No matter what color the car is, the tires are reliably black. This is because about a third of a car tire is made of carbon black. “Ru reduces abrasion and thus increases mileage,” says Klaus Engelhart from Continental Tire Germany. And Ru is black. In the past, the proportion in the tires was higher, but now manufacturers are trying to add less to this industrial residue. Silicic acid, which has similar properties, serves as a substitute. But the black content is still enough for the black look. When it came to the first car tires, no one knew about the effect of Ru on the durability of the tire, so they were white like the rubber used. In theory, colored tires could easily be made. “You can drive a few kilometers with it before the tread becomes discolored from the dirt of the road, nobody wants that,” explains Engelhart. Classic car fans in particular appreciate so-called white wall tires, where only the tread of the tire is black. However, this only looks chic as long as you can avoid scratching encounters with curbs.
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