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Short answer: An RFID tyre tag, often called a tyre chip, is a passive UHF RFID tag that gives one individual tyre its own scannable ID. ISO 20909:2019 considers three ways to fit it: embedded inside the tyre when it is made, a patch attached afterwards, or an adhesive sticker. Tyre makers embed the tag before curing, retreaders and fleets retrofit patch-type tags, and under RAIN Alliance and GS1 guidance the ID is a GS1 SGTIN-96 serial number, locked so it cannot be changed.
This guide is for Indian tyre makers and exporters, retreaders tracking casing history, and truck and bus fleet managers still logging sidewall numbers on paper.
What is an RFID tyre tag (tyre chip)?
An RFID tyre tag is a passive UHF transponder, a chip joined to an antenna, fixed to or built into a tyre so a reader can identify that specific tyre without line of sight. Buyers also call it a tyre chip, tyre RFID sticker or RFID tag for tyres. It has no battery.
ISO 20909:2019, "Radio frequency identification (RFID) tyre tags", specifies requirements for using an RFID tag to identify a tyre individually, and notes that tyre tags can be used for all tyre categories. Companion standards ISO 20910 and ISO 20911 cover how the ID is coded and how the tag is attached.
Why not a barcode? Sidewall markings are slow to log by hand and printed labels rarely last, while a UHF tag can often be read through rubber and dirt, depending on tag type and position. At RAIN in Action Madrid 2026, Gabriel Gomez of the mechanical tyre recycling branch of EuRIC, the European Recycling Industries' Confederation, backed RFID for tyre recycling.
Embedded, patch or sticker RFID tyre tag: what is the difference?
ISO 20909 considers three tag technologies. An embedded tag is built into the tyre and cured with it, so in practice the tyre maker fits it. A patch tag is encapsulated in rubber and attached after the tyre is made. A sticker tag is an adhesive label on the surface. They differ mainly in permanence.
| Question | Embedded tag | Patch tag | Sticker tag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | Inside the casing, placed before curing | Bonded to a finished tyre, typically the inner liner | Adhesive label on the tyre surface |
| Who fits it | Tyre maker, before curing | Tyre maker, retreader or service shop | Maker, distributor, warehouse or fleet |
| Can it be removed? | No, it is part of the tyre | Only by damaging the patch | Easily peeled, worn off or lost |
| Retreading | Stays with the casing | Depends on position and bond; test it | Not a retreading ID; expect to replace it |
| Best suited to | Lifetime ID, retread count, end-of-life | Retrofit to tyres in service | Logistics and short-term tracking |
Placement matters for every type: steel cords and metal rims detune a nearby antenna. Our guide to choosing on-metal RFID tags explains the physics; in practice, test the exact tag and position on your own tyres.
Which tyre RFID tag fits a tyre maker, a retreader or a fleet?
Tyre makers fit embedded tags, because the tag has to be placed in the tyre before it is cured. Retreaders read any existing tag when a casing arrives and add a patch where there is none. Fleets retrofit patch-type tags to tyres already on their vehicles and read them during inspections.
| Buyer | Tag type | What to specify | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyre maker or exporter | Embedded | SGTIN-96 per ISO 20910, write-and-verify point on the line, EPC permalock, Kill disabled | Must be qualified for your compound and cure |
| Retreader | Read the embedded tag, or add a patch | Read point at casing intake, retread count held against the EPC | Do not assume a retrofit tag survives a retread cure; test it |
| Truck or bus fleet | Patch-type tag bonded to the tyre; stickers only for stock and dispatch | Temperature range, IP rating, tamper evidence, EPC mapped to wheel position | Rims, steel belts and dual wheels affect reads; pilot first |
Can I buy an RFID tyre sticker or patch tag in India?
Yes, for retrofit. Identium Tech Solutions Pvt Ltd, the New Delhi RFID manufacturer behind India RFID Store, lists UHF tyre tags for fitting to a finished tyre. India RFID Store does not list tags for curing inside a tyre during manufacture; a tyre maker needing embedded tags can ask in its enquiry whether one can be supplied.
| Model | Format | Chip | Listed specifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| IDTS-TT10 RFID Tyre Tag | Adhesive mounting, tyre-rubber material, 130 x 85 x 3.5 mm; listed as non-removable without destroying the tag; a tamper-evident version is listed, confirm availability with your quote | Alien Higgs 3/4 or Impinj Monza 4/4QT | 840-960 MHz, EPC Class 1 Gen 2 / ISO 18000-6C, 512-bit, IP68, -40 to +85 °C |
| ID-9050-U8 UHF RFID Tire Tag, 90 x 50 mm | Label or inlay on a flexible, thin substrate; mounting and temperature not stated, so confirm with your quote | NXP UCODE 8/9/9xe/9xm | 860-960 MHz, EPC 128-496 bits |
The IDTS-TT10 sits in our UHF RFID tags range. Its listed tyre-rubber body and non-removable bond put it closest to the patch type above, not a peel-off sticker. We do not claim these tags comply with ISO 20909, 20910, 20911 or 20912; if your customer requires a standard, name it in your enquiry. Read range depends on the reader, antenna, tag position and tyre, so run a pilot.
