42nd Annual Conference

2023 Conference Theme: Intelligent Tire

September 12 – 13, 2023

The University of Akron, Jean Hower Taber Student Union Ball Room, Akron Ohio, USA

Our 2023 conference will be fully in-person, however a PLAY ON DEMAND recorded video option is available for those that are not able to attend in-person. Presentation videos will be available for viewing a few weeks after the conference concludes.

The Tire Society – the scientific professional organization for the tire industry – welcomes authors and interested individuals to its 42nd Annual Tire Science and Technology Meeting and Conference.

This annual conference is a forum for engineers, scientists, users, policymakers, students, and advocates to learn about innovations that will drive our industry in the years ahead. By effectively communicating our knowledge and research, we can influence practices and policies and inspire innovation at all levels.

The Conference will include:

• Technical paper presentations
• A keynote address by an industry leader
• A plenary lecture by a recognized technical speaker
• Live panel discussions
• Sponsor exhibits
• An awards banquet with a technical speaker
• Networking and continuing education
• Distinguished service award nomination results & presentations

Keynote Speaker – Dave Johansen

Title of Talk: TBD

Mr. Johansen has over 25 years of experience in the tire industry, with expertise in tire design, vehicle testing and simulation, and manufacturing process control. He joined Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. in 2015. SRI is a leading manufacturer of automotive tires with over 40,000 employees and operates 12 manufacturing facilities located in 8 different countries. SRI is headquartered in Kobe, Japan where Mr. Johansen worked as a manager of tire design from 2017-2019. Since 2019, he is responsible for the SRI North American Technical Center in Buffalo NY and Huntsville AL. Mr. Johansen holds a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University. He has been a USTMA member since 2019.

Plenary Speaker – Dr. Burkhard Wies

Title of Talk: Challenges & Opportunities of Intelligent Tires to Support Vehicle Performance & Services

Dr. Wies has held a number of management positions in Tire Development and Industrialization for Replacement and Original Equipment, since he joined Continental in 1999. Prior to that he was a Tire Development Engineer and Section Head at Uniroyal Englebert Gmh in Aachen, Germany. He is a Program Committee member of VDI (German Association of Engineers) and, for 18 years, was Program Manager for Tire-Suspension- Road VDI-Congress. Dr. Wies is a member of the Tire Society Executive Committee Board. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Technical University RWTH Aachen and lectures at Leibniz University, Hannover, Germany.

Banquet Speaker – Judy Curran

Title of Talk: Automotive Trends and the ‘Art of the Possible’ with Simulation

Judy Curran is an accomplished senior automotive and software executive with over 30 years of experience in automotive/mobility engineering, and technology leadership. She currently is the Sr. Chief Technologist (CTO) Automotive at Ansys; partnering with OEMs and suppliers in their digital transformation. She is also an independent corporate board director at FORVIA, and MicroVision providing guidance on the automotive industry, and key technologies.  Incrementally, Judy is an independent director of the SAE International, and was elected to the Top 100 Women in the Automotive Industry by Automotive News. She holds a MSEE from University of Michigan.