Have you ever noticed those tiny spikes on motorcycle tires? They’re not just random; they’re called “vent spews,” and they’re actually a natural part of how tires are made. But don’t worry—these little spikes don’t affect how your tires perform at all.
“Vent spews” might sound like a strange name, but it’s just one of the terms used for these small fibers. You might also hear them called sprue nubs, tire nibs, gate markings, or nippers.
So, what’s the deal with these vent spews? To get it, let’s take a quick look at how tires are made.
Tires start as something called a “green tire.” This is just a tire-shaped piece of rubber that hasn’t been marked or had its tread pattern created yet. The green tire is placed into a mold, where heat and pressure are applied. As the rubber heats up, it expands to fill the mold, creating the tread pattern and stamping on the brand name, like Toyo Tires Proxes or Open Country.
But here’s where things get tricky: when the rubber expands, air bubbles can form between the rubber and the mold. These bubbles can prevent the tire from forming correctly. That’s where vent spews come in.
The mold has tiny tubes called spew holes or vent sprues. These tubes let the extra air escape when the rubber expands, making sure that no air bubbles mess up the tire’s shape.
Steve Burke, the technical manager at Toyo Tires, explains why these little spikes appear on your new tires. “When air escapes through these spews, it ensures that no bubbles form between the tire and the mold.
It also pushes out small pieces of rubber, which is how vent spews are made. 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 wonder, should you bother removing 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 like to shave or trim 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! Another mystery solved. The next time you buy 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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