Strange gray dots...on my rims?
07-20-2009, 01:01 PM
#1
Strange gray dots...on my rims?
So I was washing the Max today, and I don't know if it's just my car, or if this has even ever been brought up before.
I was cleaning the wheels when I noticed a gray dot on one. I figured someone had splashed paint (previous owner was an interior designer), no big deal. But on closer inspection, I noticed there's a gray dot on all four of my my wheels.
Does anyone else have these? Or any insight into why my Max might have these dots? I was going to remove them, but if they're to note some sort of factory recall, I may just leave them.
No pics...but I can get them if someone really feels they need 'em.
Edit: Going to take pics. Back shortly...
I was cleaning the wheels when I noticed a gray dot on one. I figured someone had splashed paint (previous owner was an interior designer), no big deal. But on closer inspection, I noticed there's a gray dot on all four of my my wheels.
Does anyone else have these? Or any insight into why my Max might have these dots? I was going to remove them, but if they're to note some sort of factory recall, I may just leave them.
No pics...but I can get them if someone really feels they need 'em.
Edit: Going to take pics. Back shortly...
Last edited by Mr. Brett; 07-20-2009 at 01:06 PM.
07-21-2009, 06:45 AM
#6
Member who somehow became The President of The SE-L Club
iTrader: (19)
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 16,033
Those dots mark the heavy spot on the rim. Tires have dot's marking the light spot. When you align the dots on the tire with the dots on the rim you are match mounting the wheel & tire. This usually yields a better balance.
You can go to www.tirerack.com for more info on tire and wheel markings.
You can go to www.tirerack.com for more info on tire and wheel markings.
07-21-2009, 04:05 PM
#7
Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 7
Those dots mark the heavy spot on the rim. Tires have dot's marking the light spot. When you align the dots on the tire with the dots on the rim you are match mounting the wheel & tire. This usually yields a better balance.
You can go to www.tirerack.com for more info on tire and wheel markings.
You can go to www.tirerack.com for more info on tire and wheel markings.
07-21-2009, 04:55 PM
#9
Those dots mark the heavy spot on the rim. Tires have dot's marking the light spot. When you align the dots on the tire with the dots on the rim you are match mounting the wheel & tire. This usually yields a better balance.
You can go to www.tirerack.com for more info on tire and wheel markings.
You can go to www.tirerack.com for more info on tire and wheel markings.
I've always noticed those dots, too, but they seem so unintentional.
That's really amazing.
08-01-2009, 05:27 AM
#16
Here's a picture. See the dot. Touch it. Love it.
I've since spoken to the Service Manager at my local dealership, who worked in tires at his previous job, and yes, the dot is the balancing high-point on the rim, marked so by the wheel manufacturer. They don't all do it, and they don't all do it on the front painted surface (dumb). Absent a balancing mark, they use the valve stem area to line up with the balancing high point in the tire.
Now that I know what it is, I can appreciate it's purpose, just not the execution.
I've since spoken to the Service Manager at my local dealership, who worked in tires at his previous job, and yes, the dot is the balancing high-point on the rim, marked so by the wheel manufacturer. They don't all do it, and they don't all do it on the front painted surface (dumb). Absent a balancing mark, they use the valve stem area to line up with the balancing high point in the tire.
Now that I know what it is, I can appreciate it's purpose, just not the execution.
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