Have you ever noticed those tiny spikes on motorcycle tires and wondered what they are? They’re called “vent spews,” and while they might look a bit strange, they’re just a natural part of how tires are made. The best part? They don’t affect how your tires perform at all!
“Vent spews” is an unusual name for something so common, but it’s not the only name these little fibers go by. You might also hear them called sprue nubs, tire nibs, gate markings, or nippers.
So, why do these vent spews exist? To understand that, let’s dive into how tires are made.
Tires start out as something called a “green tire.” This is a tire-shaped piece of rubber that hasn’t yet been marked or had its tread pattern formed. The green tire is placed into a mold, where it’s subjected to heat and pressure.
As the rubber heats up, it expands to fill the mold, forming the tread pattern and stamping on the brand name, like Toyo Tires Proxes or Open Country.
But here’s the catch: when the rubber expands, air bubbles can get trapped between the rubber and the mold. These bubbles can prevent the tire from forming correctly. That’s where vent spews come into play.
The mold has tiny tubes called spew holes or vent sprues. These tubes allow the excess air to escape as the rubber expands, ensuring that no air bubbles interfere with the tire’s shape.
Steve Burke, the technical manager at Toyo Tires, explains why these little spikes appear on your new tires. “When the air escapes through these spews, it makes sure that no bubbles form between the tire and the mold, and it also carries out small bits of rubber. This is how vent spews are created. Most of the spews on the tread face are shaved off, but you’ll still see them on the shoulders and sidewalls.”
Now, you might be wondering if you should remove them. Steve says, “It doesn’t really matter. Vent spews don’t serve any purpose once the tire is made.
A lot of show car owners enjoy shaving or trimming them for a cleaner look, but there’s no real reason to do so. If you do want to remove them, just grab them with your hand and pull them off. It’s actually a pretty good way to relieve stress!”
So, there you have it—the mystery of those tiny tire spikes is solved! Next time you pick up a new set of Toyo tires, take a closer look at those vent spews, and you’ll know exactly what they are and why they’re there.
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