Automated Tire Unveils SmartBay Robotic System for Tire Changes and Balancing

Boston-based Automated Tire, Inc. has unveiled SmartBay, an AI-powered robotic platform designed for dealerships, tire shops and service centers. The system handles tire changes, wheel balancing and vehicle inspections with minimal human intervention.

SmartBay uses physical AI, computer vision and machine learning to perform tasks in real time rather than following fixed routines. The platform adapts to each vehicle it encounters. " He said it automates routine and physically demanding work traditionally done by service technicians.

" — Andy Chalofsky (Fox News) The system is the first patented technology that changes tires without removing the wheel from the vehicle. After the car is lifted, SmartBay dismounts the tire directly from the rim while the rim stays on the car. Once the new tire is mounted, the platform performs a process called Real Force Balance.

This balances the entire wheel-end assembly, including all rotating components in the wheel well, rather than balancing only the tire and wheel.

Tire shops have faced challenges finding technicians while electric vehicles require more frequent tire service because of faster wear rates. One technician can manage up to three SmartBay-equipped bays simultaneously. The system fits inside a standard 12-foot service bay without requiring major infrastructure changes.

Initial deployments target a 45-minute door-to-door process for changing and balancing four tires. That time could decrease to 30 minutes as the system learns. A single technician running two or three units in parallel can process roughly 24 tires per hour.