Outsole rubber color affects durability?

Running Shoes/Running Gear Shoes

3 years ago 02/18/2021 2:34pm EST

Got the Endorphin Pro in the original colors:

https://www.saucony.com/en/endorphin-pro/44571M.html?dwvar_44571M_color=S20598-10

The whole rubber outsole is in one piece, but there's a strip that's been colored black and it's significantly harder than the yellow/green rubber when I dig a fingernail in. I read that carbon black is used as a filler to strengthen rubber, so does colorful rubber actually reduce durability even though it's meant as an aesthetic choice?

I'm not sensitive to cushioning degradation so my shoe life is usually limited by outsole wear.

idk might be a useless and impractical question but w/e

3 years ago 02/18/2021 9:41pm EST

re: unregistered nobody

carbon rubber is significantly more durable but also heavier and stiffer. the color doesn't matter though...although there are often multiple types of rubber used on a single outsole, with the carbon rubber in the highest impact areas.

3 years ago 02/18/2021 11:45pm EST

re: unregistered nobody

You could paint the whole thing black and see if that helps.

3 years ago 02/19/2021 10:43am EST

re: unregistered nobody

I'm a sourcing guy so I've seen rubber compounded and made into parts used in manufacturing. The color would not be a factor in durability. When rubber is compounded they basically have a big barrel shaped holder that is rotating horizontally and carbon black, rubber and other compounds are added while heat is being applied. For running shoes weight is a key variable which influences both where rubber is applied on the outsole and the density and durometer of the rubber. Durometer, in simple terms, is how hard the rubber with harder rubbers generally being more durable. The density of higher durometer rubber tends to be higher thus it can add to shoe weight a lot. What will impact durability for a shoe will depend on what surface you run on and how your feet hit the ground and how the heel area of the shoe is designed. If you are a heel-striker, like me, how the heel area is formed and what type of rubber compound is used and where it is applied will influence durability. If you are a midfoot striker the force of the ground is usually applied over a much greater surface area and your shoes will probably last longer. My shoes are almost always worn out when the hard rubber on the heel is worn through to a softer layer and almost never due to compression of the softer sole material. Long winded answer but no the color has no impact on durability

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