PRODUCT

Tire Grip Indicator

Real-time tire-road friction estimation software powering safer driving and autonomous vehicle systems.
BOOK A DEMO
Mask Group 36-1

Revolutionizing driver awareness through real-time tire grip estimation

Awareness changes driving behavior. When drivers know the available tire grip, they naturally adapt – driving more dynamically on high-friction surfaces and more cautiously when grip is limited. The challenge arises when conditions change unexpectedly. A dry asphalt road can suddenly become slippery, and without real-time friction information, neither the driver nor the vehicle system may recognize the reduced grip until it is too late.

Tire Grip Indicator (TGI) by NIRA eliminates that uncertainty. As a software-only solution requiring no additional sensors, TGI continuously estimates the friction between tire and road by analyzing wheel speed signals and other automotive-grade sensor data. By calculating accurate, real-time friction values that account for both road surface and tire characteristics, TGI provides the grip awareness needed to support safer driving and enable autonomous vehicle systems.

 
tire grip

Winter Road Insights

Real-time road friction data for proactive winter maintenance.

Enhancing road safety through real-time tire-road friction data, WRI transforms connected vehicle insights into actionable intelligence for road owners and operators. By detecting slipperiness and changing surface conditions across the road network, WRI enables efficient, data-driven and proactive winter maintenance.
Explore Winter Road Insights
Winter road insights
Road Health

Road Health

Road condition monitoring using connected vehicle data. 

High-frequency measurements of road roughness, tire-road friction and surface irregularities enable Road Health to transform connected vehicle data into objective road condition insights. By continuously monitoring road conditions across the network, Road Health supports road inspectors, enables smarter maintenance planning and reduces operational costs. 
Explore Road Health

Continuous friction monitoring 

By continuously monitoring the friction between the tire and the road using wheel speed signals and other automotive-grade sensors, TGI provides accurate friction values while accounting for both road and tire properties.

Operates before slip control activation  

 TGI is especially innovative as it operates even under normal driving conditions, when slip control functions such as ABS, traction control, or ESC are still far from being activated. 

Software-driven safety and performance 

Offering both driver support and vehicle assistance, TGI enhances not only safety but also performance — using software alone.

Increasing driver awareness. And enabling autonomy while we’re at it.

TGI is especially innovative as it works even under normal defensive driving conditions when slip control functions such as the ABS, traction control or ESC are still far from becoming active. Although TGI could well be integrated with advanced vehicle systems such as Automatic Emergency Braking or Adaptive Cruise Control, at the core it’s a true driver awareness device. That’s not to say the driver has to be a person. In fact, solving what is widely considered to be a key issue when it comes to autonomous driving – that’s tire grip prediction – TGI is a real enabler for the self-driving cars of the future. And it’s ready for series implementation today.
däck-TGI

Having driven “to the moon and back” – thirty times – from the desert heat of Death Valley to the blistering cold of northern Sweden, using more than 20 000 different tires, we’ve learnt a thing or two about road friction. With Tire Grip Indicator, all that experience will be yours – in a cost efficient, easy-to-implement software solution.
kamm-cirkel-vit

TGI estimates the friction between the tire and the road under normal driving conditions – long before ABS, ESC or traction control are activated. This means that the tire grip is monitored at all times.
frictionkurva-vit2-1

TGI is able to accurately estimate the total available friction by using only a part of the friction potential – thus being able to foresee the available friction before a critical situation occurs.

Use cases - Tire Grip Indicator:

Torque Distribution in 4WD electric vehicles

Electric vehicle

Pre-set the torque distribution way to decide when the secondary engine shall be used. Improving performance and comfort by not reaching the slip limit before activating 4WD.
  • The torque control function shall use the most efficient engine and the most efficient operating point as possible in order to optimize range.
  • The second engine shall be applied when necessary due to high torque request or low tire grip.
  • TGI can provide the torque distribution function with valuable information concerning friction in order to decide when the secondary engine shall be used.

“Pre-set the torque distribution way before reaching the slip limit toimprove performance and comfort”

Dynamic ACC

TGI_2

Pre-set the torque distribution way to decide when the secondary engine shall be used. Improving performance and comfort by not reaching the slip limit before activating 4WD.
  • Dynamic ACC adjust the cruise control to the curvature of the road and slows down in curves when the lateral accelerations become larger.
  • Friction information can further increase the safety by also adopting the distance to the vehicle in the front with respect to the road conditions and brake distance.

