Stripes can be of different widths, colors and locations. But they have one common characteristic feature. Please note: the stripe always goes along the entire circumference of the tire. This ensures that paint never gets into the grooves. What kind of painter is this who is not too lazy to paint like this “artistically” on each tire?
If the nozzle sprayed paint onto the rotating tire, the stripes would fit perfectly. And these are not applied quite evenly. Does this mean they are applied by hand?
If the nozzle sprayed paint onto the rotating tire, the stripes would fit perfectly. And these are not applied quite evenly. Does this mean they are applied by hand?
How are stripes useful for the buyer?
Tires are sometimes sold inconsistently, especially in markets, that’s a fact. I came across a situation where tires produced not only in different weeks, but also in different years were sold as one set. However, it is believed that it is better to install tires from the same batch on a car. This is where third time tire stripes can come in handy.
If the stripes on the tires are absolutely identical, this is an indirect sign that the tires are from the same batch.
If the stripes on the tires are absolutely identical, this is an indirect sign that the tires are from the same batch.
Not all motorists know this.
Each of us seems to know everything about tires: when to change them if the tread wears out, that it is necessary to change tires when the seasons change, and also that it is necessary to buy a new tire if there is a hernia on the wheel. But not everyone knows why the manufacturer puts multi-colored dots or triangles on new tires. Do not know? Now we'll tell you.
When you look at a new tire, you may have seen a small red/orange, yellow, or white dot on the sidewall (some auto tire manufacturers may also put a triangle instead of a dot).
Most car enthusiasts probably just assume that this dot or triangle is there for some internal manufacturing reason during the tire manufacturing process. But in fact, these dots on new tires are extremely useful when you install a new set of tires on your wheels.
How to ensure maximum accuracy in your wheel balancing procedure
About the design and operation of a car. What is the difference between 92 gasoline and 95. Compression ratio and a modern car. From a technical point of view
1) Rotation speed.
Modern machines have several fixed rotation speeds - from 150 to 400 rpm. Along with an increase in this indicator, the accuracy of wheel balancing improves: the machine becomes more susceptible to imbalance.
2) Balancing accuracy.
It is adjusted according to a special equipment scale, ranging from one to twenty or more grams. In other words, if the balancing accuracy is set to 20 g, then the equipment will not take into account an imbalance of 19 g. And this is already a significant deviation from the norm, accompanied by a beating of the steering wheel.
3. Number of wheel starts.
To eliminate the imbalance, special weights are installed. The craftsmen determine the location and weight of the weights in stages, making step-by-step starts of the wheel. The more test runs are made, the more accurately the installation location and weight of the weights will be determined.
4) It is necessary to ensure that the axis of the wheel mounting on the machine coincides with its actual axis of rotation.
To do this, you need to mount the wheel on the machine using the disk mounting holes. The exception is Citroen cars, where the central hole of the disc is used for alignment.
5) Carrying out final balancing.
This procedure is very important for high-speed cars. Final balancing involves adjustment after mounting the wheel on the hub, at a rotation speed of 1000 rpm. Using Haweka adapters eliminates the need for final balancing.
6) Pre-wash wheels.
High-quality automatic washing is carried out, often using cleaning granules. Manual cleaning of wheels is undesirable: small particles of dirt and stones stuck in the tread will negatively affect the accuracy of the procedure.
Note: the large error of the machines simplifies the work of unscrupulous craftsmen - wheel balancing is carried out quickly, although the result obtained is almost zero. In case of claims from the car owner, would-be craftsmen rely on the poor condition of the roads.
Benefits of proper wheel balancing
1. Comfortable, safe ride. Predicted behavior of a car on the road.
2. Extension of tire service life - from 25%.
3. Fuel economy - about 12%.
4. Preservation of suspension. This guarantees reduced running gear maintenance costs.
Technology violations
The weight of nearby weights should not exceed 60 g. Exceeding the declared value indicates incorrect assembly of the wheel: the valve does not coincide with the yellow mark on the tire. But this is far from the only mistake that amateurs make when balancing wheels.
Other errors:
- Balancing tires or wheels covered in mud. In a good service, the wheels are always thoroughly washed, removing the previously installed compensating weights.
- A dirty, dusty machine is being used.
- Lack of special lubricant on the disk sides. Because of this, the tires do not fit correctly onto the disc. Tire fitters rely on the quality of the tire, but basic inflation puts everything in its place.
- The colored mark is located far from the nipple, although it should be exactly the opposite.
Remember, proper wheel balancing is the key to your safety on the road. Therefore, use the services of proven, competent specialists. Which service should or should not be used, read the article: “Proper tire fitting - who to trust.”
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What does the orange or red dot on the sidewall of the tire mean?
But in addition to the yellow mark on new tires, you can also find an orange or red mark, which is also applied to the tire for a reason and is not associated with any internal marking of the factory.
So, the orange/red circle or triangle on the tire wall means the hardest place on the tire, and therefore the heaviest.
See also: Wheel Studs vs Wheel Bolts: What's the Difference?
When mounting the tire, this marked location must be aligned with the lightest spot marked on the rim. If there is no mark on the rim, then the tire with the orange/red mark must be installed so that the orange mark is in the opposite location from the tire inflation valve.
Types of color markings on tires
First, it’s worth understanding what color marks are. They are fairly unified, and different manufacturers indicate very specific parameters.
We list the main varieties:
- dots;
- mugs;
- triangles;
- stripes;
- lines;
- stamps;
- numbers.
Many of the listed labels are standardized among most manufacturers.
What are they needed for
The marks applied to the tires contain technical information that should be followed by employees of tire service centers or automotive product warehouses. For ordinary users, this information is not of fundamental importance, since it does not relate to issues of using the vehicle.
