Why Do New Tires Have Rubber Hair on Them?

There are little rubber hairs that you see on every new tire. Technically, they are called vent spews, which gives away their purpose for being on the tire. Many people think these hairs play a role in noise reduction or indicate wear but their primary purpose is air ventilation.

Those little rubber hairs are a byproduct of tire manufacturing. In a tire mold, rubber is injected and air pressure is used to force the liquid rubber into all the nooks and crannies. In order for the rubber to completely fill the mold, small pockets of air need to be able to escape.

There are small vent holes in the mold so trapped air can find a way out. When the air pressure forces the liquid rubber into all the orifices, a tiny bit of rubber makes its way out of the vent holes as well. These rubber bits firm up and remain attached to the tire when it's removed from the tire mold.

Though they serve no purpose in your tire’s performance, the tire hairs' presence is an indication that a tire is new. Tires that have been in service for some time, coupled with environmental effects, will eventually wear off the hairs.


The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Need Help With Your Car?

Our certified mobile mechanics make house calls in over 2,000 U.S. cities. Fast, free online quotes for your car repair.

GET A QUOTE

Related articles

A Guide to Tire Safety
When When sitting behind the wheel of a car, there are two things that most drivers want: to reach their destination, and to do so as safely as possible. This means having a car that is in good condition, and...
How To Replace a Tire Valve Stem
Tire Tire valve stems are the valves located in a vehicle’s wheel where the tires are inflated from. They contain a spring loaded valve core that seals itself using the air pressure inside of the tire. Over time valve stems...
How Bad Driving Prematurely Wears Out Your Car
Bad drivers and bad driving habits can cause strain on car parts, especially the tires, brakes, body, and electrical and steering systems.

Related questions

Tires that came from the factory are not good at all
The tires which came with your vehicle should not have had problems with sidewalls cracking or blowing out. I would recommend having the tires checked by the manufacturer for issues or defects which may be covered. To find replacement tires,...
My tires worked 10 years and now dry // are they cause of excessive fuel consumption?
Hi there. If the vehicle has been sitting for that long and now the fuel mileage is low, then the first thing that needs to be done is to drive the vehicle for about 5,000 miles. Just like when the...
Hey do a dodge Dodge Journey have a straight axle or one axle on both sides
Hello, thank you for writing in. If there is no damage to the passenger side of the vehicle, then do not worry about replacing that side's axle. You can just replace the left side. Double check the rest of the...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com