Tire Mounting tip

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When anyone buys or has new tires mounted you should make sure that the "red or blue dot" on the new tire is lined up with the valve stem and on the side of the wheel with the vale stem. Not doing this will cause more weight and more rapid tire wear. The last set of tires I had mounted on a dually using this method required less than 1. 5 oz per wheel to balance the rotating mass.
This should be good for 5K plus more miles and lots of less rebalancing in the future. I use this method on my trailer tires and don't balance them and never have.

 

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Good tip Harvie, I would stay far away from any tire shop that did not know this by heart. Sad but true we have to know as much or more about our trucks than the folks who we pay good $ to work on them for us.

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2001 HO 6 speed Regular Cab SLT 4x4 3. 54 anti spin 2500. Used for the daily grind and sneaking away to some secret Baja beaches toting a cabover

 

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I don't think that I have seen a red or blue dot. Are they stickers and are removed before I see them? or is it certain brands?

 

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Most every tire I've used has the dot. The dot locates the "light" side of the tire. The weight of the valve stem is supposed to help offset the "light" side of the tire.

It really can't be that much of a help, because the valve stems are not that heavy, and the metal that was removed from the wheel to create the valve stem hole has modified the true balanced weight of the wheel - unless the wheel was balanced before mounting the tire.

The only real way to balance a tire is ON the vehicle - lug nuts and all! It is very rare to find someone using this method today. The "computer" balancing machines are only good as the owner/operator. I've taken tires computer balanced at one tire shop to another within a week, and the balance was all different

Having your tires balanced at most places today is a crap shoot!

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"Red Rage" - 2001 2500 SLT 4x4 QC Lowered Rear End 2. 5" 5spd, 4. 10 K&N Stock Replacement - 9,000 miles and counting! 30' 5th Wheel

 

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I agree with bennettj about the quality of workmanship at some tire stores. With the large wheel and tire combo I run, my wheels would be covered with weights. I use a product called equal. It is like sand that is shot into the tire once it is mounted. As the tire spins down the road, it balances itself out. It is expensive ($8 a bag x 3 bags per tire x 6 tires) so it is not practicle on tires that you might be changing every 30-40,000 miles. I have 70,000 on mine and still have some to go.

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98. 5 3500 QC 4x4, Driftwood/Mist Grey, 5 spd, 3. 54, 19. 5 Alcoa's, 245/70-19. 5 Michelin's, Ranchhand front bumper, Ranchhand rear bumper, Ranchhand toolbox, "Scotty Air", TST PowerMax2, Autometer Gauges, Centerforce clutch, Upgraded fuel lines (JRE and Aeroquip), MagHytec Diff Cover, PacBrake