On my new E-350 XLT SuperDuty, the tires had a red dot on the sidewall near the bead. After I removed the wheel covers, I noticed on all four wheels the red dots on the tires were lined up with a light green square sticker near the edge of the rim.
When I asked, the answer was the tires and rims are marked for either the heaviest or lightest side of the rim & tire, then aligned when mounted, to keep the amount of additional balancing weights to a minimum and a better balance job should be easier on larger diameter heavy wheels.
Questions:
1) The person who answered didn't know if these markers identified the lightest or heaviest side of rim/tire. Which is it?
2) I can put a permanent mark where the sticker on the rim is, but future tires bought in the aftermarket have no red dot to line up with. Are there tire brands that do mark the heaviest or lightest side of the tire that you know of?
3) I don't expect anyone to have an answer for this one, but why doesn't the aftermarket industry pre-mark their tires & rims in this fashion? Sure, costs must be kept low but if the new cars & trucks can be done in this way, why isn't it already a permanent standard for the aftermarket?
When I asked, the answer was the tires and rims are marked for either the heaviest or lightest side of the rim & tire, then aligned when mounted, to keep the amount of additional balancing weights to a minimum and a better balance job should be easier on larger diameter heavy wheels.
Questions:
1) The person who answered didn't know if these markers identified the lightest or heaviest side of rim/tire. Which is it?
2) I can put a permanent mark where the sticker on the rim is, but future tires bought in the aftermarket have no red dot to line up with. Are there tire brands that do mark the heaviest or lightest side of the tire that you know of?
3) I don't expect anyone to have an answer for this one, but why doesn't the aftermarket industry pre-mark their tires & rims in this fashion? Sure, costs must be kept low but if the new cars & trucks can be done in this way, why isn't it already a permanent standard for the aftermarket?