Does Anyone Else Do This ?

Dwight Frye · 09-05-2009, 10:04 PM

I went out to the garage this morning with some lighter fluid & a rag and some sharp side-cutting pliers and cleaned off the little colored dots on the tires, and then with the side cutters, clipped off all of the little "whiskers" sticking out of the sides of the tires on my week old Z. I always do that with new tires or new cars. My girlfriend said I had OCD. I think it's just part of the detailing process. I'm waiting for my order from Zaino to arrive, and I can imagine the look I'll get when I try and explain why you should rub a bar of clay all over a brand new car....

Jordan777er · 09-05-2009, 10:20 PM

I can't say I've ever heard of anyone cutting all those little whiskers off. Do they serve any purpose or are they just there?

Educ8r · 09-05-2009, 10:21 PM

Wow

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordan777er

i can't say i've ever heard of anyone cutting all those little whiskers off. Do they serve any purpose or are they just there?

dad · 09-05-2009, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dwight Frye

I went out to the garage this morning with some lighter fluid & a rag and some sharp side-cutting pliers and cleaned off the little colored dots on the tires, and then with the side cutters, clipped off all of the little "whiskers" sticking out of the sides of the tires on my week old Z. I always do that with new tires or new cars. My girlfriend said I had OCD. I think it's just part of the detailing process. I'm waiting for my order from Zaino to arrive, and I can imagine the look I'll get when I try and explain why you should rub a bar of clay all over a brand new car....

It's OK, we understand.

NeedforZ · 09-05-2009, 10:59 PM

I figured the "whiskers" were a side effect of the tire manufacturing process. A little research reveals why they are there.

The vast majority of tire molds in use today have vents
and/or microvents to expel air trapped between the green
tire surface and the mold surface as the bladder expands
the green tire into the mold cavity. Typically, the
microvents are between 0.020-0.040in (0.5-1mm) in
diameter and vents are between 0.040-0.060in (1-2mm)
in diameter.
Both types can extend an inch or more in depth into the
mold. A typical passenger car tire mold contains
thousands of these vents. The bladder expansion
pressure, combined with the elevated curing temperature,
causes some of the tire surface rubber to ‘extrude’ into
these vents during each cure cycle. When the cure cycle
is over and the tire is released from the mold, most of the
the extruded rubber in these vents remains attached to
the cured tire and pulls back out to form the familiar
rubber ‘whiskers’ on new tires.

Here's the full article. http://old.coldjet.com/trade/tiretech.pdf

dad · 09-05-2009, 11:07 PM

Just for safety info:

Maintenance-Car bibles

355890 · 09-05-2009, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwight frye

i went out to the garage this morning with some lighter fluid & a rag and some sharp side-cutting pliers and cleaned off the little colored dots on the tires, and then with the side cutters, clipped off all of the little "whiskers" sticking out of the sides of the tires on my week old z. I always do that with new tires or new cars. My girlfriend said i had ocd. I think it's just part of the detailing process. I'm waiting for my order from zaino to arrive, and i can imagine the look i'll get when i try and explain why you should rub a bar of clay all over a brand new car....

I just don;t have the time to spend cutting off thousands of little rubber hair follicles off of tires.

So my answer is, a " NO " !

antennahead · 09-06-2009, 12:01 AM

Oh no, now your car won't be able to gauge whether or not it can fit through a tight space..... you've removed the whiskers

John

ZKindaGuy · 09-06-2009, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dwight Frye

I went out to the garage this morning with some lighter fluid & a rag and some sharp side-cutting pliers and cleaned off the little colored dots on the tires, and then with the side cutters, clipped off all of the little "whiskers" sticking out of the sides of the tires on my week old Z. I always do that with new tires or new cars. My girlfriend said I had OCD. I think it's just part of the detailing process. I'm waiting for my order from Zaino to arrive, and I can imagine the look I'll get when I try and explain why you should rub a bar of clay all over a brand new car....

seriously, your girlfriend needs to dump your sorry azz real quick if meaningless stuff like paint dots and tire whiskers bother you to a point that you exhibit this bizzarre behavior you mention.

RCZ · 09-06-2009, 07:33 AM

Ocd....

Island_370 · 09-06-2009, 08:03 AM

The whiskers bother me, but not that much. You can track out all the way to the curb and remove them that way. 8-)

As for using solvents on the sidewalls....I would never do that. I seriously doubt it will have negative effect, but why risk it? If it bothered me, I would use the rough side of a sponge to rub off the dots.

But the bottom line is....do whatever you want to do with your car. If she makes fun of you, but is still there when you come back in. She is tolerant of your obsession. This is a good thing.

Kirkster · 09-06-2009, 10:32 AM

Do you also avoid stepping on cracks perchance???

Seriously, step away from the nippers and lighterfluid...

