The Reason Why Your Car’s Tires Are Black
27th June 2019
I must confess that the subject didn’t occupy much of my time, but it’s interesting nevertheless.
With the possible exception of some Big Wheels or other child transportation vehicles, most tires are black. You’d be hard-pressed to find a tire shop and come across a Goodyear or Michelin sample that’s any other color.
Natural rubber, however, is closer to an off-white shade, and early-model cars sported that lighter color. Early tire makers also often added zinc oxide to their natural rubber as a way to strengthen the material, resulting in white tires. But at some point, tire manufacturers decided to go darker. Why?’
Racism would be my guess.
June 27th, 2019 at 10:10
Waiting for the follow-up on whitewalls.
June 27th, 2019 at 15:51
Whitewalls are racist. White near the hub, black on the bottom wearing down? Not Politically Correct.