Goodyear Tire and rubber seeks approval on 433 MHz for TPMS
JACK
73 & Gud DX
K4WSB /C6A VP2MSB
#1 DXCC 340/357
ET Docket No. 26-153
Comment Date: July 16, 2026
Reply Comment Date: July 31, 2026
By this Public Notice, we seek comment on a request by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company (Goodyear) to waive Section 15.231(e) of our rules to obtain a grant of equipment authorization for future deployments of its tire mounted sensor system (TMS) operating on an unlicensed basis under part 15 of the Commission’s rules in the 433 MHz band.1
Tony N2MFT, President
Mid Florida DX Association W4FDX
www.W4FDX.com
813-318-1700 mobile
DXCC/WAS/WAC/VUCC/IARU Card Checker and VE Coordinator
Ham radio
The second proposal was released by the FCC one day before the GMRS waiver request above.
In this waiver request, the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology is seeking comments on a waiver request by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.to transmit data on frequencies in the 433-MHz amateur radio band.
Goodyear is seeking to employ a tire-mounted sensor system (TMS) on an unlicensed Part 15 basis in the 433-MHz band. These frequencies also are used by other unlicensed devices such as remote thermometers and weather stations, garage door openers, pet trackers, car lock remotes and more. These applications are regulated under Part 15 as industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) use. The band of 433.050 through 434.790 MHz, with a center frequency of 433.920 MHz, is authorized for license-free operation. This segment is in the middle of the amateur radio band from 420-450 MHz and also is shared with government and military users for radar systems.
Under band plan guidelines posted by the American Radio Relay League, the 433 to 435 MHz band is used by amateur radio operators for auxiliary and repeater links. Thus, the band allows repeaters to be tied together with radio frequencies. A series of 2-meter repeaters in the 144- to 148-MHz ham band can be tied together with a series of link transmitters and receivers in the 70cm 433 to 435 MHz band.
Goodyear’s TMS project is called SightLine and is designed to measure tire pressure, triaxial acceleration, tire temperature, load, wear and friction potential. Wonder how your tires would perform on a curve on a hot day? This TMS system apparently would be able to tell you on your dashboard, based on publicly available Goodyear studies.
This is how the system would work, based on the FCC proposal:
— “A sensor located within the wheel and affixed to the inner liner of the tire cavity collects tire data and transmits it to a controller via a 433-MHz signal in short frequency bursts.
— “The electronic control unit then wirelessly receives this information and integrates it with inputs from vehicle chassis sensors.
— “Special software in the control unit then processes the data received and shows the data and any vehicle safety alerts on a display on the instrument panel.”
The waiver request applies to FCC rule 15.231(e), which deals with low-power, license-free devices, even though they operate in segments such as amateur radio bands. These devices are known as “intentional radiators.” This rule section states that devices must incorporate a means for automatically limiting operation so that the duration of each transmission is not greater than one second and the silent period between transmissions shall be at least 30 times the duration of the transmission, but never less than 10 seconds.
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The real-time determination of a tire’s peak grip potential is displayed on a vehicle dashboard as seen in a publicly available Goodyear research document. The image is blurry as copied from the document. | Image courtesy of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.
Goodyear’s waiver request deals with the periodic data transmission timing requirement written in rule 15.231(e), stating its system requires a short period of frequent transmissions when initialized to collect enough data for accurate tire status and atmospheric conditions. It also claims in its filing that without the complete set of initial data that the vehicle may not receive prompt warnings about critical tire, load or operational issues. Goodyear also said that their requested rule waiver would serve the public interest by enabling prompt detection of hazardous tire conditions and improving overall vehicle safety and performance.
Our concern is that the frequencies proposed for Goodyear’s system could cause potential interference to amateur auxiliary and repeater links operating in the ISM band. Amateur use is primary over Part 15 radiators, but until interference is identified, it still can cause problems. This is inherent in the fact that vehicles traveling on roadways will be sending out these signals no matter where they are located, whether out in the middle of nowhere or within range of a ham repeater link.
The FCC also is inviting comments on this proposal and if you have concerns as a licensed ham, file your comments with the FCC. You can file comments electronically at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs and make reference to ET Docket 26-153. Initial comments are requested with a July 16 deadline, with comments on those replies filed by July 31. Additionally, the FCC is asking commenters to send a copy of their filings to Aole Wilkins El, Office of Engineering and Technology, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington DC 20002, or by email to aole.wi...@fcc.gov.
Write in
How do you feel about these two proposals for data transmissions in the GMRS and amateur radio bands? Did you or will you file comments? Do you think commenting will make a difference? Do you think either of these two systems may cause interference to GMRS and ham radio operators? Send your comments to: Editor, National Communications Magazine, PO Box 1, Aledo IL 61231-0001, or via email to edi...@NatComMag.com