Coloured Tyres: what happened?

[LotusOmega375D]

About a decade ago there was a story doing the rounds in the press (no, not on 1 April!) that some of the big tyre producers were going to be offering coloured car tyres (like those that some kids' bikes have).

With the current lucrative fashion for bad-taste car personalisation, maybe it's time for them to revisit this idea? I am sure the likes of Katie Price, Premier League footballers and the playboy sons of rich Arab Sheikhs would happily pay 10x the usual price for a set of brightly coloured tyres for their ride of choice.

[richb77]

There was also a "spray on foam" that colour tinted the tyres.

I imagine it all died a death as everyone carried on buying black tyres.

Although I do recall a motorcycle tyre remould manufacturer making sky blue tyres not all that long ago.

[J4CKO]

Becasue they would look rubbish like kids bike tyres do the minute they are taken out of halfords and ridden thought the park, the mud and whatever else, a white bike tyre doesnt look pristine very long, a large dog turd can really spoil the look I find.

All tyres turn grey I guess whatever colour theyy start off at.

[adeel_gt]

Kumho made a set that were red or atleast gave off red smoke when doing a burn out. Im sure that they were made for the drift boys?

[Captain Muppet]

adeel_gt said:

Kumho made a set that were red or atleast gave off red smoke when doing a burn out. Im sure that they were made for the drift boys?

Yeah, they said "red smoke" but I've seen it and it's pink smoke. Plus they apparently stain your wheels and rear arches pink too.

[elster]

adeel_gt said:

Kumho made a set that were red or atleast gave off red smoke when doing a burn out. Im sure that they were made for the drift boys?

Pretty sure they still do.

I know Achillies and Colway did coloured smoke tyres as well, not sure they still do. No longer that involved in drifting.

[Riley Blue]

Years ago, when the minimum legal tread depth was introduced I was at a conference with tyre manufacturers, police, politicians and the press. When the topic of enforcement came up I suggested tyre manufacturers built into each tyre a coloured ply that would become visible when the tread depth reduced - could be at the legal minimum or before then.
No interest at all.

[Captain Muppet]

Riley Blue said:

Years ago, when the minimum legal tread depth was introduced I was at a conference with tyre manufacturers, police, politicians and the press. When the topic of enforcement came up I suggested tyre manufacturers built into each tyre a coloured ply that would become visible when the tread depth reduced - could be at the legal minimum or before then.
No interest at all.

Maybe because tyres delaminate when they get hot, and with your idea they would shead treads all the time?

[Frances The Mute]

Riley Blue said:

Years ago, when the minimum legal tread depth was introduced I was at a conference with tyre manufacturers, police, politicians and the press. When the topic of enforcement came up I suggested tyre manufacturers built into each tyre a coloured ply that would become visible when the tread depth reduced - could be at the legal minimum or before then.
No interest at all.

That's what tread wear indicators are for.

[4key]

The tyres that I have bought have always had a coloured ply to let me know when they need changing, I thought that they all had this. Its a sort of browny colour with bits of metal wire in it.

[Dave Hedgehog]

4key said:

The tyres that I have bought have always had a coloured ply to let me know when they need changing, I thought that they all had this. Its a sort of browny colour with bits of metal wire in it.

mine have this as well

[FreeLitres]

They do exist. You need a TVR to use them though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeMQdp-sVcY

[Mastodon2]

adeel_gt said:

Kumho made a set that were red or atleast gave off red smoke when doing a burn out. Im sure that they were made for the drift boys?

I can only imagine how stupid that would look, but I'm sure the "Drift Boiz" would go wild for it.

[DonkeyApple]

LotusOmega375D said:

About a decade ago there was a story doing the rounds in the press (no, not on 1 April!) that some of the big tyre producers were going to be offering coloured car tyres (like those that some kids' bikes have).

With the current lucrative fashion for bad-taste car personalisation, maybe it's time for them to revisit this idea? I am sure the likes of Katie Price, Premier League footballers and the playboy sons of rich Arab Sheikhs would happily pay 10x the usual price for a set of brightly coloured tyres for their ride of choice.

Strangely, at Classic Le Mans this years, as we stood by the yellow and blue tyre wall we had exactly the same discussion.

We had the view that coloured tyres, especially luminous ones would appeal to a key section of the motoring market and wondered why it hadn't been done.

Our general theory was that the dyes needed to colour rubber would have an impact on the chemical composition and properties during the annealing process of a detrimental nature that would make the rubber not work in the required way?

So, we adapted the concept.

[FreeLitres]

Mastodon2 said:

adeel_gt said:

Kumho made a set that were red or atleast gave off red smoke when doing a burn out. Im sure that they were made for the drift boys?

I can only imagine how stupid that would look, but I'm sure the "Drift Boiz" would go wild for it.

No need to imagine. Just click my link above!

[Riley Blue]

Frances The Mute said:

Riley Blue said:

Years ago, when the minimum legal tread depth was introduced I was at a conference with tyre manufacturers, police, politicians and the press. When the topic of enforcement came up I suggested tyre manufacturers built into each tyre a coloured ply that would become visible when the tread depth reduced - could be at the legal minimum or before then.
No interest at all.

That's what tread wear indicators are for.

True but my idea is so much prettier...