It is located on the side of the wheels and is important to ensure the proper functioning of the vehicle and its safety.
The tire is one of the most important components in automobile driving. It is responsible for maintaining the vehicle’s grip on the asphalt, transmitting engine power to the ground, ensuring effective braking and maintaining precision when changing direction.
During the production of tyres, manufacturers are required to display the most important data for their subsequent marketing on their individual models. Thus, using standardized numbers and codes, they certify the appropriate dimensions for each vehicle, the date of manufacture, the maximum speed to which they can be subjected… But there are other less known specifications that are of vital importance for their correct mounting. These are red spots, sometimes also in the shape of a triangle, which are visible on the sidewalls of the tire when they are new and which often disappear due to discoloration with use or simply when they are covered by the dirt.
The purpose of these red dots or triangles is to allow the wheel to be fitted correctly on the car. Specifically, they facilitate balancing, as they mark the point of maximum radial force variation (RFV), a defect imperceptible to the eye and caused by the fact that no tire is perfect in terms of shape or rigidity of its structure.
Also, the rim on which the tire is mounted is also not completely uniform, and on some models has another mark at the point where its weight is greatest and generates the most centrifugal force when it rotates. on its axis. It is a mark which, when mounting the tire, is taken into account together with the red point where it is most rigid, which allows the mechanic to better balance the assembly using counterweight.
Proper tire balancing is very important. On the one hand, it eliminates possible vibrations in the wheels that affect driving comfort and cause abnormal and premature tire wear. On the other hand, this defective rotation of the wheels can also negatively affect the running of the vehicle from certain speeds and even damage the suspension elements, such as the shock absorbers.
Like these red marks, some tires also have yellow marks. The dots or triangles of this color indicate where the tire is lightest, which is another useful reference when doing static balancing by making it coincide with the point on the rim where the inflation valve is located, if you do not have the balancing machine available in specialized workshops.
On some tire models, you can also see small white circles that mark the location of the minimum radial force variation (RFV), that is to say, unlike the maximum RFV, the area where the tire has its greater flexibility. However, this white label can be confusing, as other manufacturers similarly signal their approval in terms of quality control.
All these brands are not mandatory and their use when fitting tires depends on the different brands. It is therefore advisable to inquire about their correct use by contacting the manufacturer directly.