Colored stripes applied to tires help to quickly identify them depending on the model and size of the product. These tags are intended mainly for workers in warehouses and auto shops, as they make it easier to find the right model among tires stacked when only part of the tire with tread is visible.
Multi-colored dots that mark the side surfaces of tires will tell tire workers about the lightest, stiffest or most flexible area of the tire.
The numbers located inside the geometric figure confirm that the tire has passed production control and is ready for use. If necessary, with their help it will be possible to identify the specific employee of the enterprise who checked the tire.
Numbers in a triangle on the bus
- Numbers in a triangle , square, circle, diamond, painted, usually white, on the outer side surface of the tire. This mark is completely similar to the Soviet stamp “OTK” - i.e. stands for technical control. At the output of the product, the plant employee who carries out quality control of the finished tire puts his stamp, which performs two functions: firstly, it indicates that the control was carried out, and, secondly, it indicates by whom.
Some manufacturers, in addition to color stripes and spots, also mark the tire size and model. Also, many manufacturers do not apply color markings to the tread at all.
Car owners who are going to buy new tires are recommended to pay attention to the corresponding inscriptions that are present on the sidewall of the tire, the tire label, where there is such information as:
- size,
- speed symbol,
- load index,
- country of origin,
- tire release date,
- tread pattern,
- specification, etc.
Conclusion: all the marks made at the factory with colored paint on the tread of car tires do not contain the information necessary for the buyer, so they are not worth your attention.
What do the digital marks on tires mean?
Numerous digital marks indicate physical characteristics - they must be correlated with the data on the rims in order to choose the right tires. On each such product you can see alphabetic and numerical designations, which are indicated through a fraction.
For example, let's take a set of characters 195/65 R13. The first indicator will tell us that the tire width is 195 mm. The next indicator is the percentage ratio of the tire profile height to its width. And finally, the last entry indicates the wheel diameter required for the mount. This is followed by markings of the speed index and the maximum permissible load.
You should not experiment with the tires of your car, since the manufacturer provides them with a certain set of technical characteristics that these products must meet. In other words, the set values provide specific driving characteristics.
What does the yellow dot or triangle on the sidewall of the tire mean?
For example, a yellow dot is applied to the lightest point of a new tire, which is determined by the manufacturer during factory balancing. This point is necessary for proper installation of the tire on the rim.
See also: Best tips for buying tires online
Some manufacturers of car wheel rims mark the rim in the form of the Latin letter “L”, which indicates the lightest place on the rim. To properly install the rubber on the rim, it is necessary that the yellow dot (or triangle) on the rubber is on the opposite side of the lightest part of the rim.
Unfortunately, not all disc manufacturers make such marks. In this case, when installing new tires on the disk, it is necessary to place it so that the yellow mark is next to the wheel inflation valve valve. Thus, such an installation makes it easier to subsequently balance the tire. This will also allow you to use less weight to compensate for the wheel balance during balancing.
What marks are found on tires and what do they mean?
There are several main theories that explain the origin of the colored marks on new tires. Some people believe that these are technological marks that the consumer should not be interested in. Others are sure that this means defective products or those that have not passed quality control. Let's figure out which of them is right.
If you think logically, you can come to the conclusion: when making marks with paint, the manufacturer understands that they will quickly be erased during use. Therefore, the information conveyed by multi-colored markings on tires is of temporary importance and is important until the first tire fitting.
Most often, the manufacturer applies small round dots with a diameter of 10–15 mm on the side surface of the tire. Their color is usually white, yellow or red. There may be triangles instead of dots, but they have the same meaning.
Yellow mark
The place where a round or triangular yellow mark is applied to the side of the tire is the weakest and least protected.
This information is important when installing the tire. The disk has an L-shaped designation indicating the weakest point of the disk. Correct tire alignment involves placing a mark on the rim on the opposite side of the yellow dot on the tire. The yellow mark is aligned with the heaviest place on the disk, i.e. the nipple. This is done to ensure that if a strong impact occurs, the tire and wheel are not simultaneously damaged.
red mark
If the yellow mark indicates the weakest point on the tire, then the red mark, on the contrary, is the strongest. In scientific terms, it is applied at the location of the maximum radial force deviation (RFV). During installation, a red mark must be placed near the designation on the disk in the form of the letter L.
To understand why weak and strong spots form on a tire, we must take into account that the process of creating it is complex and time-consuming. To obtain the most ideal shape, the tire is made of several layers.
Very rarely the red mark is not opposite the yellow one. When installing tires, it is important that the yellow mark is located as far as possible from the weakest point on the rim.
White mark
The side of the tire may have a painted white dot or a stippled design. They do this in the most flexible place. The white mark indicates the location where the radial force deflection will be smallest.
Yellow and white marks are not always present on the tire at the same time, but you need to keep in mind that they mean approximately the same thing. When carrying out installation, you need to rely specifically on the location of the yellow dot, but if it is not there, we place the white mark 180 o from the letter L.
Stamp with numbers inside
If in previous cases the color of the marks mattered, then the stamp can be of any color. There are yellow, blue, and white stamps, but this does not affect the information they carry.
It is not the color that matters, but the number written inside. This mark indicates that the tire was tested at production and meets the declared quality, and the number indicates the inspector conducting this check. For an ordinary consumer, such information may only be needed if a defect is detected. Using the stamp, you can find the person who let the defective product go on sale.
Colorful stripes
The tire can have stripes of different colors. They are necessary to simplify the search for tires in the warehouse. Since tires are stored vertically, the strips help warehouse workers identify the manufacturer's production date and other information without removing them from the rack.
For the buyer, such markings do not convey any information and there is no need to pay attention to them when choosing tires.
