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Tyres > Help > Tyres Help > Why are tyres black?
Tyres are black due to the use of carbon black in the construction of the tyre.
Carbon black is commonly used in the production of tyres and other rubber products. It provides excellent reinforcement properties.
As nearly all tyres on the market are black, you may be wondering if there is a legal reaso that tyres are black. But there is no legal reason for a tyre to be black. In fact, the first tyres were off milky-white.
There was a time when white-wall tyres were a popular choice. Although they are not as prevelant as they once were, you will still find some white wall tyres on the market.
Pure carbon black is a fine, black powder that is mostly made up of elemental carbon. Low-value oil wastes are partially burnt and pyrolysed at high temperatures to generate the product.
Carbon black is used because it helps to reinforce the rubber. It makes it stronger and more durable. It also helps to improve the resistance of the tyre to abrasion. An important factor as tyres are constantly in contact with the road.
Although it is possible to produce coloured tyres, black is the most common colour. Black is a practical colour. As it doesn't show up dirt or scuff marks as easily. Or distract other road users.
Rubber trees are used to extract natural rubber, which is then processed and exported all over the world. Natural rubber leaves the tree as a white, milky latex prior to processing. The natural colour of rubber fresh off the tree is white, unless the latex is polluted.
The first tyres were an off-white colour. This was due to the fact that natural rubber was used in their production without carbon black.
As tyre production became industrialised, manufacturers introduced carbon black the compound to improve the performance.