A Finnish tyre manufacturer has developed new 3D scanning technology to help drivers easily assess the safety of their tyres.

A study of the safety-related aspects of tyre use showed that 25 percent of tyre-related accidents occurred because the tyre’s tread depth was below the minimum level. Given the difficulty of regularly monitoring the wear and tear of tyres, the company, Nokian, is introducing technology that can “raise drivers’ awareness of the condition of their tyres by making it as easy to access as possible”.

SnapSkan measures tyre tread depth and safety via 3D scanning technology. As the company explains on its website , the driver drives their car over a scanner that reads the tyres. Meanwhile a camera identifies the vehicle by its registration number. After the scan the driver can receive a free report of their tyre information via text or email.

Modern vehicles come equipped with a host of software and hardware designed to save lives, yet tyres, our connection to the road, are often overlooked, with the potential for devastating problems.

It’s not that motorists are unaware of the importance of healthy tyres, but more that it is difficult to keep track of the condition of their tyres.

Nokian Tyres’ President and CEO, Ari Lehtoranta, said, the company hopes its efforts will promote road safety in a simple and easy fashion.

“There is a big change ahead for our industry in the near future,” he said.

“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.”

SnapSkan is currently only available in Finland, but the company expects to export the product in coming years.