Where Are the Paint Dots Placed?
The yellow dots identify where a tire weighs the least — the lightest point on a tire. The yellow dot should be lined up and directly next to the valve stem, which is the wheel’s heaviest point.
The red dots identify where the tire is flattest — the lowest point on a tire. The red dot should be directly across from the highest point of the wheel, which is usually indicated by a colored dot or a notch on the wheel.
If a tire has a yellow and red dot, the red dot takes precedence when balancing the tire.
Why Are These Tire Dots Important?
The yellow and red dots indicate inconsistencies in a tire’s weight, construction and structure, which can cause them to vibrate when spinning. Vibrating, unbalanced tires can negatively affect ride quality, fuel economy and braking effectiveness, among other things. A vibrating tire/wheel assembly makes controlling your vehicle more difficult, especially at high speeds, and can increase stopping distance.
A hopping tire/wheel loses full contact with the road surface generating less friction when braking. Keep in mind, the section of tire that actually touches the road, called the contact patch or footprint, isn’t much larger than the palm of your hand.
What Does Wheel Balancing Do?
Wheel balancing spins a tire/wheel assembly to identify the location(s) where weights need to be placed to eliminate vibrations and help tires roll smoothly. Out-of-balance tires may develop dangerous bald spots, which negatively affect tread wear, and shorten tire life. Out-of-balance tires can also cause premature suspension component failures.
The two most common types of wheel balancing are dynamic and match-balancing. During dynamic balancing, wheel weights are added to counteract tire imbalance that results in tire hop. Match-balancing matches the tire’s low point to its wheel’s high point, providing a smooth ride.
Tires are expensive. When having your new tires mounted and balanced, ask your tire installation professional if their wheel balancing equipment can match-balance tires. This is especially important if your wheels lack any markings.
