What Do the Red and Yellow Dots Really Mean?
Have you ever noticed the small red and yellow dots on the sidewall of a new tyre?
They are not decorations.
These color marks help technicians reduce vibration and improve wheel balance during installation.
Red Dot = High Point / Uniformity Mark
The red dot usually indicates:
the tyre's uniformity in terms of greatest/highest/stiffest point of radial runout force (maximum RFV).
Installation Tip:
If the wheel has a manufacturer mark (such as a low point mark), technicians may align the red dot accordingly.
Yellow Dot = Lightest Point
The yellow dot indicates:
the lightest point of the tyre
Since the valve stem is often one of the heaviest points of the wheel, installers commonly align:
Yellow dot → Valve stem
This may reduce the amount of balancing weight required.
Installation Tip:
“If the tire features both a red dot and a yellow dot, the red dot should be the priority.”
Benefits
Matching these mark correctly can help reduce vibration and balancing correction.
Uniform wear prevents abnormal tyre damage and extends service life, saving tyre replacement costs.
Less balance weights used.
TyreFocus Insight
Small marks. Big purpose.
Correct tyre installation starts with details you can’t afford to ignore.
