color dots on tyre

[cx5driverBG]

Hi everybody. Since I bought my CX5 at beginning of this year, I made my first change of winter tires with summer ones few weeks ago. I had noticed some color dots on the tyre, but also on the new rims that I also bought for the new tires. Does anybody knows what is the purpose of it? Thanks.

 

[agr99]

Tire alignment I believe

Sent from my 0PM92 using Tapatalk

 

[Ride92]

The yellow dot is an indication by the manufacturer that this is the lightest spot of the tire and should be matched up with the valve stem which is usually the heaviest part of the rim. This allows for less weights to be added to get a balanced wheel. The red is usually a high spot on the tire. Tires are not 100% round so there is always going to be some variance with them. Again the red dot should be installed over the valve stem unless you're using steel rims, then there is usually a dimple to mark the "low" spot on the steel rim. When you have both yellow and red dots, the rule is that "red rules" and use that one for mounting. Here's a good article that explains it all:

http://www.tirebusiness.com/article/20070813/ISSUE/308139967/are-you-seeing-dots-those-color-coded-sidewall-markings-serve-a

I wouldn't worry to much about it. As long as a reputable shop installed the tires and balanced them and you are not having any vibration issues I would just leave it be.

 

[yrwei52]

The yellow dot is an indication by the manufacturer that this is the lightest spot of the tire and should be matched up with the valve stem which is usually the heaviest part of the rim. This allows for less weights to be added to get a balanced wheel. The red is usually a high spot on the tire. Tires are not 100% round so there is always going to be some variance with them. Again the red dot should be installed over the valve stem unless you're using steel rims, then there is usually a dimple to mark the "low" spot on the steel rim. When you have both yellow and red dots, the rule is that "red rules" and use that one for mounting. Here's a good article that explains it all:

http://www.tirebusiness.com/article/20070813/ISSUE/308139967/are-you-seeing-dots-those-color-coded-sidewall-markings-serve-a

I wouldn't worry to much about it. As long as a reputable shop installed the tires and balanced them and you are not having any vibration issues I would just leave it be.

Whoa didn't know this and I always thought those color dots are for internal use only by tire companies during manufacturing process. Thanks Ride92 for the info and learn something new here everyday!

 

[gimor]

FWIW The valve stem may not be the heaviest spot on a bare rim.
Over the years I've had 4 out of 6 MC rims with the lightest spot up to 6" away from the valve stem.
Using the new spot fI requently needed no wheel weights to balance a tire.
Someday I'll check my CX-5 rims too.

 

[cx5driverBG]

Thanks a lot for your detailed explanation Ride 92! I've expected something like this, but now it is clear. Unfortunately here even reputable shops have not enough knowledge. I know it is not so important in case they installed and ballanced it correctly, but I can see good amount of weights. Why should be thatway instead using factory information!! Again thank you.

 

[eyedocorlando]

https://www.yokohamatire.com/tires-101/advanced-information/match-mounting

Uniformity vs Weight method = Dots on tire

 

[leeharvey418]

Bear in mind that dot identification systems aren't standardized - just because some manufacturers might use one system, doesn't mean that every other manufacturer does it the same way.

 

[CX5_Pete]

Some techs don't even care where the dot goes, especially if they are in a hurry. It will still balance, but it might need more weight to get it done.

 

[cx5driverBG]

https://www.yokohamatire.com/tires-101/advanced-information/match-mounting

Uniformity vs Weight method = Dots on tire

A lot of interesting info