These bristles serve no purpose during operation, but they play a significant role in the tire manufacturing process.
It is not difficult to distinguish between new and used tires by looking at the small bristles on the surface; the more bristles present and the fewer broken ones indicate that the tire has either never been used or has seen very little use. Aside from helping to differentiate between new and old tires, do these bristles serve any other purpose?
Many people believe that these bristles help reduce noise or improve heat dissipation when driving fast, but in reality, they have no effect during operation.
Supporting the Manufacturing Process
These bristles are often referred to by various names such as wind spikes or new tire spikes… However, the technical term for these spikes is vent spews. This name comes from the reason they appear on tires.
The bristles formed during the tire manufacturing process. (Image: Toyo Tyres).
Tires are manufactured by injecting rubber into a pre-made mold, during which tiny air bubbles are generated. These air bubbles are detrimental to the tire, weakening its structure and leading to quicker wear.
To prevent air bubbles from forming inside the tire, the mold is designed with multiple small vents that allow the bubbles to escape. Not only do the air bubbles escape, but a portion of the molten rubber also exits through these vents, resulting in the formation of vent spews once the rubber hardens.
Many vehicle owners wonder whether they should cut off these rubber spikes, but in reality, they have no impact on the vehicle’s performance or safety. According to Steve Burke, technical director at tire manufacturer Toyo Tires, removing these rubber spikes provides no practical benefits. However, some people feel that removing these vent spews is a way to relieve stress.
Burke explains: “There is no practical reason to remove them. But if you still wish to take them off, avoid using sharp knives or scissors; simply grasp them gently with your hand and pull them out.” This method is both simple and safe, preventing unnecessary damage to the tire surface.
The rubber spikes on new tires may seem like a mysterious detail, but in reality, they are merely a byproduct of the tire manufacturing process. They serve no functional purpose during operation and do not affect vehicle performance. Users can rest assured to let them wear off naturally or, if they prefer, can gently remove them by hand. These tiny rubber spikes truly are just a small interesting detail in the modern tire manufacturing process.
How to Check Tire Wear
If new tires have bristles that indicate whether the tire has undergone significant use, how should users check the wear on tires that have lost these bristles over time?
All tires produced have a designated area that allows users to observe wear; the sides of the tire will feature a triangular indicator that marks the wear indicator position, where the tire makes contact with the road will have a wear warning ridge. If this ridge makes contact with the road, users need to replace the tire immediately.
Car tires typically have a lifespan of about 6 years. (Image: Vĩnh Phúc).
Typically, car tires have a lifespan of around 6 years; after this period, even if the tires have not worn down, users should consider replacing them to ensure safety during operation.
The manufacturing date of the tire is indicated on the sidewall in the format XXYY, where XX represents the week and YY represents the year. For example, if the manufacturing date reads 1319, it means the tire was produced in the 13th week of 2019, which corresponds to mid-March 2019.
In addition to replacing worn tires, tires also need to be replaced sooner when facing conditions such as bulging, deformation, or foreign objects penetrating the sidewall…
