Many people still believe that the small spikes on motorcycle tires are designed to prevent slipping, but that’s a common misconception. These tiny spikes, known as “vent spews,” are actually just a by-product of the tire manufacturing process and have no impact on the tire’s performance.

The official name for these fibers is vent spews, though they’re also called sprue nubs, tire nibs, gate markings, or nippers. While they might seem like an odd detail, they play an essential role during the tire’s production.

What Are Vent Spews?

To understand vent spews, it helps to know a bit about how tires are made. When a tire is first shaped, it’s called a “green tire”—a tire compound that lacks the final tread pattern, markings, or labels. This green tire is placed into a mold, where heat and pressure are applied to expand the rubber and form the tread and details like the Toyo Tires Proxes or Open Country labels.

During this process, air bubbles can sometimes form between the rubber and the mold, which would prevent the tire from developing properly. That’s where vent spews come in. They act as small escape routes for the excess air and pressure, allowing the tire to form completely and evenly.

Why Do Vent Spews Remain After Production?

Steve Burke, technical manager at Toyo Tires, explains that these vent spews are produced when air exits the tire mold during the manufacturing process. “Air escapes, ensuring that no air bubbles form between the tire and the mold, while also carrying small bits of rubber with it. That’s how the vent spews are created,” he says.

Most vent spews on the tire’s tread face are shaved off after production, but they often remain visible on the sidewalls and shoulders of the tire.

Should You Remove Them?

According to Burke, vent spews don’t serve any purpose once the tire is made. Many car enthusiasts, especially those with show cars, enjoy trimming or removing the spews for a cleaner look. However, there’s no practical reason to remove them. If you do decide to take them off, Burke advises avoiding scissors or blades. Instead, simply pull them off by hand—it’s an easy way to relieve stress!

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The Bottom Line

Those little spikes on your motorcycle tires aren’t designed to prevent slipping or improve performance. They’re just part of the tire’s manufacturing process. Now that you know what vent spews are, you can appreciate them as a quirky detail left over from production. Another mystery solved!

So, the next time you get a new pair of Toyo tires, take a closer look—you’ll know exactly what those vent spews are and why they’re there.