For the proper mounting of Yokohama tires, be sure to
observe some basic precautions:
- Wheel is securely seated on the hub face.
- All lugs have proper torque.
- There is no buildup of dirt between the hub & wheel.
- The wheel is not bent.
- Both tire beads are securely seated on the rim.
Custom or Alloy Wheels
While custom or alloy wheels require an increased level of care over steel
wheels, it is vitally important that each customer receives the highest
level of service. There are several key points to note when mounting
Yokohama tires. Following these basic precautions not only yields consistent
results, but satisfied customers—& that translates into return business
& new referrals.
Avoid scratching or bending alloy wheels during
installation
These wheels are manufactured with extremely soft metals with a greater
sensitivity to scratching & distortion under pressure. Modern tire
machines apply equal pressure to both top & bottom beads with no pressure
on the wheel itself. A pad on the base of the mounting machine protects
chrome-plated, painted or machined wheels from scratches & damage.
During the mounting process, proper lubrication is a
must
Lubricate both top & bottom beads with an approved tire lubricant. If the
beads do not seat at 40 psi, break the entire assembly down & re-lubricate
the bead areas.
Observe match-mounting procedures
Proper tire & wheel assembly balancing is important from a vehicle safety
standpoint. In high-speed driving, improperly balanced tire/wheel assemblies
will cause a vehicle to lose stability & not operate in a safe &
comfortable manner. Improperly balanced tire/wheel assemblies also cause
abnormal treadwear patterns.
To facilitate proper balancing, Yokohama places red & yellow marks on the
sidewalls of its tires to enable the best possible match-mounting of the
tire/wheel assembly. There are two methods of match-mounting Yokohama tires
to wheel assemblies using these red or yellow marks:
- Uniformity (red mark)
- Weight (yellow mark)
Warning:
Improper mounting, underinflation, overloading or tire damage may result in
tire failure, which may lead to serious injury. Tire & rim sizes must
correspond for proper fit & application. Never exceed 40 psi to seat
beads.
Warning: Tire changing can be dangerous, &
should be done only by trained persons using proper tools & procedures
established by the Rubber Manufacturers Association. Failure to comply with
proper procedures may result in incorrect positioning of the tire, tube or
wheel assembly, causing the assembly to burst with explosive force
sufficient to cause serious physical injury or death. Never mount or use
damaged tires, tubes or wheel assemblies.
Uniformity Method
When performing uniformity match-mounting, the red mark on the tire,
indicating the point of maximum radial force variation, should be aligned
with the wheel assembly's point of minimum radial run-out, which is
generally indicated by a colored dot or a notch somewhere on the wheel
assembly (consult manufacturer for details). Radial force variation is the
fluctuation in the force that appears in the rotating axis of a tire when a
specific load is applied & the tire rotated at a specific speed. It is
necessary to minimize radial force variation to ensure trouble-free
installation & operation. Not all wheel assemblies indicate the point of
minimum radial run-out, rendering uniformity match-mounting sometimes
impossible. If the point of minimum radial run-out is not indicated on a
wheel assembly, the weight method of match-mounting should be used instead.
Weight Method
When performing weight match-mounting, the yellow mark on the tire,
indicating the point of lightest weight, should be aligned with the valve
stem on the wheel assembly, which represents the heaviest weight point of
the wheel assembly. After match-mounting by either of the above methods, the
tire/wheel assembly can be balanced. |
