This is really minor, but would like to know. What is the significance of the red dot on the tire. I am guessing something to do with balancing?

 

That's what I've been told but I have never seen it used.
I was told it should be lined up a certain way with the valve stem - don't remember which way it was.

 

Red dot is the location of the highest radial force (weight). Yellow dot is the lowest. Manufacturers balance the rims and tires together. Most rims have a dimple (center punch) on the backside. The red dot is aligned with the dimple which equals the lowest radial force (weight) on the rim to get the best balancing. If the post tire installation road force measurement is still off, the tire is rotated on the rim so that the yellow dot (lowest radial force) aligns with the valve stem/TPMS sensor. The valve stem and more importantly the internal TPMS sensor usually results in that spot being the highest radial force on the rim. The yellow dot counters the weight if the red dot method does not work first.

NOW...the more important question. Why does almost every independent tire dealer ignore the dots during tire replacement? Also, car and truck manufacturers get the best balanced tires from the tire factory before the remainder are sold to the public. It minimizes the number of ride complaints from new owners.

 

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret....jsp?techid=17

 

I knew about the yellow and red dots but the dimple on the wheel is the first time I heard this. Next time I balance a set I'll look for the dimples. We always align the yellow dot to the valve stem. Few times we had to rotate the tire on the wheel due to road force issues (mainly with cheaper tires).

 

I have seen paint marks on rims, but don't recall the dimple. How far back did they start using dimples?

 

snipers

 

My last set had dimples. I have not looked at the current set. Based upon the TireRack link posted above, it seems to imply that only OE rim manufacturers mark the rim's low point. My 2012 Tundra and 2015 GMC Sierra had dimples on the backside of the rim..

 

This is the value of a Forum. Why wonder when you can know.

 

I scrubbed all mine off a month ago. Couldn't stand nice black tires with a red dot.