What's the green dot on my rim? Quick answer needed

[Gryphon Rider]

I'm about to mount a new car tire on my back rim and noticed a 1/4" green paint dot on the outside of the rim, near the edge, about 8" from the valve stem.  Does this indicate the heavy side of the rim, to be matched up with the paint dot on the tire?  A Google search and a VRCC board search yielded nothing.  I'm going to go prepare my tire for mounting, then come back and see if y'all have an answer.

[old grouch]

I used to know the answer, but I am getting old and ain't so sure anymore.  I THINK you are correct, but then again, I may be wrong.  Not much help, I guess.  Stan

[Steve K (IA)]

Mine has a black dot.

Hahaha, and mine has a white dot.  They obviously used different colors.  I wonder what the story is behind that.

[Brad]

Does this indicate the heavy side of the rim, to be matched up with the paint dot on the tire? 

Yep that is what it is.   

[Gryphon Rider]

So I did a little test using the axle, supporting one end of it with a table and turning the other end quickly back and forth with my hand.  The rim always settled about 2-3" to the same side of the dot.  The dot must be where they found the heavy spot to be.

[X Ring]

So I did a little test using the axle, supporting one end of it with a table and turning the other end quickly back and forth with my hand.  The rim always settled about 2-3" to the same side of the dot.  The dot must be where they found the heavy spot to be.

That's my understanding.

Marty

[designer]

On cars it's the high spot on the rim, to be matched with the low spot on the tire. Nissan and Honda pay extra for this.

[Brad]

To facilitate proper balancing, Most tire manufacturers place red and yellow marks on the sidewalls of its tires to enable the best possible match-mounting of the tire/wheel assembly. There are two methods of match-mounting tires to wheel assemblies using these red or yellow marks:


Uniformity (red mark)

Weight (yellow mark)
Warning:
Improper mounting, underinflation, overloading or tire damage may result in tire failure, which may lead to serious injury. Tire and rim sizes must correspond for proper fit and application. Never exceed 40 psi to seat beads.

Warning:
Tire changing can be dangerous, and should be done only by trained persons using proper tools and procedures established by the Rubber Manufacturers Association. Failure to comply with proper procedures may result in incorrect positioning of the tire, tube, or wheel assembly, causing the assembly to burst with explosive force sufficient to cause serious physical injury or death. Never mount or use damaged tires, tubes, or wheel assemblies.

Uniformity Method
When performing uniformity match-mounting, the red mark on the tire, indicating the point of maximum radial force variation, should be aligned with the wheel assembly's point of minimum radial run-out, which is generally indicated by a colored dot or a notch somewhere on the wheel assembly (consult manufacturer for details). Radial force variation is the fluctuation in the force that appears in the rotating axis of a tire when a specific load is applied and the tire rotated at a specific speed. It is necessary to minimize radial force variation to ensure trouble-free installation and operation. Not all wheel assemblies indicate the point of minimum radial run-out, rendering uniformity match-mounting sometimes impossible. If the point of minimum radial run-out is not indicated on a wheel assembly, the weight method of match-mounting should be used instead.

Weight Method
When performing weight match-mounting, the yellow mark on the tire, indicating the point of lightest weight, should be aligned with the valve stem on the wheel assembly, which represents the heaviest weight point of the wheel assembly. After match-mounting by either of the above methods, the tire/wheel assembly can be balanced.

[X Ring]

When mounting tires on my Valks' wheel I always find the heavy spot on wheel after removing the old tire.  Mark it with a piece of blue tape then match the dot on the tire to that spot.  The heavy spot on the wheels has always been 6-8" away from the valve stem hole. 

Marty

[Brad]

Bridgestone tires are marked with a one-quarter inch yellow circle to indicate
the high (heavy) point of the tire. If the wheel does not show a low (light)
point then most often the valve hole is considered to be the low point. These
two points should be used as the starting point when mounting tires.



The above applies to Bridgestone tires and may be different than other
manufacturers' recommendations.

[old2soon]

When i went d/s i also added DYNA BEADS. Coming up on 7000 miles and ZERO issues with balance. My tire guy(runs a custom choppeer shop) mounted my d/s rear and and metz 880 front with the beads. Saying i'm happy is some what of an understatement. Just another avenue to consider. RIDE SAFE.

[Sodbuster]

Seeing how the dot is on the inside I'm guessing it's a manufacturing operation where someone checks the balance of the wheel BEFORE putting in the hole for the valve stem and marks it with the dot then sends it on down the line for the drilling operation ??

[Skinhead]

Seeing how the dot is on the inside I'm guessing it's a manufacturing operation where someone checks the balance of the wheel BEFORE putting in the hole for the valve stem and marks it with the dot then sends it on down the line for the drilling operation ??

I believe the valve stem hole is always drilled in the same position, as there are cast features fore the valve stem retainer clips.  You know those things you throw away when you go to all metal valve stems.

[X Ring]

Seeing how the dot is on the inside I'm guessing it's a manufacturing operation where someone checks the balance of the wheel BEFORE putting in the hole for the valve stem and marks it with the dot then sends it on down the line for the drilling operation ??

I believe the valve stem hole is always drilled in the same position, as there are cast features fore the valve stem retainer clips.  You know those things you throw away when you go to all metal valve stems.

Very good point.

Marty

[Sodbuster]

Seeing how the dot is on the inside I'm guessing it's a manufacturing operation where someone checks the balance of the wheel BEFORE putting in the hole for the valve stem and marks it with the dot then sends it on down the line for the drilling operation ??

I believe the valve stem hole is always drilled in the same position, as there are cast features fore the valve stem retainer clips.  You know those things you throw away when you go to all metal valve stems.

Duh .... I should have realized that