TIRE LOAD ESTIMATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

A tire load estimation system and method is disclosed. The system (10, 100) comprises at least one tire (12) supporting a vehicle (14), the at least one tire (12) including a pair of sidewalls (18) extending to a circumferential tread (20), the tread (20) including a plurality of tread blocks (22), a selected one of the tread blocks (22A) defining or comprising a cavity (26); a magnetic element (28, 82) disposed in the cavity (26), the magnetic element (28, 82) generating a magnetic field; a magnetic sensor (32, 88) disposed in a tire cavity (36) proximate the magnetic element (32, 88) to sense the magnetic field, wherein the magnetic sensor (32, 88) is configured for generating a signal; an electronic module (40) connected to the magnetic sensor (32, 88) by electronic means (42), the electronic module (40) including a processor (44); means for determining a first time interval (T) between peaks of an amplitude of a signal (62) indicating the footprint length of the tire (12) under load on a ground (48); and means for determining a second time interval (T) indicating a full rotation of the tire (12). The electronic module (40) is configured for determining the load on the tire (12) from a ratio of the first time interval (T) to the second time interval (T) at an inflation pressure of the tire (12).