What Do Red and Yellow Dots on Your Tires Indicate? Here’s What You Need to Know

Absolutely! Here’s a clear, informative article based on the topic:

—

**What Do Red and Yellow Dots on Your Tires Indicate? Here’s What You Need to Know**

If you’ve ever taken a closer look at your car’s tires — especially fresh ones straight from the shop or factory — you might have noticed small **red or yellow dots** on the sidewalls. At first glance, they may seem like manufacturing marks or random paint spots, but these tiny dots actually serve an important purpose.

So, what do these red and yellow dots mean? And should you be concerned if your tires have them?

Here’s what you need to know.

—

### **The Purpose of the Dots**

The red and yellow dots on tires are **balancing and mounting markers**. They’re used by tire manufacturers and technicians to help ensure proper installation for optimal performance, ride quality, and longevity.

—

### **What the Yellow Dot Means**

The **yellow dot** marks the **lightest point on the tire**.

* Every tire has slight imbalances in weight due to manufacturing variances.
* The yellow dot is placed at the lightest part of the tire to help offset these imbalances.
* When mounting the tire, the yellow dot should be aligned with the **heaviest point of the wheel**, which is typically where the valve stem is located.

**Why it matters:**
Aligning the yellow dot with the valve stem can reduce the amount of wheel weights needed during the balancing process, resulting in a smoother ride and better tire wear.

Continued on the next page