Tyres: your most-Googled questions, answered

Why are tyres black?

A genuinely interesting question, this, so long as you’re the kind of person who finds tyre related history genuinely interesting. Before World War One, car tyres were white – or at least white-ish, the natural colour of rubber. But around 1917, tyre makers began adding carbon black – a fine sooty substance – to the mix. It was claimed this made the rubber 10 times more durable and also improved grip. Clearly it was actually so Edwardian hooligans could lay down a fat set of black 11s while doing burnouts in their souped-up Dixie Flyers.

How do I rotate my tyres?

A slow press on the accelerator should do it.

How do tyres grip?

Tenaciously and dependably, right up until the moment that they don’t, whereupon you shall find yourself wrapped vigorously about a sturdy chestnut tree.

What does the writing on tyres mean?

If you’re talking about the bit that reads, say, 255/55R17, that’s a code indicating the tyre size: 255 is its width in millimetres; 55 its sidewall height as a percentage of tyre width; R indicates its radial construction; and 17 the diameter of the wheel rim in inches. If you’re talking about the bit that reads, say, MICHELIN, that’s who made your tyre.

Why are there so many tyres on the motorway?

Because they’re attached to all the cars driving on the motorway?

What are tyres made of?

In addition to rubber, modern tyres can contain up to 200 different raw materials, including silica, polyester, petroleum, nylon and more. The tyres at Top Gear’s local budget tyre emporium, for example, are constructed of an innovative blend of soap, chalk dust and blind hope.

Why are my tyres brown?

Don’t know, don’t want to know. Next question.

What should I fill my tyres with?

Fill your tyres with air if you’ve got a regular road car. Fill your tyres with nitrogen if you’ve got a Nissan GT-R, an F1 car or a commercial airliner. Fill your tyres with helium if you want it to make fun squeaky noises when you get a puncture.

Why are my tyres cracking?

Because you bought them from a reet good Yorkshire tyre shop, pet.