| Author | Message | ||
     Cycleaddict |
the little red dot(s) on the sidewall of the tire indicate the lightest(?) part of the tire (i think). and the red dot is supposed to line up with the valve stem area. (the heaviest part of the rim?) is this correct ? i've seen some tires with multiple colored "markings" , anybody know for sure ? | ||
| Rays |
The factory service manual for the '06 XB12X has this interesting note in the tire section (page 2-24). NOTE The yellow circle on the side wall is a balance mark and should be aligned 180 degrees from the balance mark (blue dot) on the inside of the rim. The original Dunlop tires on the XB12X's had yellow dots and the Scorpion Syncs have red dots. While it has been the cause of many disagreements with tire fitters, in my experience, following the factory instructions here have resulted in much lighter balance weights being required (zero with some tires). I'm guessing that the other model Buells have similar marks but it may be something they introduced for the heavier XB12X wheels? | ||
| Hughlysses |
The little red dot does indicate the lightest part of the tire. OTOH the heaviest spot on the rim is not necessarily the valve stem, although you'd think it would be. Several folks have posted that they first balanced their rims and marked the heavy spot on them with a marker. Then mount the dot on the tire to align with that mark. Then check the balance of the tire/wheel combo. According to at least one poster here, since he's used that procedure he's never had to add balance weights to the wheel. From what Ray's saying the rims should already be pre-marked from the factory. That's good to know. | ||
| Jos51700 |
Every XB wheel from day one has had the paint dot inside the rim. I've never known how it could vary so much from wheel to wheel, and STILL not have the lightest part where the big HOLE for the valvestem is, but that's how they do it. I usually have to add 1/2 ounce, but that's okay. I'm not really sure why people feel the need to brag about not having to add wheel weight, like it's superior or something. I diagnosed a new VROD once that had a STRONG vibration in the front end (You could see the front forks flexing back and forth at speed). Some smartass at the factory put a whole strip (3.5 ounces) of weight on the rim, when it only needed 1/4 ounce. Now THAT'S an inspiration to lose balance weights! | ||
| Skinstains |
I ballance all of my rims with rotors and sprockets on without tires and mark them all with a punch. The bare rim ballance is just a referance point for me. | ||
| Cycleaddict |
cool, i'm installing my frt. tire to-night & gonna look for those rim blue dots & confirm wif my homade balance shaft . | ||
| Nillaice |
blue dot on rims: another reason not to wash it  | ||
| Cycleaddict |
didn't find any ledgeable marks , dots, etc. on the rim (inside or out ) but the valve stem area is the heavy spot to the tune of 3/4 oz.. metz. z-6 balanced at 1oz. | ||
| Bombardier |
Have yet to educate my dealer about where to place the weights on the front rim. Give someone a piece of paper to say they're an expert and they actually believe it and cannot be told by anyone. | ||
| Dcmortalcoil |
Replace my tires meself several weeks ago using NoMar tire changer. Tell ya, changing the rear wheel is a real pita. Not enough concavity to push the tire to, requiring much stretching. Changed my friend's beamer and that was a piece of cake in comparison. Didn't know what the blue dot meant. Regardless, I balanced the wheel first for heaviest part. Sure enough the blue dot landed more or less diametrically opposite the heaviest part. |