How do I program the ID on an RFID tyre tag?
The RAIN Alliance and GS1 tyre identification guideline names a 96-bit Serialized Global Trade Item Number, the GS1 SGTIN-96 that ISO 20910 specifies for tyres, as the unique identifier. The same guidance includes permalocking the EPC memory and disabling the Kill function, so the ID cannot be rewritten or permanently silenced during the tyre's life.
An SGTIN adds a serial number to the GS1 trade item number for the tyre model, so identical tyres still carry different IDs. Our SGTIN-96 EPC encoding guide walks through the bit layout. For a tyre programme:
- Use your GS1 company prefix and an item reference per tyre model.
- Allocate serials from one controlled register so no number is reused.
- Write the EPC, read it back and verify it, then permalock it.
- Disable the Kill function.
- Keep fitment and retread history in software keyed to the EPC, not on the tag.
Which RFID scanner reads tyre tags in a fleet depot?
A practical starting point is a handheld UHF RFID scanner. An inspector walks each vehicle, reads every wheel position and records tread depth and pressure against the tag ID. Fixed gate readers come later, once tag and reader placement are proven on your tyres.
- Fix tags in the same position on every tyre.
- Read wheel positions in a fixed order and confirm the app shows the expected tyre.
- Log rotations and removals as they happen.
See UHF RFID handheld readers and RFID gate readers. At a gate, the outer tyre and rim can shadow inner duals, and speed shortens the read window. In India, UHF readers use 865-868 MHz, licence-exempt under G.S.R. 853(E) of 10 December 2021 at up to 2 W e.r.p., and every reader model still needs WPC Equipment Type Approval. The CX1500N handheld is among the BIS-registered and WPC type-approved reader models listed on our certifications page. Passive tags do not transmit on their own, and our WPC approvals cover reader models, not tags.
Can a tyre chip count how many times a casing is retreaded?
Retreading puts a new tread on an old casing, so the casing is the asset that needs a permanent ID. In a May 2026 presentation for AIM, the automatic identification industry body, Randall Grein of Hana and Peter Ramirez of Michelin North America said an RFID chip embedded in the casing enables automated tracking of how many times a tyre has been retreaded. The count itself is kept in software keyed to the tag ID.
In their account, tagging retreadable truck and bus radial (TBR) and off-the-road (OTR) tyres made sense from the start, and use is now moving towards passenger car radial (PCR) tyres. The tag is built for vulcanisation and road use, testing found no detrimental effect on the tyre, and it outlives the tyre as a permanent, non-removable identifier into recycling. These are the speakers' own views.
Indian retreaders should read every casing at intake and, where no tag is embedded, test a patch through their buffing and curing steps before relying on it.
Does the EU digital product passport affect Indian tyre exporters?
It may, later this decade. The European Commission's digital product passport (DPP) page, read on 8 October 2026, indicates adoption of delegated acts under ESPR (the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation) for textiles, aluminium and tyres in Q3-Q4 2027. That is an indicative timetable, not an adopted rule, and nothing on the page makes RFID mandatory for tyres.
The Commission says a digital data carrier, with a QR code as its example, links a product to its passport, and for imports this can be checked at customs. The RAIN Alliance describes GDSO (the Global Data Service Organisation for Tyres and Automotive Components) as an EU DPP-compliant protocol for tyre data exchange. Serialising tyres with an SGTIN now keeps an exporter's options open. Our digital product passport guide for Indian exporters covers the mechanics from the textile side.
Planning a tyre-tagging pilot? Ask about samples of the IDTS-TT10 to test on your own tyres and rims, and request a quote from Identium for tags and handheld readers; if you need tags pre-encoded, say so in your enquiry. Quantities, pricing and timelines are confirmed with your quote.
Frequently asked questions
What is a tyre chip?
A tyre chip is the everyday name for an RFID tyre tag: a passive UHF chip and antenna giving one tyre a unique ID. A reader identifies it without line of sight.
Can an RFID tyre sticker be fitted to tyres already in service?
Yes, but use a patch-type tag bonded to the tyre; an ISO 20909 sticker tag suits logistics and can wear off in service. Pilot the tag on your own tyre sizes and rims first.
Can your tyre tags be embedded in a tyre during manufacture?
Not as listed. Our tyre tags are listed for fitting to a finished tyre (the IDTS-TT10 is adhesive-mounted), not for curing inside it. A tyre maker needing embedded tags can ask in its enquiry whether one can be supplied.
What data should an RFID tyre tag carry?
The RAIN Alliance and GS1 guideline names the GS1 SGTIN-96, as specified for tyres in ISO 20910, as the unique identifier, with the EPC permalocked and the Kill function disabled. Keep service history in software keyed to that ID.
Do I need a licence to use a tyre tracking scanner in India?
UHF RFID in 865-868 MHz is licence-exempt under G.S.R. 853(E) of 2021 at up to 2 W e.r.p., but each reader model needs WPC Equipment Type Approval. Check your reader model is approved and verify current rules with WPC.
Will RFID be mandatory for tyres exported to the EU?
Not on current information. The European Commission indicates the tyre delegated act for Q3-Q4 2027 and names a QR code as the example data carrier. Verify final requirements with the Commission.
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