The Austrian company Anyline has introduced a simple yet powerful app called TireBuddy, which can determine a tire’s tread wear level in just a few seconds.

The app is downloaded onto a smartphone, using the phone’s camera as a tire-reading tool. When a customer arrives, the technician can scan the vehicle’s VIN to open a personalized record. By then taking a photo of the tire’s sidewall, the app’s artificial intelligence identifies the tire and retrieves its specifications. The technician then only needs to scan the tire’s surface for the app to assess its level of wear.

For repair shops, this tool is invaluable — fast, accurate, and capable of producing a detailed, color-coded report for the customer, ranging from green to yellow to red.

“The image speaks for itself, and the numbers will convince the customer that it’s time to replace their tires,” explains Lukas Kinigadner, founder of the company.

The tire wear diagnostic report can easily be integrated into a complete inspection report, another feature that builds customer trust. Replacing a tire is made even easier since the app automatically displays the exact size, load index, and speed rating for the correct tire match.

Mr. Kinigadner also points out that the app’s digital tire analysis can detect abnormal wear patterns, indicating when a wheel alignment should be recommended to the customer.