Trips · 09-06-2009, 12:51 PM

No! and there are Meds to control OCD

frost · 09-06-2009, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCZ

Ocd....

Blown32 · 09-06-2009, 05:07 PM

I'am all about detail and the little tricks here and there but cutting the little nipples off of the tires?Damn dude!It sounds like you are a fuzzy ball of short circuits...about to self implode at any time.Wow!
I believe your girlfriend miss diagnosed your condition!

09-05-2009, 10:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dwight Frye Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Occupied California Posts: 423 Drives: '09 Tour/Sport/6MT Rep Power: 15	Does Anyone Else Do This ? I went out to the garage this morning with some lighter fluid & a rag and some sharp side-cutting pliers and cleaned off the little colored dots on the tires, and then with the side cutters, clipped off all of the little "whiskers" sticking out of the sides of the tires on my week old Z. I always do that with new tires or new cars. My girlfriend said I had OCD. I think it's just part of the detailing process. I'm waiting for my order from Zaino to arrive, and I can imagine the look I'll get when I try and explain why you should rub a bar of clay all over a brand new car....

09-05-2009, 11:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
dad Grand Prix of Endurance Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 3,476 Drives: Mulsanne Straight Rep Power: 25	Just for safety info: Maintenance-Car bibles __________________ We can do without any article of luxury we have never had; but once obtained, it is not in human nature to surrender it voluntary.

09-06-2009, 08:03 AM	#11 (permalink)
Island_370 Base Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 228 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z SR M6 Rep Power: 15	The whiskers bother me, but not that much. You can track out all the way to the curb and remove them that way. 8-) As for using solvents on the sidewalls....I would never do that. I seriously doubt it will have negative effect, but why risk it? If it bothered me, I would use the rough side of a sponge to rub off the dots. But the bottom line is....do whatever you want to do with your car. If she makes fun of you, but is still there when you come back in. She is tolerant of your obsession. This is a good thing. __________________ Autobahn Country Club (North and South Tracks), Blackhawk Farms, Grattan, Gingerman, Mid-Ohio, Putnam Park, Road America, Sears Point, Thunderhill, VIR and "The Ring"

09-06-2009, 12:51 PM	#13 (permalink)
Trips Administrator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Disneyland, Ca Posts: 8,728 Drives: 🔰 Rep Power: 10	No! and there are Meds to control OCD __________________

09-05-2009, 10:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jordan777er Base Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Goldsboro, NC Age: 35 Posts: 212 Drives: 2005 ZX-6R Rep Power: 15	I can't say I've ever heard of anyone cutting all those little whiskers off. Do they serve any purpose or are they just there?

09-05-2009, 10:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
NeedforZ Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: DFW Texas Posts: 163 Drives: 370z Touring 7AT Rep Power: 16	I figured the "whiskers" were a side effect of the tire manufacturing process. A little research reveals why they are there. The vast majority of tire molds in use today have vents and/or microvents to expel air trapped between the green tire surface and the mold surface as the bladder expands the green tire into the mold cavity. Typically, the microvents are between 0.020-0.040in (0.5-1mm) in diameter and vents are between 0.040-0.060in (1-2mm) in diameter. Both types can extend an inch or more in depth into the mold. A typical passenger car tire mold contains thousands of these vents. The bladder expansion pressure, combined with the elevated curing temperature, causes some of the tire surface rubber to ‘extrude’ into these vents during each cure cycle. When the cure cycle is over and the tire is released from the mold, most of the the extruded rubber in these vents remains attached to the cured tire and pulls back out to form the familiar rubber ‘whiskers’ on new tires. Here's the full article. http://old.coldjet.com/trade/tiretech.pdf

09-06-2009, 12:01 AM	#8 (permalink)
antennahead A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 15,181 Drives: '07 Z4 "M" Roadster Rep Power: 57	Oh no, now your car won't be able to gauge whether or not it can fit through a tight space..... you've removed the whiskers John

09-06-2009, 07:33 AM	#10 (permalink)
RCZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 6,403 Drives: '09 370Z Rep Power: 1118	Ocd....

09-06-2009, 10:32 AM	#12 (permalink)
Kirkster A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Peoples Republic of MD Posts: 1,792 Drives: Roadster of DOOM Rep Power: 19	Do you also avoid stepping on cracks perchance??? Seriously, step away from the nippers and lighterfluid...

09-06-2009, 05:07 PM	#15 (permalink)
Blown32 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N.J. Posts: 289 Drives: 09 370Z Blk sport 6T Rep Power: 15	I'am all about detail and the little tricks here and there but cutting the little nipples off of the tires?Damn dude!It sounds like you are a fuzzy ball of short circuits...about to self implode at any time.Wow! I believe your girlfriend miss diagnosed your condition!