Red/Orange dot on spare rim in Trunk

[AnthroProfessor]

On day my father went to the junk yard and asked me what he can get for me. I told him a spare tire that is in perfect condition. I did not think he would find one, but he comes home with a bunch of parts including a spare tire from a 123 car.
It was a mint condition bundt rim with an almost new tire on there. It had a metal stem--it was the factory original (do they still make those and sell them at the dealer?). There was an orange dot on the rim. Is this something the factory did in order to remind the owner they are using their spare and should get their real tire repaired soon?

[uberwgn]

those dots can have different meanings. Tire Rack had some generic info on the different colors of dots. Sometimes it indicated the point on the tire that should align with the valve stem, etc.

[uberwgn]

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=17&GCID=C13674x035&code=yes

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=40

Think Hunter GSP9700 :)

[AnthroProfessor]

the dot is on the rim, not on the tire

[uberwgn]

the dot is on the rim, not on the tire

refer to the two links provided:

Original Equipment (OE) tire suppliers are required to mark the tire's "high point" while OE wheel manufacturers mark the wheel's "low point." This helps the vehicle manufacturer match mount combinations that maximize new car ride quality while reducing the amount of balancing weight.

[BuyMBparts]

The metal valve stem is available, it is part # 107 400 00 13. I sell them new genuine MB for $6.25 each.