a host article and electronic tag assembly includes an article portion of rubber - based material composition . the electronic device and antenna attach to or are embedded within the article portion . the antenna is constructed to be flexible and at least partially composed of a flexible conductive material such as conductive rubber . the flexible antenna conductive material is selected to provide material composition properties substantially equivalent to the rubber - based article portion , whereby rendering the antenna mechanically compatible for incorporation into the article portion . a change in compression within the rubber - based article portion changes compression forces exerted from the article portion on the antenna arms which , in turn , results in a detectable change in signal strength from the tag . the antenna may further be configured and positioned within the article portion to change transmission characteristics responsive to a change of air pressure in an ambient adjacent air mass within the article , and thereby function as an air pressure sensor .