Moffman

I just read in a 964 technical manual that the red wheel stud should be aligned vertically with the top of the valve stem, whats the deal with this, why should it matter?

Makmov

Balance. Locking lug goes opposite of the valve stem too.

jimq

since 3 of my wheels dont have red lugs it a mute point for me

boxsey911

I don't use locking nuts so it's no big deal for me either.

springer3

We know the wheels ran true/round at the factory before the red mark was applied. Keep the factory wheel position, using the red mark, if possible. Most of the time it makes no difference, but why risk it?

superdylan

But, does this really hold water once you change/replace the brake rotors?

I thought (and most likely, incorrectly) that the red lug was only to be a marker for you when the wheel is balanced on the car. It's to make sure that you reorient it the same way every time you need to pull the wheel off.

Navaros911

That's a good question and until now I haven't seen any convincing answer...

I keep it mind when taking the wheels off, bu don't know why. The tire fitting place thinks I'm OCD.

altarchsa

I agree. When any of the components have been changed (rotor being the most likely), all the relationships that might have been used for a factory balance used for red marking a stud probably are not the same.

Red mark doesn't make sense if you're not balancing the wheel on the car anyway. A wheel balanced off the car is not heavier at the valve stem.

altarchsa

Previous post based on no locking studs, of course.