“Restrict the shortest time gaps to the car in front during slipperiness to avoid unsafe settings”

Breake blending in electric and hybrid vehicles

NIRA-drive

In order to extend the range, the electric engine should do as much regenerative braking as possible. Most electrical vehicles are limiting the regeneration, but friction information can extend the operating envelope of the recuperation without compromising with safety.
  • In order to extend the range, the electric engine should do as much regenerative braking as possible
  • Most electrical vehicles are limiting the regeneration at 3 m/s², far from what electrical system can handle
  • Friction information can extend the operating envelope of the recuperation without compromising with safety

The grip indicator – in less than a minute

A high-performance software solution, Tire Grip Indicator detects monitors the slip of the road surface continously. Here’s how it works.

Learn More About Tire Grip Indicator

Q&A

Frequently Asked Questions about Tire Grip Indicator (TGI):
What is Tire Grip Indicator TGI?

Tire Grip Indicator TGI is a software based solution developed by NIRA Dynamics that continuously estimates available tire to road friction during normal driving conditions. The system analyzes existing vehicle sensor data to provide early insight into changing grip levels, including before traditional stability control systems such as ABS or ESC are activated.
What does Tire Grip Indicator measure?

Tire Grip Indicator estimates the available friction between the tire and the road surface. This friction value reflects the current grip level and provides insight into changing road conditions such as wet, snowy or icy surfaces.
How does Tire Grip Indicator work?

Tire Grip Indicator analyzes data from existing vehicle sensors, including wheel speed and other signals available in the vehicle. By processing these signals with advanced algorithms, TGI continuously estimates the available friction between tire and road without requiring additional hardware.
When is Tire Grip Indicator active?

Tire Grip Indicator operates during normal driving, even before traditional slip control systems such as ABS or ESC are activated. This enables continuous estimation of available tire grip without requiring large wheel slip events.
How does Tire Grip Indicator improve safety?

By continuously estimating available tire to road friction, TGI provides early awareness of reduced grip before loss of traction occurs. This enables drivers and vehicle systems to adapt to changing road conditions, reducing the risk of loss of control in situations such as wet, snowy or icy surfaces.
Can Tire Grip Indicator support advanced driver assistance systems?

Yes. The friction estimation provided by Tire Grip Indicator can be used as input to vehicle control and assistance systems. Access to real time grip information supports improved vehicle stability and control strategies.
How does Tire Grip Indicator support autonomous driving systems?

Accurate knowledge of available tire to road friction is important for automated and autonomous driving systems. Tire Grip Indicator provides continuous friction estimation that can enhance environmental awareness for such systems.
How is Tire Grip Indicator integrated into vehicles?

Tire Grip Indicator is integrated into existing electronic control units using already available vehicle sensor data. No additional sensors or dedicated hardware are required, as friction estimation is performed through advanced signal processing within the vehicle’s existing architecture. 
What makes Tire Grip Indicator TGI by NIRA unique?

Tire Grip Indicator provides continuous estimation of tire to road friction during normal driving without additional sensors. By delivering real time grip information through software, it enables early awareness of changing road conditions and supports advanced vehicle functionality.
How does Tire Grip Indicator enhance dynamic adaptive cruise control?

Dynamic adaptive cruise control adjusts vehicle speed based on road curvature and traffic conditions. By providing real time friction estimation, Tire Grip Indicator enables the system to adapt following distance according to road conditions and available brake distance. This supports safer time gaps to the vehicle in front during low grip situations such as wet or icy roads. 
Events Infrastructure News

Meet us at the World Congress on Road Winter Service, Resilience and Decarbonisation

Events Infrastructure News

We’re going to Transport Technology Forum (TTF Live), 16–18 March 2026

Events Automotive News

We’re heading to Berlin for Tech.AD Europe 2026

Events Infrastructure News

Meet Us at the RSGB National Analysts Conference – Joining the Dots, 3 March 2026

Automotive News Infrastructure News

Looking Back at 2025 – A Year of Progress, Partnerships, and Impact

All news
Stay updated

Keep up with the latest through our monthly newsletter

Subscribe to newsletter
Contact us

Learn how to harness the power of Tire Grip Indicator