Vectoring (Match Mounting)

If the runout is excessive, mark the location of the high spot and the low spot on the tire. Next, determine if the runout problem exists in the tire, the wheel, or a combination of both. Then, correct the problem. This procedure, called match-mounting or vectoring, uses the following steps:

Important: After replacing a tire or a wheel, remeasure the tire/wheel assembly runout in order to verily that the runout is within tolerance.

1. Place a mark on the tire sidewall at the location of the valve stem. This mark is the 12 O clock position. Always refer to the location of the high spot in relation to its clock position on the wheel.
2. Mount the tire/wheel assembly on a tire machine and break down the bead. Do not dismount the tire from the wheel at this time.
3. Rotate the tire 180 degrees on the rim so that the valve stem reference mark is now at the 6 o'clock position in relation to the valve stem itself. You may need to lubricate the bead in order to easily rotate the tire on the wheel.
4. Reinflate the tire and seat the bead properly.
5. Mount the assembly on the tire balancer and remeasure the runout. Mark the new location of the runout high point on the tire.
6. If runout is now within tolerance, no further steps are necessary. Balance and mount the tire on the vehicle. Refer to Tire Balancing.




- If the clock location of the high spot remained at or near the clock location of the original high spot, the wheel is the major contributor to the runout problem. Refer to Wheel Runout Measurement.




- If the high spot is now at or near a position 180 degrees (6 hours) from the original high spot, the tire is the major contributor to the runout problem. Replace the tire.
- If the high spot is in between the two extremes, then both the tire and the wheel are contributing to the runout. Rotate the tire an additional 90 degrees (3 hours) in both the clockwise and the counterclockwise directions.