Have you ever looked closely at a new tyre and spotted a series of small rubber hairs on its surface?
Synonymous with new tyres that haven’t yet been subject to the trials and tribulations of road use, these hairs are formed during the manufacturing process. But are they a design feature, do they have a benefit when it comes to driving, and can they tell us anything about the quality of the tyre?
Where Do These Small Rubber Hairs Come From?
In short, the tiny rubber hairs that you see on the outside of tyres are a by-product of the manufacturing process. This means that they have no functional purpose and have no bearing on the quality of the tyre or how smoothly it runs – although they can act as an indicator of how old the tyre is and whether it has been used extensively or not.
They are formed when the liquid rubber, poured into the tyre mould, fills small vent holes under the high pressure of the manufacturing process. These small vent holes exist to stop air bubbles from forming in and affecting the structure of the tyre.
In short, the tiny hairs are simply excess rubber which has slid into those vent holes. Over time and as the tyre is used, the hairs wear away and disappear.
What’s Their Purpose?
The first and most important thing to understand is that these rubber hairs are not part of the design of the tyre, and they do not contribute towards its performance or lifespan.
However, they can offer an interesting insight into how worn the tyre actually is. A tyre that still has these rubber hairs intact, is one which has barely been used.
Why Do Some Brand New Tyres Not Have Any Hairs?
Of course, you might be reading this and inspecting your own seemingly brand new tyres, wondering why you can’t see the presence of rubber hairs on those tyres.
There are some tyre brands and manufacturers that remove the hairs as part of the production process, refining the aesthetic look of the tyres and giving them a cleaner finish.
If you buy tyres and do find that they have these rubber hairs on them, you can either trim them yourself or simply leave them to wear down at their own rate – something that will occur under the friction and pressure of everyday driving entirely naturally.
For tailored and bespoke advice on finding the right new tyres for you, whether you’re driven by safety, efficiency, performance, or cost, get in touch with our expert team today.
