Red & Yellow dots on new tires means?

I just saw a video of a person explaining the meaning of the Red & Yellow dots on the outside of tires once mounted.
Red means - low point
Yellow means- lightest part of the tire

If you have both the Red & Yellow dots, The tires with the Red dots the valve stem should be mounted in-line (next) to the Red dots . Results less tire weights will be needed. Or red dot should match the dimple on a rim if the the rim has a dimple markings.

If only a yellow dot, the valve stem should be next to yellow dots. Results in using less tire weights.
I never notice this before.
It this important? Even tire rims can have a dimple markings.

Not everything is perfectly round.

 

if it's brown drink it down, if it's black send it back. if it's yeller, call another feller, it it's red it's dead.

 

Not as big of a deal on these trucks, as these tires arent seeing crazy high speeds nor do they see as many revolutions as car tires (smaller circumferencel

 

There is an optimal way to do everything, sometimes it matters more than others.

Merely slapping the tire on the wheel and sticking weights on as the machine tells you most of the time yields a balanced assembly, paying mind to the dots and conscientiously applying the weights should yield an well balanced assembly.

It really comes down to doing a good job or a just good enough job.


I used to use a one man alignment shop where everything was very old including the man. He worked slowly, inspected the front end with a flashlight, checked every joint and made every adjustment with care -- when he was done the car tracked perfectly.

He (and most of his breed) are long retired and we are stuck with some phone distracted 22 year old with a 1/4 million dollar computer machine doing our alignments. Sure his machine is far superior to the ancient equipment the old man used, but the kid only focuses on getting everything in the green zone on the screen, to him that is a good enough job.

 

Link(s)?

 

I worked in a tire shop years ago. There was no such thing as dots or dimples. If an assembly didn't balance out well... it was put on the back. This must be something new...

 

Been around at least 20 years, though not all manufacturers add them. Some have additional colors added for the manufacturering process only, green or purple for example. Lacking dots, if the tire needs lots of weight good practice is to go back and clock it 180, and potentially flop if its not a unidirectional.

 

I knew about this. I looked at a Toyota lot one day and every vehicle, probably 50, were mounted correctly. Do it the correct way. Means less wheel weight to balance. If it didn't matter they wouldn't put the dots there.
What's involved an extra 10 seconds ?
I went to a national tire chain to have tires installed 2 years ago. All 6 of the crew including the manager knew nothing about this and asked me to explain it to them. Amazing. However there are many shops that do it correctly.

 

They have a purpose.

https://tyrewaale.com/blogs/what-is-the-difference-between-red-dots-yellow-dots-on-tyres/

https://www.tires-easy.com/blog/what-are-the-red-and-yellow-dots-on-my-tires/

 

Maybe I should have said I worked in a tire shop decades ago a couple years before the Tacoma was introduced...

 

It became more of an issue with the use of TPMS. They add weight. The idea is that is the heaviest part of the wheel and you line it up with the lightest part of the tire to get closer to perfect balance. For a tire shop it isn't a big deal because those tire monkeys go through wheel weights like candy, but to a vehicle manufacturer that counts ever half cent saved, it is a big deal when they can cut down on the amount of wheel weights they have to buy.

 

I did not know this. Glad to learn about it.

 

That makes sense.

I used to work for a shop in the early 90's. This definitely wasn't a thing then. Also good to take note of for future...

 

How many tire shops are aware of the Red & Yellow dots? The main reason is cut down the tire weights, and better balance of tires. Even tire rims have a dimple to show light side of the rims. No such thing as a perfect round tires and rims.
Watching the video was a surprise for me. But it is more for the tire shops.

Tire weights at one time was made of lead. We would melt the tire weights and make fishing weights. We made 1oz to 9oz leads. My Son and I would melt 100+ pounds of lead , every year. Respirator needed for sure. Lead is toxic.
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Why do we have Red, Yellow and Green lights? Google mentions during the Railroad days Red light was a sign of danger, Railroads use the Red lights to STOP. White was use as GO, green for caution. One day a red lens fall out of a Red light and cause a disaster. Causing the light to show (White)
Today Red , Yellow ( go like hell ) and Green. Is use around the world.

 

Red dot on the tire, white dot or dimple on the wheel, is about aligning the high and low spots to minimize radial runout (not weight). Runout cannot be fixed by adding weights, that's why red dot has priority over yellow.

For example, an oval wheel and tire combo, even square, could be perfectly "balanced" and yet obviously ride terribly.

 

Thank you for the explanations. All tires sold are not perfectly round and have flaws. Including tire rims.
Reasons for Red & Yellow dots.

 

Red touches black, you're okay Jack.
Red touches yellow, you're a dead fellow.

 

lol! yellow dot red dot BS! if that tire were manufactured by a decent human being then no dots would be needed. as a tech for 12 years most of those dots are USELESS because most new tires have a crappy belt track and can be visibly seen when spun on the balancer on worn/wobbly/warped aluminum wheels therefore would be best to pay a little extra to have the tech "road force balance" to have the best tire placement on your worn aluminum wheels. the dot idea was not bad but it don't work most the time.

 

Um? Did you know not all measurements tapes are accurate? The first six foot must be with 1/32 , to be consider accurate.
In Europe they have three ratings of accuracy level 1,2,& 3 for measurement.

I learn this in the 70’s working at a hardware store, not all levels are level. I would sometimes search to see which ones were not so level. Haha.

My lead molds, different brands, of the same measurement, will have different readings.


Vehicle tires are mass produced. They look perfect to us. But that is why tire balancing is important. Do you remember the old fashion way to balance a tire? The Bubble balance?

Remember when filling tires with air? Do not put too much air on one side ( inside) , kidding.