Here's why tires are black 🤯🚗 #viral #facts #fyp #curiosities #cars #carsofinstagram

Here's why tires are black 🤯🚗 #viral #facts #fyp #curiosities #cars #carsofinstagram

If rubber is white, then why are tires black? In fact, until around 1910, most car tires were white.

When tires were first invented in the 19th century, they were made of natural rubber—which was light yellow or off-white in color—and this remained the case until about 1900. Later, manufacturers discovered that adding zinc oxide to the rubber made it stronger; consequently, all-white tires became common, though they were not very durable. Around 1910, B.F. Goodrich made a significant discovery.

He added carbon black to the rubber, which increased the tire's lifespan nearly tenfold. However, since carbon black was expensive at the time, companies used it only on the part of the tire that touched the road, leaving the sidewalls white. Later, as carbon black became cheaper, it began to be used throughout the entire tire, causing the white color to disappear completely.