Michelin rolls out AI-powered retread system, predictive trailer tire monitoring

NASHVILLE—Michelin introduced two new technologies at the 2026 TMC Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition, both designed to give fleets more control over their tire performance and efficiency.

The solutions—TreadVision for retreading and Smart Predictive Tire—aim to reduce downtime by turning tire data into actionable insights and maintenance decisions for Class 7 and 8 fleets.

Retreading with AI

Michelin’s new TreadVision brings automation, robotics, and AI into what has traditionally been a technician-driven process.

“Retreading has long been one of the smartest tools fleets have when it comes to efficient and sustainable operations,” said Emily Ledbetter, retread marketing manager at Michelin, during the press conference, explaining that the process helps control operating costs, improves asset utilization, and reduces the number of tires that end up in landfills. “But like many manufacturing processes, it’s historically been extremely manual.”

The new system replaces much of that traditional work through TreadEye, a key component of the system. The laser-based measurement system captures roughly 1,200 tread depth data points per tire.

That level of detail gives fleets better insight into:

• Optimal pull points
• Casing health
• Wear trends across the tire

It also removes some of the human inconsistency from inspections.

“It's probably safe to say that none of us standing here today are 100% accurate and consistent in our work on a daily basis,” Ledbetter noted. “With TreadVision, we're incorporating artificial intelligence to classify those shearography results, improving inspection objectivity and helping ensure consistent decision making across all the plants within the Michelin retread technologies network.”

Beyond measurement, TreadVision incorporates AI-powered inspection to flag casing defects, making sure only suitable casings make it through the retread processes.

Michelin is rolling out elements of the system now, with TreadEye already deployed across some North American retread plants and expanding over the next year.

Predictive trailer tire monitoring

Michelin Connected Fleet also launched its Smart Predictive Tire solution for Class 7–8 trailers, focused on catching tire issues before they lead to roadside failures.

The system combines real-time pressure and temperature monitoring with Michelin’s Smart Leak predictive algorithm to identify early tire degradation.

“Emergency roadside service continues to be a major pain point for fleets,” said Damon Newquist, VP of sales. “When there is a tire-related event, the root cause is overwhelmingly attributed to improper inflation.”

Instead of reacting to failures, the system will alert fleet managers and technicians ahead of time, allowing them to plan service before a breakdown occurs.

According to Michelin’s pilot programs, fleets using the system have seen:

• Up to 80% fewer emergency roadside tire events
• Up to 9% longer tire life when underinflation is corrected
• Up to 4% lower fuel consumption with proper inflation

Those gains come from a shift in workflow. Before, a driver experiences a failure or flat tire, leading to a roadside event and downtime. Now, pressure issues can be detected early, maintenance is scheduled proactively, and the vehicle stays in service.

“Our goal is to help fleets avoid the breakdown before it happens,” said Anderson Abernathy, VP of marketing.

The solution is part of Michelin Connected Fleet's Trailer Premium offering and integrates into its existing telematics platform.