Why Do New Tires Smell?

Many products have a unique smell when you first use them that eventually fades. Tires are no exception. Tires are well known for having a strong smell when they are first put on your car due to what goes into them and the process of making them.

Rubber

  • Everyone knows that strong smell of melting rubber. According to the website Drivers, tires contain 14 to 16 different kinds of rubber in various combinations that allow for different kinds of traction, structure and heat resistance.

Curing

  • The curing process of making a tire is where manufacturers combine all the types of rubber together and cook them at extremely high temperatures. They also add in different substances in order to accelerate or decelerate the cooking process of particular rubbers. All of what goes into the curing process is what makes tires have a stronger and more intense smell than other rubber products.

Raw Materials

  • According to CNN Living, tires contain more than 200 raw materials in addition to rubber. Some of these materials are cordage, steel, sulfur and ink--all of which contribute to the smell of the tire. Each tire's scent can be traced back to the point of its manufacture.