Why do new tires have rubber hair?

On each new tire, you can see small rubber villi. They are technically called air vents, giving away their purpose on the bus. Many people think that these hairs play a role in noise reduction or indicate wear and tear, but their main purpose is to ventilate the air.

These little rubber hairs are a by-product of the tire industry. Rubber is injected into the tire mold 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, it is necessary that small air pockets can escape.

There are small ventilation holes in the mold so that trapped air can find its way out. As the air pressure pushes the liquid rubber into all the vents, a tiny piece of rubber also comes out of the vents. These rubber pieces harden and remain attached to the tire when it is removed from the mould.

Although they do not affect the performance of your tire, the presence of hairs in the tires is a sign that the tire is new. Tires that have been in use for some time, combined with environmental exposure, will eventually wear out.