Tire Mount and Balance

Remove all four wheels, dismount old tires, mount new tires on wheels, balance each wheel-tire assembly, and reinstall on vehicle.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front tires × 2 — OE size: 275/35ZR18
• Rear tires × 2 — OE size: 345/30ZR19
• Valve stems (snap-in or TPMS-compatible) × 4 — Use OEM specification
• Adhesive wheel weights (assorted) × 1 — As needed for balancing
• Clip-on wheel weights (assorted) × 1 — As needed for balancing

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid surface and engage parking brake.
2. Chock rear wheels if lifting front, or front wheels if lifting rear.
3. Loosen all wheel lug nuts (5 per wheel) approximately 1 turn while vehicle is on the ground.
4. Inspect new tires for correct size: front 275/35ZR18, rear 345/30ZR19. Verify load and speed ratings meet or exceed OEM specifications.
5. Inspect wheels for cracks, bends, or damage that would make them unsafe for tire mounting.
6. If vehicle is equipped with TPMS, verify that TPMS sensors are functioning and that replacement valve stems are TPMS-compatible.

Procedure

1. 1

   Lift Vehicle and Remove Wheels
   Lift one corner of the vehicle at a time using the floor jack at the manufacturer's designated jacking points (refer to the FSM for correct frame/subframe lift points—the Viper uses independent rear suspension with no solid rear axle housing). Once lifted, immediately place a jack stand under the frame rail or suspension pickup point. Lower the jack onto the stand and verify stability. Remove the 5 lug nuts completely and remove the wheel. Repeat for all four corners until all wheels are removed and vehicle is securely supported on four jack stands.
2. 2

   Dismount Old Tires from Wheels
   Place the first wheel on the tire changer machine turntable. Remove the valve stem core to fully deflate the tire. Break the bead on both sides of the tire using the bead breaker tool. Apply tire lubricant generously to both beads. Position the tire changer mounting head and demount the tire from the wheel, working the bottom bead off first, then the top bead. Remove the tire completely from the wheel. Repeat for all four wheels.
3. 3

   Inspect Wheels and Remove Old Valve Stems
   Thoroughly inspect each wheel for cracks, corrosion, or damage, paying special attention to the bead seating area and spoke junctions on the forged Viper wheels. Clean the bead seating surfaces with a wire brush or cloth to remove any old tire lubricant, rubber buildup, or corrosion. Remove old valve stems by cutting or pulling through the valve stem hole. Inspect the valve stem holes for damage.
4. 4

   Install New Valve Stems
   Install new valve stems appropriate for the vehicle's TPMS configuration (if equipped, use TPMS-compatible rubber or metal valve stems; if non-TPMS, use standard snap-in rubber valve stems). Lubricate the valve stem and pull it through the wheel valve hole until it seats completely and the base is flush against the wheel. Verify the valve stem is not leaking by applying soapy water and checking for bubbles.
5. 5

   Mount New Tires on Wheels
   Match each tire to its correct wheel: 275/35ZR18 tires to the 18-inch front wheels, 345/30ZR19 tires to the 19-inch rear wheels. Verify tire directional arrows (if present) are oriented for correct rotation. Apply tire lubricant liberally to both tire beads and the wheel rim flanges. Position the tire on the wheel with the bottom bead in the drop center. Use the tire changer machine to lever the bottom bead over the rim, then mount the top bead, taking care to keep the TPMS sensor (if present) positioned away from the mounting head to avoid damage. Repeat for all four wheels.
6. 6

   Seat Tire Beads and Inflate
   Install the valve core in each valve stem. Place the wheel-tire assembly in a safety blast cage. Using compressed air, inflate the tire rapidly to seat the beads (typically 25-40 PSI). Listen and watch for both beads to 'pop' into their seated positions on the rim flanges. Once beads are seated, adjust pressure to the recommended seating pressure (approximately 35-40 PSI for balancing). Verify bead seating is uniform around the entire circumference on both sides. Repeat for all four wheel-tire assemblies.
7. 7

   Balance Wheels
   Mount the first wheel-tire assembly on the wheel balancer machine using the appropriate centering cone or pin-plate adapter for the Viper's hub bore and lug pattern. Enter the wheel diameter, width, and offset (distance from balancer to wheel weight mounting surface) into the balancer. Spin the wheel and allow the balancer to measure imbalance. Apply wheel weights as indicated by the balancer: use adhesive weights on the inner barrel and clip-on or adhesive weights on the outer flange as appropriate for the wheel design and balancer recommendation. Re-spin to verify balance is within acceptable limits (typically less than 0.25 oz per plane). Repeat for all four wheels.
8. 8

   Set Final Tire Pressure
   Remove each balanced wheel from the balancer and adjust tire pressure to the vehicle manufacturer's recommended cold inflation pressure. For the 2005 Viper, refer to the door jamb placard or owner's manual for the correct cold inflation pressures for the front (275/35ZR18) and rear (345/30ZR19) tires. Do not assume a value—verify against the placard for this specific vehicle. Mark or tag each wheel to identify its intended position (LF, RF, LR, RR) based on tire wear patterns or directional requirements if applicable.
9. 9

   Reinstall Wheels on Vehicle
   Lift each corner of the vehicle slightly with the floor jack to unload the jack stand, remove the stand, and raise the suspension to wheel installation height. Position the wheel onto the hub, aligning the lug bolt holes. Install all 5 lug nuts by hand, threading them on by hand to avoid cross-threading. Snug the lug nuts in a star pattern using a lug wrench, but do not fully tighten yet. Repeat for all four wheels.
10. 10

    Lower Vehicle and Torque Lug Nuts
    Lower the vehicle completely to the ground using the floor jack, removing all jack stands. With the vehicle's full weight on the wheels, torque all lug nuts to the specified torque in a star (criss-cross) pattern using a calibrated torque wrench. Perform two complete passes in the star pattern to ensure even seating and accurate torque.

Reassembly

1. Lug nuts must be torqued in a star pattern to 140 Nm (103 lb-ft) with the vehicle on the ground and full weight on the suspension.
2. After the first 50-100 miles of driving, re-check lug nut torque to verify they have not loosened.
3. If TPMS is equipped, drive the vehicle at speeds above 20 mph for several minutes to allow the TPMS system to relearn sensor positions and clear any warning lights.

Verification

• Verify all lug nuts are torqued to specification using a calibrated torque wrench.
• Verify tire pressures are set to the manufacturer's cold inflation specifications.
• Verify no valve stem leaks by applying soapy water to each valve stem and checking for bubbles.
• Verify wheel balance by test driving the vehicle at highway speeds (50-70 mph); there should be no vibration felt through the steering wheel or chassis.
• Verify TPMS warning light (if equipped) extinguishes after driving for several minutes.
• Visually inspect each wheel for proper seating on the hub and no visible wobble or run-out.

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