Yellow dots on my tires

Got my new BFG's today and want to know what the yellow dots are for on the bead. Each tire has 2 that 180 apart. I think this is for balancing reference, something about lining up those dots with marks on the rim to get the best balance? anyone know this?

 

dunno i've seen red dots on tires too

 

I have seen the same thing. I always thought they were for wear. If they disappear time to get new wheels.

 

Ok nice works. Learn something new everyday.

 

I found this:

Can we review which dot goes where?​

First, if the tire has a red dot, ignore the yellow dot.
Then, if you have a steel wheel, look for the low point
dimple on the wheel, and mount the tire with the
red dot next to the low point dimple.
If the wheel is aluminum, or if it’s steel, but has no
low point dimple, mount the tire with the red dot
next to the valve stem.​

And if the tire has only a yellow dot?​

Regardless of the type of wheel, if there is no red dot,
mount the tire with the yellow dot next to the valve stem.​

Why do it that way?​

We’ll start with the yellow dot, because it’s easier to explain.
The yellow dot indicates the overall ​

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light static balance
point of the tire. In other words, it’s as though the tire is a
bit lighter in the area where the yellow dot is located.​

How does that relate to the wheel?​

On an aluminum wheel, the valve stem marks the heavy
point of the wheel. So, you’re matching the light point of
the tire with the heavy point of the wheel, because that’s
likely to give the best initial balance.​

Why is an aluminum wheel heavier at the
valve stem location?​

While steel wheels are forged, aluminum wheels are
machined. For that reason, aluminum wheels are
very uniform in their overall balance.
And, if you look at an aluminum wheel, you notice that
where a hole has been cut into the wheel, an identical size
and shape hole is cut at a location 180 degrees opposite it.
The result is that even with all their cutouts and holes,
aluminum wheels are still very uniform in balance. Except
for one place.​

Where’s that?​

Where the valve stem is located. At that spot, the
manufacturer has to bore a hole through the wheel
for the stem, removing metal from the wheel.
That hole is about 9.7 mm in diameter and the
aluminum at that point is usually about 7.6 mm thick.
If we do the math, knowing that aluminum weighs about
2.64 grams per cubic centimeter, we find that the aluminum
removed to make the hole weighs about 0.52 ounces.​

So wouldn’t that make the wheel ​

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lighter at
that point?​

If you didn’t replace the aluminum you drilled out.
But you do. Into that hole, you mount a valve stem.
And one of the most popular valve stems, including its
securing nut and rubber grommet, weighs about 1.7 ounces.
So, when the valve stem is mounted, the wheel is about
1.2 ounces heavier at the valve stem location, making it the
heavy point of the aluminum wheel. When you mount the
tire with the yellow dot (the light point) next to the valve
stem (the heavy point), you are at least partially balancing
out the assembly.
The same is true on steel wheels, so match the yellow
dot to the valve stem on those.​

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If the tire has no red dot,
match the yellow dot to the valve stem.
Aluminum wheels are machined, rather than forged,
giving them a very uniform balance, and each hole in the wheel
is matched with others opposite it to preserve that balance.
If the tire has red and
yellow dots, ignore
the yellow dot and
match the red dot to the
steel wheel low point dimple.​

ask the DOCTOR

 

Trying to find out what the 2 yellow dots mean on my tires? Why do they have 2 yellow dots 180 degrees apart? All the info I find talks about 1 dot being the lightest part of the tire.

 

just my 2 cents, but when I worked for firestone in college they told us to line up the valve stem with the yellow dot when mounting the tire. I don't ever remember seeing 2 dots though.

 

I did that already. BFG told me they put no markings on the tires and that the tire distributer puts all the markings on the tire. I then called the distributer and they told me the tire manufacturer puts all the markings on the tire. This entire balancing issue is complete crap. EVERY tire guy I talk to tells me that it's bullshit that Toyota wheels need a special balancer adapter. I even spoke to Toyota dealers and they have no idea what I'm talking about. Even when I show them the Toyota Service bulletin #
SU002–96 on this issue. No offense to any tire guy here but they all are dull. I cannot believe that in the tire business that they do not know any of this. I mean, all they do ALL DAY is tires? Not much to know and they still can't get it right.

 

YEah that is what I'm finding out but like you said, I have 2 180 degrees apart. Hmmm.

 

I hear ya. I'm just frustrated because I can never get a balance on my tires and the tire guy's tell me they areproperly balanced