Oops, using wrong subject before. Sorry.
There has been a lot about tires on this site but I don't remember this subject being addressed.
Reasons for Yellow and Reddots on new tires
The Yellow Dot
When tires are made, they are almost never perfectly balanced.Most manufacturers will place a yellow dot on the section of the tire wherethere is least weight. The technician is then supposed to line up this yellowdot to where the valve stem is located. Where the valve stem is located isthe heaviest point of the wheel. By aligning the lightest spot on thetire with the heaviest point on the wheel, the tire/wheel balance is as close tooptimal as can be. As such, you won't be using as many lead weights aroundthe wheel to balance out the tire and wheel. Using fewer weights means you geta more balanced wheel, which then means a quieter, more comfortable ride, and alonger-lasting tire. All these add up to significant savings for theuser.
The Red Dot
In the same way tires are never perfectly balanced from themanufacturer, tires are never perfectly round, either, even when new. They havehigh and low points because of where the belts are joined, and these points cancause vibrations when a tire is rolling. The red dot indicates the tire's highpoint. Most of the time, a wheel will also have a dot—either a drilled dot or asticker to indicate its low point. If you have these marks, you should alignthe red dot with the mark on the wheel. By doing this, you minimize thevibration caused by the high point of the tire. Minimized vibration is a goodthing and ultimately also saves you money.
Tom Whitton
26 foot updated GMC
Paducah, KY
There has been a lot about tires on this site but I don't remember this subject being addressed.
Reasons for Yellow and Reddots on new tires
The Yellow Dot
When tires are made, they are almost never perfectly balanced.Most manufacturers will place a yellow dot on the section of the tire wherethere is least weight. The technician is then supposed to line up this yellowdot to where the valve stem is located. Where the valve stem is located isthe heaviest point of the wheel. By aligning the lightest spot on thetire with the heaviest point on the wheel, the tire/wheel balance is as close tooptimal as can be. As such, you won't be using as many lead weights aroundthe wheel to balance out the tire and wheel. Using fewer weights means you geta more balanced wheel, which then means a quieter, more comfortable ride, and alonger-lasting tire. All these add up to significant savings for theuser.
The Red Dot
In the same way tires are never perfectly balanced from themanufacturer, tires are never perfectly round, either, even when new. They havehigh and low points because of where the belts are joined, and these points cancause vibrations when a tire is rolling. The red dot indicates the tire's highpoint. Most of the time, a wheel will also have a dot—either a drilled dot or asticker to indicate its low point. If you have these marks, you should alignthe red dot with the mark on the wheel. By doing this, you minimize thevibration caused by the high point of the tire. Minimized vibration is a goodthing and ultimately also saves you money.
Tom Whitton
26 foot updated GMC
Paducah, KY
