Black spot wheels

tode

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Does anyone know what the black spots stuck on the rims are for?

I presume all rims have them -- if not, mine are about 1/4 " dia.
 

turbopete

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harrisis

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This sounds vaguely similar to the white spots that were on the steel rims I bought for the winter from MB.

They appeared to be stuck over a casting/weld/injection point that didnt get coated/painted during the finish.

maybe, perhaps
 
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tode

tode

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As you can see - on each wheel, a black spot. The position has no relation to either the valve or the balance-weight points.

Just can't see why they bother putting them on. :confused:

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hotrodder

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If there's a convention i'll probably get it backwards but it's probably marking the low spot with regards to runout i.e. as round as the wheel may be it won't be perfect. Sometimes there's a dimple on the rim instead of a sticker.

Tyres often have similar marks on them, usually a red dot for runout and yellow for the light spot IIRC. They don't always have them but when there's a choice the tyre fitter is supposed to pay attention (yeah, right!) to the red one. This'd be aligned with the mark on the rim or with the valve if the wheel isn't marked. The yellow spot would normally be aligned with the valve
 
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television

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I think as Hot rodder that they are balance marks to aid the tyre fitter
 
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tode

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If there's a convention i'll probably get it backwards but it's probably marking the low spot with regards to runout i.e. as round as the wheel may be it won't be perfect. Sometimes there's a dimple on the rim instead of a sticker.

Tyres often have similar marks on them, usually a red dot for runout and yellow for the light spot IIRC. They don't always have them but when there's a choice the tyre fitter is supposed to pay attention (yeah, right!) to the red one. This'd be aligned with the mark on the rim or with the valve if the wheel isn't marked. The yellow spot would normally be aligned with the valve

That does seem to be the idea. On further googling, came across this article by Wheelsinmotion, which I found very interesting: TYRE MARKINGS WIM
 

DIYMAN

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Maybe the black stick on dots are a colour code to indicate who made the final inspection.
 

whitenemesis

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Unless I missed it tode's links are all for tyre markings?

I find the idea of using a stick on dot to mark something as permanent as a weight/dimension deviation a bit temporary? First good rain and competent valet and that dot is history.

I think I'd go with the QA suggestion. IIRC my AMG wheels from Germany had black dots on each rim, until I removed them prior to waxing!
 
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Unless I missed it tode's links are all for tyre markings?

I find the idea of using a stick on dot to mark something as permanent as a weight/dimension deviation a bit temporary? First good rain and competent valet and that dot is history.

I think I'd go with the QA suggestion. IIRC my AMG wheels from Germany had black dots on each rim, until I removed them prior to waxing!

Try going through the article, right to the end :D

This article from "Motor" has some interesting stuff, and describes the stick-on markers very well: MOTOR.

As far as rain washing them off, mine are still very firmly in place, and the 2nd hand rims that I recently bought from Germany still have theirs.
I have just waxed over mine. ;)
 

whitenemesis

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The article mentions using dimples or stamps, not a sticky dot? Or have I missed it again?
 
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tode

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The article mentions using dimples or stamps, not a sticky dot? Or have I missed it again?

Maybe a quick visit to Specsavers ? ;)

"OE tire suppliers are required to
mark a tire’s radial runout high point
and OE wheel makers are required to
mark a wheel’s radial runout low point

This makes it easy for the OEMs to
match-mount tires to wheels from a ra
dial force variation standpoint during
production. In some cases, these mark
are made with paint dots that help ser
vice technicians remount tires down the
road. However, sometimes these mark
are made using temporary stickers
which either fall off or are removed af
ter mounting. This leaves no readily vis
ible reference marks for the tire techni
cian for future service
." :)
 

television

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Like my reply then in post 6 :D
 
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tode

tode

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Right. :)

But these stick-on ones would seem to me to be designed to help the car maker achieve a perfect tyre mounting, and the customer has to make the best of it if the sticker comes off. :rolleyes:
 

whitenemesis

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Maybe a quick visit to Specsavers ? ;)

"OE tire suppliers are required to
mark a tire’s radial runout high point
and OE wheel makers are required to
mark a wheel’s radial runout low point

This makes it easy for the OEMs to
match-mount tires to wheels from a ra
dial force variation standpoint during
production. In some cases, these mark
are made with paint dots that help ser
vice technicians remount tires down the
road. However, sometimes these mark
are made using temporary stickers
which either fall off or are removed af
ter mounting. This leaves no readily vis
ible reference marks for the tire techni
cian for future service
." :)

Thanks tode, appointment made .. :Oops::Oops:
 
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