Topic: “Yellow Dot” Tire Mounting Question?

[BenelliSEI]

Assuming the yellow dot on my Dunlop K70 is the lightest spot on the tire? Convention says to mount it adjacent to the hole for the valve stem. I guess because the tube and stem are heaviest at that point? But there’s a hole in the rim there too....

This time, I’m going to hang the complete rim and disc on the balance stand and see where the combo is heaviest. The dot will go to that spot of the rim. Makes sense?

[MauiK3]

Worth a try

[Stev-o]

Snow tires?!

Curious to find out how accurate the yellow dot will work out for balancing.

[PeWe]

Dot at the valve. Red or green for my tires so far. At least less lead or nothing.
I did not care about balancing the last times.

Update:
After my tire balance yesterday I realized that I should have checked the wheel with tube, inflated enough to sit on rim.
Mark the heaviest point and orient tire so the dot is there.

[BenelliSEI]

I still have to build the wheel, but will report back!

[Don R]

 My bike and 17x3 dragster rims all seem to be heavier at the stem. Dragster guys often begin with a square or two of lead opposite the stem and go from there. I had a Honda dealer balance them once, they were way off. I put a rim on and, let go of it and it instantly rolled to the heavy spot. I ended up cleaning the grease off the bearings and re-doing them myself on the car.
 The dealer must have not had any cones to square up the rim on his machine. He was an hour away so I didn't go back.

[70CB750]

I always have to google it but the consensus seems to be to the valve. 

But few times i mounted tires without ballancing and could not tell the difference.

[BenelliSEI]

I always have to google it but the consensus seems to be to the valve. 

But few times i mounted tires without ballancing and could not tell the difference.

I’ve done that too, and then unable to notice! I’ll be interested to see how far off the entire assembly is (wheel and disc), before I mount the tube and tire. Never thought to test it before now.

[HondaMan]

This reminds me: I've had lots of the stick-on wheel weights disappear off my bike (4 since 2013, and ther'es only 1 of the 3 it needs on it now). Does anyone know of a good place to get some of the old-style clamp-on-a-spoke weights?

[SanDogDewey]

This reminds me: I've had lots of the stick-on wheel weights disappear off my bike (4 since 2013, and ther'es only 1 of the 3 it needs on it now). Does anyone know of a good place to get some of the old-style clamp-on-a-spoke weights?

They are pricey!

https://www.amazon.com/Supply-Non-Lead-Compliant-Spoke-Weights/dp/B007GR4YW0/ref=sr_1_11?keywords=motorcycle+wheel+weights+spoke&qid=1644206678&sr=8-11

Whole set

https://www.redlinestands.com/catalog/shop-equipment-c-327/tire-change-equipment-c-327_331/machine-accessories-c-327_331_334/kl-supply-nolead-spoke-wheel-weight-kit-p-1943?msclkid=e48a9ea8d33b1b894708fca849e17e4f&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Bing%20Shopping&utm_term=4580221844133546&utm_content=Shopping

JP Cycles has a bunch
https://www.jpcycles.com/motorcycle-wheel-weights

[PeWe]

I have ordered lead roll to use when balancing finding the correct spoke weight to order.  I have a letter scale up to 100grams.

10, 20 or 30 grams.
Ca: $ 3, 4 or 7 US each plus around $9 shipping.
If a good day with other needs to check motorcycle gear I'll use my car to the shop after their stock is verified.

Something like this.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/b/Lead-Strip-in-Fishing-Sinkers-Weights/161826/bn_7022907424

[Stev-o]

Does anyone know of a good place to get some of the old-style clamp-on-a-spoke weights?

Chaparral...

https://www.chapmoto.com/k-and-l-zinc-silver-wheel-weights-for-harley-davidson-spoke-wheels.html?sku=329-2110-1&gclid=CjwKCAiAo4OQBhBBEiwA5KWu_8v7qeXJIQfw0QYRGfQs7N7cPflOoHzpekqDSVmSYhAQ-pYRV2B3qRoCqlIQAvD_BwE

[BenelliSEI]

Wow! $4/ 30 grams! Last time I was at the local bike scrap yard, I popped a few dozen off old rims. The guys wouldn’t charge me for them!


We used to wind a short length of solder around the spoke/ nipple. Might resort to that.

[BenelliSEI]

More interesting (?) and useless data......  When my new rim was completed, I mounted it up in my trueing/balancing stand. The heaviest part was not at the valve hole, but 7-8 spokes away. I then installed the disc, fasteners, lock plates etc. Nothing changed. Next I put the band and inner tube in place. The extra weight of the valve and cap brought it closer the the valve stem, but the heaviest spot is still 3-4 spokes away. In the photo there is a small piece of black tape marking the spot. I guess that’s where the yellow dot will go?

