Yellow and red paint spots on tire sidewalls
Yellow and red paint spots on tire sidewalls
(OP)
Recently I purchased a set of tires via mail order and I am about to mount and balance them. On each tire there is a yellow dot and a red dot approximately 1/3 of the way around the tire from the yellow dot in the clockwise direction, and these markings are only found on one sidewall. There is no consistency among the four tires regarding the placement of these dots relative to the molded-in tire markings, which leads me to suspect that they mean something in terms of balance and/or suggested orientation on the rim. The tires in question are Falken Ziex ZE512's in 225/50R17 94V size, unidirectional and symmetrical with a largish circumferential groove in the center of the tread.
I should add that my wheels (Nissan Maxima alloys) each have one small white paint dot near the outer diameter, and these are not located in any consistent fashion with respect to the valve stem hole.
Exactly what do these paint dots represent and how would I best use that information?
Thanks in advance.
Norm
I should add that my wheels (Nissan Maxima alloys) each have one small white paint dot near the outer diameter, and these are not located in any consistent fashion with respect to the valve stem hole.
Exactly what do these paint dots represent and how would I best use that information?
Thanks in advance.
Norm
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RE: Yellow and red paint spots on tire sidewalls
I can only really comment as to what our supplier (not Falken) require. The red dots on the tyre should be aligned with the wheel indicator as they represent the low point of the rim bead radial runout and the high point of the tyre imbalance respectively. This will achieve best level of comfort/performance.
Our supplier uses a yellow dot as a QA pass indicator.
I am aware that other systems, mostly light truck, require the tyre dot to match the valve hole in the wheel.
CheeRS
RE: Yellow and red paint spots on tire sidewalls
I'll try Falken, hoping that I can find the right place to ask and that they will be willing to share that kind of information with an individual end-user.
Norm
RE: Yellow and red paint spots on tire sidewalls
Thanks again; worth a star.
Norm
RE: Yellow and red paint spots on tire sidewalls
RE: Yellow and red paint spots on tire sidewalls
The yellow dot is the lightest spot and it is suggested to mount this above the valve stem.
The red dot is the high point, recommended to be mounted at the low point of the rim if so marked or, preferably, per actual measurement.
Per a product engineer at Falken Tire, these marks are just "starting" points for the tire installer to effectively mount your tires. With some of the new balancing equipment out there, the machine can do a more accurate job matching and balancing then simply relying on these dots alone.
Norm
RE: Yellow and red paint spots on tire sidewalls
No, I don't know how we work out a compromise, I'd /guess/ that tyre force variation matching is the most important characteristic.
Incidentally, since every tyre has tyre force variation, a wise man might conclude that we machine our wheels eccentrically, deliberately.
Incidentally, at least in Australia, if you do get tyres with two dots on them then they are of OEM standard, not the usual aftermarket stuff (this may have changed).
Cheers
Greg Locock
RE: Yellow and red paint spots on tire sidewalls
ProEpro
www.whitelightdesign.com
Pro/E FAQ www.whitelightdesign.com/servicestips.htm
RE: Yellow and red paint spots on tire sidewalls
But, there may be better tyres for a particular application than the OEM fitment. OEM tyres are selected partly on price, and it is quite possible that you will be able to find a better tyre, given that you will have different priorities. Quite how you find out is another matter altogether - some motoring magazines run tests, which may help if they have tested the sort of thing you are interested in.
As an example, in the USA at least, fuel economy drives a lot of OEM decisions, whereas in the aftermarket fuel economy is of peripheral concern at best.
Cheers
Greg Locock
RE: Yellow and red paint spots on tire sidewalls
hope this was useful.
RE: Yellow and red paint spots on tire sidewalls
My information is incomplete, but correct. Yours is wrong.
Cheers
Greg Locock
RE: Yellow and red paint spots on tire sidewalls
http://www.falkentire.com/tech_warranties_docs/Uniformity.cfm
Hope that helps!
RE: Yellow and red paint spots on tire sidewalls
Yellow=Light
Red=High
Aligning the red mark with the low spot on the wheel(usually marked on wheel with white dot) is the best method for mounting tires. This makes the assembly more uniform and helps limit the RFV (Radial Force Variation). If you have expieriance with a newer high line tire balancing machine, it will "OEM Match" tires for you, which basically means matching the uniformity of the wheel to the uniformity of the tire. this is very important to to when mount very stiff or high performance tires, as it will limit tire vibrations causing shimmy and shake.