Nerdy Query: What Are Those Rubber Tassels For?

"Tim (Fractal Footwork)" (fractalfootwork) 07/15/2014 at 19:02 • Filed to: Nerdy Query

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17

I feel like this is a question I should know the answer to, but...

PatBateman > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/15/2014 at 19:03

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For new tires to tickle the road. Roads like that. It's good to have happy roads.

AM3R > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/15/2014 at 19:04

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I'm pretty sure they're tread indicators.

McLarry > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/15/2014 at 19:04

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I always figured they were there to show the tire was brand new, since they wear off pretty quickly...I suppose if you pay attention to which ones wear off first, it might also tell you something about your alignment?

burntartichoke > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/15/2014 at 19:05

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Those should be the left overs from the injection points in the tire mold

Garrett Davis > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/15/2014 at 19:05

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As far as I know they are leftovers from the injection molding process, they don't have any use.

scoob > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/15/2014 at 19:06

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This coming from the man who runs Technically Formula 1!

I don't have a clue either.

ttyymmnn > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/15/2014 at 19:07

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When they inject the rubber into the mold to make the tire, the air has to go somewhere to prevent bubbles. The air escapes out tiny holes, and takes some of the rubber with it.

Manuél Ferrari > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/15/2014 at 19:08

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I always wondered that too.

This reminds me to post my query for the day.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 07/15/2014 at 19:11

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I asked Candy and Chastity what their tassels were. I told them it was for research but they made me put my camera away. Now I'm out $40 too.

Tim (Fractal Footwork) > scoob 07/15/2014 at 19:14

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AM3R > AM3R 07/15/2014 at 19:17

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Never mind I'm dum

Racescort666 > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul 07/15/2014 at 19:18

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$40? Sounds like you got a good deal my friend.

B_dol > burntartichoke 07/15/2014 at 19:31

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Technically, vent holes. The injection holes would be much larger and much fewer in number. Engineering ruins all fun, see "tickling the road" post above.

sketchcat > ttyymmnn 07/15/2014 at 19:41

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not quite injection molding (happens during pressurized vulcanization) but the reason for the whiskers is the same.. they are material that flowed into air vents. A sharp eye and a curious mind will notice that the amount of whiskers is related to the complexity and depth of tread; close to but never on the exact corner or edge of a lug. look for the witness lines for the segments of the mold, often they are hidden in the tread pattern or on cheap tires will manifest themselves as a webbed toe between tread lugs.

ttyymmnn > sketchcat 07/15/2014 at 19:49

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Excellent info. Thanks.

sketchcat > sketchcat 07/15/2014 at 19:51

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inside of a mold segment

Bad Idea Hat > Racescort666 07/15/2014 at 21:32

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I suspect these were on the smaller end of the scale regarding standard tassel sizes.