[69cb750]

More interesting (?) and useless data......  When my new rim was completed, I mounted it up in my trueing/balancing stand. The heaviest part was not at the valve hole, but 7-8 spokes away. I then installed the disc, fasteners, lock plates etc. Nothing changed. Next I put the band and inner tube in place. The extra weight of the valve and cap brought it closer the the valve stem, but the heaviest spot is still 3-4 spokes away. In the photo there is a small piece of black tape marking the spot. I guess that’s where the yellow dot will go?

If you want to test try the disk in six positions.

[PeWe]

That method must be a good one to get balance right with minimum of weights, hopefully none at all.
Tire dot at the heaviest point, the lowest.

I look forward to next tire change.
My K6 has dual discs....

[BenelliSEI]

More interesting (?) and useless data......  When my new rim was completed, I mounted it up in my trueing/balancing stand. The heaviest part was not at the valve hole, but 7-8 spokes away. I then installed the disc, fasteners, lock plates etc. Nothing changed. Next I put the band and inner tube in place. The extra weight of the valve and cap brought it closer the the valve stem, but the heaviest spot is still 3-4 spokes away. In the photo there is a small piece of black tape marking the spot. I guess that’s where the yellow dot will go?

If you want to test try the disk in six positions.

I thought that might be too anal to talk about (but I did try it)! Made no difference, still landed in the same place.....

[BenelliSEI]

That method must be a good one to get balance right with minimum of weights, hopefully none at all.
Tire dot at the heaviest point, the lowest.

I look forward to next tire change.
My K6 has dual discs....

So I mounted the Yellow Dot at the heaviest point. It will be interesting to see how much weight it will take. Total waste of time, but interesting!

[PeWe]

Maybe it is good enough without extra stuff on the wheel.
A balance check like this is not much extra work or time.

- Have you checked the balance with tire on?
Need additional weight(s)?

[BenelliSEI]

Maybe it is good enough without extra stuff on the wheel.
A balance check like this is not much extra work or time.

- Have you checked the balance with tire on?
Need additional weight(s)?

So I put the complete wheel assembly back in the stand. With my smallest weight, it consistently sent the lead directly to the bottom. Popped it off and going without!

[Don R]

  I have let the air out and spun the tire a bit to move the heavy side. It's awesome you got a lucky set.

[BenelliSEI]

  I have let the air out and spun the tire a bit to move the heavy side. It's awesome you got a lucky set.

Don..... I put the lightest (yellow) spot of the tire to the heaviest point on the rim combo. Moving the tire in any direction would have created more imbalance. As it only took less than 1/2 ounce to turn the “lightest” spot into the “heaviest”, I’m just going to leave it without weight.

[PeWe]

That's a GOOD balancing procedure!
I did not check rim with tube before tire.
I had to rotate tire to balance it. First into one direction almost 180*. Not good so I rotated in the other direction until balance found.

Lots of heavy work to make tire to get loose from rim to rotate it.

Next time tube on rim, inflate it so it will sit.
Check balance, mark the lowest point on rim where tire dot will sit. Than check again and hopefully good enough balance.

I had the cush rubbers on the rear wheel. They might affect a little.

Where the red dot landed after some extra tire wrestling.
I have made the valve to sit 90* relatively the rim, deflated totally, wiggled valve, inflated again and OK after that photo that show a leaning valve.

My new Michelins have no balance mark. 
I'll balance rim with tube. Mark heaviest point first, spoke weights to balance and see what happen with tire on. Might be possible to check with only one side of tire on and tube in so tire can be rotated and see if that can balance it without weights.

Or if Michelin tire is good from the very beginning, weights needed for wheel and tube.

Another reason to wear my sitting rear, change wheel to this new wheel just fixed, give it plenty of fun rides so I can replace it with Michelin 130/80-18 that has no dot Michelin style! I'll see if rotating it will change.

[BenelliSEI]

Per..... Correct! I’ll be using this method from now on. One extra step, but makes total sense.

[Airborne 82nd]

This reminds me: I've had lots of the stick-on wheel weights disappear off my bike (4 since 2013, and ther'es only 1 of the 3 it needs on it now). Does anyone know of a good place to get some of the old-style clamp-on-a-spoke weights?

Local bait & tackle. Not the round split shot but the cone shape split it long ways then slip it on crimp and hit it with a micro torch.
Airborne