Three in 10 (30%) drivers are unsure how to check their tyres properly, so that they are turning to The AA’s new ‘wellness for cars’ app Vixa to determine if they are safe to run.

The AA launches Vixa car wellness app to check vehicle health

Analysis from nearly 11,000 users found that drivers were using Vixa’s AI tyre checking tool where photos can analyse tyre tread, age and wear as well as tears and bulges.

Once photos are uploaded, drivers get a tyre health report, advice on whether their tyres need replacing and if so, are given recommended garages and prices so they can change their tyres with confidence.

Tyres aren’t the only thing that Vixa covers. It also uses AI to monitor engines and batteries, enabling drivers to take preventative steps on around three quarters of breakdowns The AA attends.

By actively monitoring engine and battery health, Vixa alerts drivers to potential issues before they escalate.

A cursory look at the fit tech market shows a breadth of options available to people. Now the car can wear something similar, so it can tell drivers it’s feeling unwell before it actually breaks down.

The AA established AA X to investigate automotive innovation and Vixa is the first output. Vixa works with a car monitoring device – a small plug-in unit that connects to the OBD port (onboard diagnostics) enabling it to run diagnostics. The plug-in device collects data from the car and sends it to AA X who then use this to understand the car’s health and offer proactive solutions.

Vixa is a standalone product which doesn’t require AA membership.

Tom Fawcett, CEO AA X, said: “Vixa is possibly the biggest change in how The AA can help give confidence to drivers now and in the future. It represents a new era of car care that uses connected car insights while putting drivers in control.

“With each car rolling off the factory floor, the levels of technology and data embedded into the car are mind blowing. Rather than thinking about cars as an engine and wheels, we consider them to be software on wheels – data with a bit of metal around it. We have built a dedicated team of engineers, data scientists, research, design and brand experts to help us understand the data and present it to drivers in a clear and concise way.

“Much like wearable fit tech, Vixa provides a health check for your car. The fact that almost a third of Vixa customers are using our AI tyre checking tool shows the potential road safety benefits as tyres are the only things that connect the car to the road.”