# Stuff on new tires **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 1, 2004, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-on-new-tires/262605 "2004-09-01T18:12:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-on-new-tires/262605/1 "2004-09-01T18:12:27Z")
When I buy a new tire for my car, the whitewall–if there is one–is lightly stained with green and there are little bristles or whiskers all around the tread. Why? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-on-new-tires/262605/2 "2004-09-01T18:23:45Z")
I was told it was so you can tell they are new, not lightly used second hand or retreaded tyres sold falsely as new. The marks and whiskers ware off quickly. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-on-new-tires/262605/3 "2004-09-01T18:35:29Z")
The “whiskers” are nubs left over from the tire forming process. The color wash on the whitewalls keeps the white bright for the final consumer. Both wear off fairly quickly. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-on-new-tires/262605/4 "2004-09-01T18:43:57Z")
The color and nubs, they where off quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-on-new-tires/262605/5 "2004-09-01T20:16:29Z")
Wheare’s my dictionary? ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-on-new-tires/262605/6 "2004-09-01T20:43:54Z")
whore. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-on-new-tires/262605/7 "2004-09-01T22:47:02Z")
Interestingly, not all new tires have quills. I recently drove a Jeep off the lot with 6 miles on the clock, and there was not a quill to be seen on any of the five tires. I wouldn’t be surprised if the quills are interior (ie: inside, where the air is) on this particular brand? As for the blue stuff protecting the white rubber, it may be easily removed, but dang if I was going to remove it - I made them get rid of it. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-on-new-tires/262605/8 "2004-09-02T01:52:45Z")
_whirr_