It's easier to make up a weight offset with some tacked-on grams than it is to counteract a physical bump in the tire. Yellow dots are light, red dots are tall.

On the other hand, the yellow dot shows the lightest spot on the tire. Yes, tires aren't perfectly balanced when they come from the factory, and that's exactly what these dots are meant to help with.

When examining new tires, one may notice colored dots on the sidewall or tread. These dots, typically red or yellow, play an important role in the installation process of the tire.

Some new tires have a red or yellow dot and others don't. It depends on the manufacturer. Even the less common white dot appears on tires and here's why because knowledge is power.