The original Michelin Man from 1898.
The Michelin Man is white because rubber tires are naturally white. It was not until 1912, that carbon chemicals were mixed into the white tires, which turned them black. The change was structural, not aesthetic. By adding carbon, tires became more durable.
The Michelin Man also has a name—Bibendum. It’s a weird name considering the latin phrase, “Nunc est bibendum,” which means, “Now is the time to drink.”