INTEGRATED TREAD WEAR SENSOR AND TPMS CONTAINER FOR A TIRE

An integrated tread wear sensor and tire pressure monitoring system sensor unit container (10) for a tire (12) is disclosed. It includes a tread wear sensor plug (44), the tread wear sensor plug (44) including: a cylindrical projection (56) for extending through an opening formed in a selected tread element of the tire (12); a flange (58) extending outwardly from the projection (56), the flange (58) including a contact surface (90) for being mounted to an innerliner (26) of the tire (10); and a conductive wire (60) disposed in the tread wear sensor plug (44), the wire including proximal ends (62) disposed in the flange (58) and a distal end (64) disposed near a radially outer surface of the projection (56); and a sensor container (38), the sensor container (38) including: a wall (78) extending radially from the flange (58) of the tread wear sensor plug (44), the wall (78) terminating in a lip (80); and a container cavity (88) defined by the flange (58), the wall (78), and the lip (80), the container cavity (88) being configured for receiving a tire pressure monitoring system sensor (28). Also, a tire (12) comprising such an integrated tread wear sensor and tire pressure monitoring system sensor unit container (10) I disclosed.