Those tiny spikes on motorcycle tires—ever noticed them? They’re called “vent spews,” and while they might look strange, they’re just a natural part of how tires are made. Surprisingly, these little hairs don’t affect how the tire performs at all!
These spikes, or vent spews, might sound like something exotic, but they’re actually pretty common. They also go by other names like sprue nubs, tire nibs, gate markings, and nippers.
But what exactly do these vent spews do? To understand that, let’s dive into how tires are created.
Tires begin their life as something called a “green tire.” This is basically a tire-shaped rubber compound that doesn’t yet have any markings or tread patterns.
The green tire is placed into a mold, and then heat and pressure are applied. As the rubber heats up, it expands to fill the mold, which shapes the tread pattern and stamps on the brand name, like Toyo Tires Proxes or Open Country.
However, during this process, air bubbles can form between the rubber and the mold. These bubbles can mess up the shape of the tire. This is where vent spews come in handy.
The mold has tiny tubes known as spew holes or vent sprues. These tubes allow the extra air to escape when the rubber expands. By letting the air out, the mold can shape the tire perfectly without any bubbles getting in the way.
Steve Burke, the technical manager at Toyo Tires, explains the purpose of these tiny spikes: “The air exits through these spews, ensuring no bubbles form between the tire and the mold, and in the process, small bits of rubber are pushed out.
This is how vent spews are created. Most of the spews on the tread face get shaved off, but you’ll still find them on the shoulders and sidewalls of the tire.”
So, what should you do with these spikes? Should you remove them? According to Steve, “It doesn’t really matter. Vent spews don’t serve any purpose after the tire is made. A lot of show car owners like to shave or trim them for a cleaner look, but there’s no practical reason to get rid of them. 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!”
And there you have it! The mystery of those little tire spikes is solved. The next time you pick up a new set of Toyo tires, take a closer look at the vent spews, and you’ll know exactly what they are and why they’re there.
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