Virtual Tires in Next-Generation Vehicle Architectures at CES 2026
“Our demonstrations at CES 2026 showcase how software-defined vehicle platforms can operationalize advanced partner solutions,” said Alexandre Corjon, senior vice president of engineering, Sonatus. “By showcasing Michelin’s SmartLoad and SmartWear through Sonatus Collector AI and Sonatus AI Director, we are illustrating how predictive tire maintenance can be integrated into the vehicle environment, providing a clear view of the potential for safer, more efficient, and more sustainable mobility.”
Michelin Vice President of Michelin Tire Digital Twin, Ali Rezgui confirms the project’s ambitions by stating that, “Michelin SmartLoad and SmartWear showcase how our expertise in tire physics and modelling turns complex data into clear, predictive insights.“These solutions help automakers and fleets extend tire life, improve safety, reduce costs, and support sustainable mobility. Michelin SmartWear and SmartLoad are the first building blocks of a full portfolio that will enable the OEMs to have Tire Digital Twin in their vehicles. As the tire is the vehicle’s only link to the road, its digital twin must be unique, versatile, and integrated with most vehicle dynamic software functions.”
At CES 2026, Michelin’s predictive tire intelligence will come to life through a dynamic demonstration around a 1970 Ford Bronco retrofitted with Sonatus technology. Guests will experience how SmartLoad and SmartWear move beyond traditional monitoring with real-time insights and see, via Michelin’s MyTires application, how these models transform raw vehicle data into actionable insights that enable safer journeys, longer tire life, and reduced operating costs.
Michelin’s SmartLoad and SmartWear applications will be shown at CES 2026 at the Sonatus booth (#5439) in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 6-9, 2026.
For more tire technology news, click here.
