Just put four new Yokohama ES100's (225/45WR17) on the car today. I put over 35,000 miles on the old set...pretty good mileage for such a soft and sticky tire. Good price too, $515.57 OTD, included balancing on the Hunter GSP 9700.
Okay, you've all seen the colored dots on the sidewall of (most) new tires. Question is: what does
the yellow dot indicate? It could be a different color dot on some tires but either way 3 out of 4 tire techs
i asked didn't know. What is your answer?
Tire trivia question....
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canyoncarver
- Posts: 1123
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RetiredDoc
- Posts: 1319
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006
- Location: Aiken SC
is found here:Both of you guys could get a job in any tire shop just by knowing the answer to that single question.
Yes, the yellow dot is where you need to line up the valve stem. I learned this today while hanging around waiting for my car to get its new shoes. The first two guys I asked didn't have a clue. The third guy (speaking with a very heavy Spanish accent) told me it was to line up with the valve stem.
Fortunately, this 3rd guy was the same one working on my car! I had tipped him $10 before he started work just to let him know I wanted him to be careful with the wheels and to torque to exactly 81 ft lbs. He did a great job...even lined up the roundels on each wheel cap to match the ///M badges perfectly.
The final answer came from the service writer (I asked him just for the helluvit after paying the tab). He said "uhhh, they said something about that in training but I forget what it means....couldn't be too important". Guess today was my lucky day.
Yes, the yellow dot is where you need to line up the valve stem. I learned this today while hanging around waiting for my car to get its new shoes. The first two guys I asked didn't have a clue. The third guy (speaking with a very heavy Spanish accent) told me it was to line up with the valve stem.
Fortunately, this 3rd guy was the same one working on my car! I had tipped him $10 before he started work just to let him know I wanted him to be careful with the wheels and to torque to exactly 81 ft lbs. He did a great job...even lined up the roundels on each wheel cap to match the ///M badges perfectly.
The final answer came from the service writer (I asked him just for the helluvit after paying the tab). He said "uhhh, they said something about that in training but I forget what it means....couldn't be too important". Guess today was my lucky day.
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RetiredDoc
- Posts: 1319
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006
- Location: Aiken SC
http://www.yokohamatire.com/utmatch.asp ... FvuN2WPoEp
OK. Go to the web site addressed above; it's the same site John went to.
Then scroll down about 10 or so lines and you will have the answer to your question. It's in the next line after the answer to John's yellow dot question.
OK. Go to the web site addressed above; it's the same site John went to.
Then scroll down about 10 or so lines and you will have the answer to your question. It's in the next line after the answer to John's yellow dot question.
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spinedocab
- Posts: 2600
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006
- Location: Upper Bucks County, PA
I put a set of Sumitomo tires on one of my cars a couple of summers ago, and they have a similar nomenclature/dot system.
If you go to the Sumitomo site there is a more detailed explanation than the Yoko's. Anyway, one dot is the heaviest portion of the tire and that gets mounted up to the valve stem. If the tire is difficult to balance properly and vibrations persisit, then there is a method for remounting using the yellow dot. I don't recall what it was since it didn't come to that.
I did the mount and balance myself, and it went well using the red dot to valve stem method.
HTH,
Andrew.
If you go to the Sumitomo site there is a more detailed explanation than the Yoko's. Anyway, one dot is the heaviest portion of the tire and that gets mounted up to the valve stem. If the tire is difficult to balance properly and vibrations persisit, then there is a method for remounting using the yellow dot. I don't recall what it was since it didn't come to that.
I did the mount and balance myself, and it went well using the red dot to valve stem method.
HTH,
Andrew.
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Velocewest
- Posts: 1558
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006
- Location: UK
[QUOTE="RetiredDoc"] http://www.yokohamatire.com/utmatch.asp ... FvuN2WPoEp
OK. Go to the web site addressed above; it's the same site John went to.
Then scroll down about 10 or so lines and you will have the answer to your question. It's in the next line after the answer to John's yellow dot question.
[/QUOTE]
Nice! I'm having my new Yoko AVS Sports mounted on new wheels today, I will print that and perhaps have a little quiz before turning tires and wheels over to the shop...
[Edit by Velocewest on [TIME]1110640846[/TIME]]
OK. Go to the web site addressed above; it's the same site John went to.
Then scroll down about 10 or so lines and you will have the answer to your question. It's in the next line after the answer to John's yellow dot question.
[/QUOTE]Nice! I'm having my new Yoko AVS Sports mounted on new wheels today, I will print that and perhaps have a little quiz before turning tires and wheels over to the shop...
[Edit by Velocewest on [TIME]1110640846[/TIME]]
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spinedocab
- Posts: 2600
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006
- Location: Upper Bucks County, PA
OK, I found the printout of the other companies (Sumitomo) Tech. Bulletin.
I need to set the record straight because I posted incorrect info. This is what the T.B. says:
"The Balance Marks will be indicated as follows"
"YELLOW - Within 3inches to either side of the YELLOW circle is the LIGHT spot of the tire. Each tire is confirmed at the factory for radial ballance and marked at this point. For most mounting practices Sumitomo suggests mounting this YELLOW circle near the valve stem, and use of industry recommended proocedures for safe tire mounting.
RED - a RED circle denotes a measurement of high-speed run out (measurement called HARMONIC). If the wheel/rim is an OE spec rim, it is marked at the factory with a DIMPLE ( in the wheel/rim heel). If this tire/rim assembly gives a vibration at high speed with the YELLOW circle at the valve stem and the bead is checked for proper seating, then the RED circle should be matched with the DIMPLE.
Vibration diagnosis note: If, after mounting the tire with the YELLOW circle near the valve stem, there is need for excess weight, please break down the beads from the rim, rotate the tire 180 degrees, then reinflate it to normal pressure (please follow proper procedure). This short practice will reduce the amount of weights needed to bring the rim/tire assembly into uniformity when the rim/wheel has no DIMPLE or is not an OE spec wheel.
Any other colored circles are only inspection marks and do not need to be involved with tire mounting."
I need to set the record straight because I posted incorrect info. This is what the T.B. says:
"The Balance Marks will be indicated as follows"
"YELLOW - Within 3inches to either side of the YELLOW circle is the LIGHT spot of the tire. Each tire is confirmed at the factory for radial ballance and marked at this point. For most mounting practices Sumitomo suggests mounting this YELLOW circle near the valve stem, and use of industry recommended proocedures for safe tire mounting.
RED - a RED circle denotes a measurement of high-speed run out (measurement called HARMONIC). If the wheel/rim is an OE spec rim, it is marked at the factory with a DIMPLE ( in the wheel/rim heel). If this tire/rim assembly gives a vibration at high speed with the YELLOW circle at the valve stem and the bead is checked for proper seating, then the RED circle should be matched with the DIMPLE.
Vibration diagnosis note: If, after mounting the tire with the YELLOW circle near the valve stem, there is need for excess weight, please break down the beads from the rim, rotate the tire 180 degrees, then reinflate it to normal pressure (please follow proper procedure). This short practice will reduce the amount of weights needed to bring the rim/tire assembly into uniformity when the rim/wheel has no DIMPLE or is not an OE spec wheel.
Any other colored circles are only inspection marks and do not need to be involved with tire mounting."