Tire Mount and Balance

Remove tires from wheels, mount new tires onto wheels using tire machine, balance wheels with tire balancer, and reinstall on vehicle.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Tires (set of 4) × 4 — Original size 7.75-15 bias-ply or modern radial equivalent
• Valve stems (TR-13 tubeless rubber snap-in) × 4 — TR-13 or equivalent
• Wheel weights (assorted clip-on for steel wheels) × 1 — 0.25 oz to 3.0 oz assortment
• Valve stem caps × 4 — Standard chrome or plastic

Preparation

1. Verify that replacement tires match the original specifications or approved radial conversions for 1966 Corvette (15-inch diameter, appropriate load rating).
2. Inspect wheels for cracks, bends, corrosion, or damage. Do not mount tires on damaged wheels.
3. Remove all old wheel weights from wheels using wheel weight pliers.
4. Clean wheel bead seating surfaces with wire brush to remove rust, old rubber, and debris.
5. Inspect valve stem holes in wheels for damage or deformation.
6. Verify tire machine and balancer are properly calibrated and functioning.
7. Have appropriate wheel weights available for the wheel type (clip-on for steel, adhesive for polished aluminum if applicable).

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove old tires from wheels
   If removing existing tires, deflate completely by removing valve stem core with valve stem tool. Position wheel on tire machine turntable and clamp securely. Use bead breaker to break both inner and outer beads loose from wheel rim on both sides. Apply tire lubricant generously to both beads. Insert tire iron between tire bead and wheel rim opposite the valve stem. Lock tire iron under mount/demount head and rotate turntable to walk the upper bead over the rim. Flip wheel over and repeat process for the lower bead. Remove tire from wheel.
2. 2

   Install new valve stems
   Remove old valve stem by cutting off flush with wheel and pushing through valve hole from outside. Clean valve stem hole thoroughly. Lubricate new TR-13 valve stem with tire lubricant. Insert valve stem tool into stem, pull stem through valve hole from inside of wheel until stem seats completely in hole. Verify stem is fully seated and sealing properly.
3. 3

   Mount tire lower bead
   Inspect new tire for direction of rotation arrow or inside/outside markings if applicable. Position tire onto wheel with correct orientation. Apply generous amount of tire lubricant to both tire beads and wheel rim surfaces. Lay wheel flat on tire machine turntable with valve stem at 12 o'clock position. Position tire on wheel and press down on tire opposite valve stem. Insert tire iron at valve stem location and lock under mount/demount head. Rotate turntable slowly while applying downward pressure to tire to walk lower bead onto wheel rim.
4. 4

   Mount tire upper bead
   Once lower bead is fully seated in wheel well, position tire at angle with upper bead edge starting over rim opposite valve stem. Insert tire iron and lock under mount/demount head approximately 2-3 inches from valve stem position. Rotate turntable slowly while holding tire down and away from mount/demount head to walk upper bead over rim. Use tire iron to guide bead over rim near valve stem last, being careful not to pinch or damage valve stem.
5. 5

   Seat tire beads
   Install valve core into valve stem finger-tight using valve stem tool. Lubricate tire beads again if dry. Position wheel upright or on tire machine. Inflate tire rapidly to between 30-40 psi while observing both bead seat lines around both sides of wheel. Listen and watch for both beads to pop into bead seat with characteristic snap. If beads do not seat by 40 psi, deflate completely, relubricate, and retry. Once beads are fully seated on both sides with bead lines concentric to wheel, adjust pressure to 32 psi for balancing.
6. 6

   Mount wheel on balancer
   1966 Corvette wheels are lug-centric (they center on the lug studs, not the center bore), so a hub-/lug-centric flange plate or stud adapter is preferred for accurate balancing rather than a center-bore cone alone. Mount the wheel onto the balancer using the correct lug-centric adapter, tighten the spindle nut to secure the wheel firmly, and ensure the wheel spins freely without wobble.
7. 7

   Balance wheel assembly
   Enter wheel diameter (15 inches) and wheel width (6 inches) into balancer if using electronic balancer. Measure and enter distance from balancer to inner and outer weight planes if required by balancer model. Spin wheel and wait for balancer to calculate imbalance. Note weight amounts and positions indicated for both inner and outer planes. For static balancers, spin wheel and allow it to settle, then mark heavy spot at bottom.
8. 8

   Install balance weights
   For dynamic balancing, install clip-on wheel weights at the positions indicated by the balancer on both inner and outer rim flanges. For steel wheels, use hammer-on or clip-on weights on both rim flanges. Tap weights firmly into place with rubber mallet if using hammer-on style. For static balancing, install equal weight on both inner and outer rim flanges opposite the heavy spot marked. Re-spin wheel on balancer and verify balance is within acceptable limits (typically under 0.25 oz residual imbalance). Add or reposition weights as needed until balanced.
9. 9

   Set final tire pressure
   Remove wheel from balancer. Check valve stem for leaks by applying soapy water and observing for bubbles. Adjust tire pressure to the specification listed in the 1966 Corvette owner's manual or door/glovebox placard for the tire type installed (verify front and rear cold pressures against factory documentation), or use the tire manufacturer's recommended pressure for radial conversions (typically 30-32 psi). Install valve stem cap.
10. 10

    Repeat for remaining wheels
    Repeat steps 1 through 9 for the remaining three wheels, maintaining consistent mounting orientation and balance quality.

Reassembly

1. Reinstall balanced wheel and tire assemblies onto vehicle following proper lug nut torque sequence and specifications.
2. After driving 25-50 miles, recheck lug nut torque and tire pressures.

Verification

• Verify all four tires are inflated to correct pressures: 24 psi front, 26 psi rear for bias-ply (or appropriate pressure for radial conversion).
• Verify all wheels spin freely on balancer with residual imbalance under 0.25 oz.
• Verify valve stems do not leak when tested with soapy water.
• Verify all wheel weights are securely attached and properly positioned.
• Verify tire bead seat lines are concentric and uniform around both sides of all four wheels.
• Road test vehicle at various speeds to confirm no vibration or pulling, indicating proper balance and mounting.

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