Tomorrow's technology - tires that warn you of problems

Some folks are already driving cars that continuously monitor the air pressure in each tire. These folks moved the smarts from the wheel to the tire itself ...

"Smart" tires can warn of impending flat - Yahoo! News:
"CHICAGO (Reuters) - An experimental tire can sense damage and warn drivers of a potential flat, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday, offering the latest advance in 'smart' car technology.

Manufacturers already make tires that can warn drivers when tire pressure is too low but researchers at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, have found a way to make the whole tire into a type of sensor.
. . . "

At least initially, it looks like this technology will get a pretty stiff markup:

"He said the technology would cost manufacturers about $1 per tire, translating into something like $50 per tire for consumers."