Yokohama EN

Mounting Procedures

For the proper mounting of YOKOHAMA tyres, 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 and wheel.
• The wheel is not bent.
• Both tyre 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 tyres. Following these basic precautions not only yields consistent results, but satisfied customers - and that translates into return business and new referrals.

Avoid scratching or bending alloy wheels during installation

These wheels are manufactured with extremely soft metals with a greater sensitivity to scratching and distortion under pressure. Modern tyre machines apply equal pressure to both top and 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 and damage.

During the mounting process, proper lubrication is a must

Lubricate both top and bottom beads with an approved tire lubricant. If the beads do not seat at 40 psi, break the entire assembly down and re-lubricate the bead areas.

Observe match-mounting procedures

Proper tyre and wheel assembly balancing is important from a vehicle safety standpoint. In high-speed driving, improperly balanced tyre/wheel assemblies will cause a vehicle to lose stability and not operate in a safe and comfortable manner. Improperly balanced tyre/wheel assemblies also cause abnormal treadwear patterns.

To facilitate proper balancing, YOKOHAMA places red and yellow marks on the sidewalls of its tires to enable the best possible match-mounting of the tyre/wheel assembly. There are two methods of match-mounting YOKOHAMA tyres to wheel assemblies using these red or yellow marks:

• Uniformity (red mark)
• Weight (yellow mark)

Warning: Improper mounting, underinflation, overloading or tyre damage may result in tyre failure, which may lead to serious injury. Tyre and rim sizes must correspond for proper fit and application. Never exceed 40 psi to seat beads.

Warning: Tyre changing can be dangerous, and should be done only by trained persons using proper tools and procedures established by the Rubber Manufacturers Association. Failure to comply with proper procedures may result in incorrect positioning of the tyre, 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 tyres, tubes or wheel assemblies.

Uniformity Method

When performing uniformity match-mounting, the red mark on the tyre, 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 tyre when a specific load is applied and the tyre rotated at a specific speed. It is necessary to minimize radial force variation to ensure trouble-free installation and 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 tyre, 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 tyre/wheel assembly can be balanced.