Have you ever noticed that new car tires are covered in rubbery, stubbly hairs? Don’t believe the rumors: they’re not for noise reduction or indicating tire wear, they are simply a by-product of the manufacturing process.
The small rubber prongs are technically known as vent spews, although they’re also called sprue nubs, tire nibs, gate marks, nippers, and a bunch of other nicknames.
They’re created when the tires are formed in a mold. Manufacturers first create a “green tire,” a blank tire that has not been cured or had the treads added to it yet, before placing it in a mold to add the final touches. As heat and air are applied to the forming tire, gas needs to escape so bubbles don’t form under the rubber. The mold features thin structures that allow the air to rush out, which leaves behind a trail of excess rubber as it goes.
When they are fresh out of the factory, tires will be covered in these skinny spikes of rubber. They will eventually disintegrate through wear and tear, primarily on the tire parts that are exposed to the road.
Do you need to remove the rubber spikes on car tires?
Car owners often wonder whether the rubber hairs need to be snipped off before driving, but there’s generally no need. The vent spews neither help nor hinder the car’s performance, they’re just a redundant vestige of the molding process.
Accordingly, there’s no harm in removing them yourself (as long as you’re cautious).
“Vent spews have no functional purpose post-manufacturing. Many show car owners take great pride in shaving or clipping the nibs down,” Steve Burke, a technical manager at Japanese manufacturer Toyo Tires, said in a statement.
“There is no practical reason to remove them, but if you must, avoid scissors and blades and just grab them with your hand and pull them off. It’s actually pretty good stress relief,” Burke added.
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