OTR Engineered Solutions debuted its AI-powered TreadIQ platform, designed to empower OTR engineers in designing custom off-the-road tires and tread patterns for OEMs and distributors.
According to OTR, the tool helps reduce time to market by helping engineers and customers finalize a tire concept in as little as one day. With TreadIQ, OTR says its engineers can input customer preferences for tread styling and performance, and the system will instantly generate functional 3D tire concepts.
“TreadIQ is truly the first of its kind in the off-the-road tire and track market,” says Patrick Sexton, global vice president of engineering and innovation at OTR. “We’ve eliminated the back-and-forth design churn, and now a process that used to take months can be done in a day. It’s a total game changer.”
In addition to creating 3D models, OTR says TreadIQ produces detailed trade-off analyses, allowing the company’s engineers and customers to compare performance features of the various tread patterns generated. The tool assesses traction, ride quality, handling and other characteristics, helping customers decide on a concept that meets their needs for aesthetics and performance. Customers can also see how their proprietary branding fits on tire models in real time.
“In today’s world, AI is a term that can spark both excitement and apprehension,” Sexton says. “Our vision is one that is empowering both our engineers and our customers. We aren’t replacing human creativity with computer modeling; we’re enhancing and expanding how far it can go and, as a result, what we as a company can produce.”
OEMs and distributors that wish to use this service can request an in-person workshop. Engineers can meet with customers on-site to collaborate on tire design, and online workshops can also be arranged if an on-site meeting is not feasible. After a design concept is frozen in these meetings, OTR’s engineers can then produce a full-sized 3D-printed prototype, perform confirmation testing and work quickly to advance the process toward full production.
