Is it true that the ink dot on the sidewall of performance tires indicates where the valve stem is supposed to be positioned? Is it fair to tell the tire shop that the mounting is incorrect if the dot doesn't line up with the valve stem?

I wanted a second opinion before I yell at them...

 

Well - I found this article on it (link). I guess the matching point could either be the tire valve stem -or- a paint mark in the dropwell area (link).

Do you know if your wheels have a dropwell mark? If you don't know - you might want to ask them how they lined up the tires. If they don't give you a satisfactory answer, then raise hell.

The most important thing is how they ride. If they are smooth, you have nothing to worry about.

 

After the tire is manufactured it is checked for roundness. The dot (usually red) is placed to indicate the high spot on the tire. The same is done for Steel Wheels and the valve stem is cut at the high spot on the wheel. When mounted (by competent people) the high spot on the tire is then placed opposite the high spot on the wheel to compensate for the out of roundness to the extent possible. Whether this is also the case with the alloy wheels I don't know.

 

Locate the matching point on the wheel.

Steel wheels: There is either a chartreuse or red sticker on the outside rim flange or, if the sticker is missing, a yellow paint mark in the dropwell of the rim that must be transferred to the outside rim flange.

Aluminum wheels: The matching point identified by a yellow paint mark located in the dropwell area of the wheel. If there is no yellow paint mark in the dropwell area, then the matching point is at the valve stem.

Just

 

With advent of Road Force Balancing, I think Indexing Dots will go the way of the Dodo & T-Rex.

But hey, I could be wrong.

 

Hey, check RSX, TSX, RL - Japan made car . you will see those dot very close to valve. Do you now WHY??? read - Aluminum wheels: The matching point identified by a yellow paint mark located in the dropwell area of the wheel. If there is no yellow paint mark in the dropwell area, then the matching point is at the valve stem.

 

A lot of people don't want to pay the extra $$$ for road force balancing. If you have a good brand of tire, road force balancing should not be necessary.

 

Depends on the driver. Some people are much more sensitive to it than others. I am one o those drivers. So far so good on my '05 TL.

 

You'r out of question.



question is -- Is it true that the ink dot on the sidewall of performance tires indicates where the valve stem is supposed to be positioned? Is it fair to tell the tire shop that the mounting is incorrect if the dot doesn't line up with the valve stem?

I wanted a second opinion before I yell at them...