New tyres for cars, motorbikes and other automobiles have small protruding rubber hair.
According to tyre manufacturers, they are referred to as vent spews. In some countries, they are called sprue nubs, tyre nibs, gate marks or nippers.
The small rubber hairs are a byproduct of the tyre manufacturing process.
How They Are Created
In manufacturing, a tyre is injected into a mould, and then pressure is exerted to spread the liquid.
The compression allows the liquid rubber to fit into all the nooks and crannies.
While exerting pressure, heat and air are also applied. However, small rubber vents are formed to allow the applied air to escape.
During this process, tiny rubber bits also make their way out of the vent hole.
Once removed from the mould, the minute rubber bits become rigid and remain attached to the tyre.
Tyre spews on the tread face are usually shaved off, and the section is used to inscribe size, manufacturing date, and serial number.
The spews are retained on the tyre shoulders and sidewall. Their presence indicates that a tyre is new.
Post-manufacturing, they serve no purpose despite reports alleging that they play a role in noise reduction or indicating wear.
They wear off with regular use of the tyres.
According to experts, using sharp objects to shave the tyre spews is not advisable. The most preferred approach is manually plucking them.
