Tire Mount and Balance

Complete procedure for dismounting old tires, mounting new tires on wheels, and balancing the wheel/tire assemblies for a 1972 Ford F-100.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Replacement tires × 4 — Use size matching factory specifications or owner preference
• Valve stems (TR-413 rubber snap-in) × 4 — TR-413 or equivalent
• Clip-on wheel weights × 1 — Assorted sizes as needed for balance
• Valve stem caps × 4 — Standard rubber or metal caps

Preparation

1. Verify replacement tire size matches factory specifications or customer requirements for the 1972 F-100.
2. Inspect all four wheels for damage, rust, or deformation that would prevent proper tire mounting or cause balance issues.
3. Clean wheel bead seating surfaces with wire brush to remove rust, dirt, and old balance weights.
4. Remove all old balance weights from wheels using wheel weight pliers.
5. Inspect valve stem holes in wheels for damage or corrosion.

Procedure

1. 1

   Deflate and break bead on old tire
   Remove valve stem core from old tire to fully deflate. Position wheel on tire changing machine and engage bead breaker against sidewall approximately 1 inch from wheel rim edge. Break both beads (top and bottom) completely around the circumference of the tire.
2. 2

   Dismount old tire from wheel
   Position wheel on tire machine turntable and clamp securely. Use tire machine mounting arm to lift top bead over the wheel rim, rotating the turntable to work around the entire circumference. Once top bead is removed, repeat process for bottom bead. Remove tire completely from wheel.
3. 3

   Remove old valve stem and clean wheel
   Pull old valve stem through wheel using valve stem tool or cut off flush and push through from inside. Thoroughly clean both bead seating surfaces on wheel rim using wire brush, removing all rust, dirt, and debris. Inspect rim for damage or sharp edges that could damage new tire bead.
4. 4

   Install new valve stem
   Insert new TR-413 rubber snap-in valve stem through valve hole from inside of wheel. Pull stem through using valve stem tool until base seats firmly against wheel. Verify stem is secure and seated properly with no air leaks.
5. 5

   Lubricate tire beads and mount tire
   Apply tire bead lubricant generously to both inner beads of new tire and to both bead seating surfaces of wheel rim. Position tire onto wheel at an angle and work bottom bead over rim edge. Place wheel on tire machine turntable and clamp. Use mounting arm to lever top bead over rim, rotating turntable to work around entire circumference. Ensure tire is positioned correctly with any directional arrows or outside markings facing outward.
6. 6

   Inflate tire and seat beads
   Install valve core into new valve stem. Connect air chuck and inflate tire rapidly to seat beads against rim. Monitor both sidewalls to confirm both beads pop into proper seating position on rim ledge. Do not exceed 40 psi during initial seating. Once beads are fully seated, adjust pressure to recommended specification (typically 32-35 psi front, 35-40 psi rear for F-100, verify with door jamb sticker or owner preference).
7. 7

   Mount wheel on balancer and check runout
   Mount wheel/tire assembly onto wheel balancer using proper cone/collet sized to the wheel center bore. Secure with locking nut. Secure with locking nut. Lower hood or arm and spin wheel to check for excessive lateral or radial runout. If runout exceeds 0.125 inch, mark high spot and attempt to improve by breaking and reseating bead or rotating tire on wheel 180 degrees.
8. 8

   Balance wheel and tire assembly
   Enter wheel diameter and width into balancer per machine instructions. Spin wheel and allow balancer to measure imbalance. Apply clip-on weights to inner and outer rim flanges at locations indicated by balancer. Recheck balance and add or adjust weights until assembly shows zero or minimal imbalance (typically less than 0.25 ounce). Verify weights are securely attached.
9. 9

   Final inspection and pressure check
   Remove assembly from balancer. Inspect tire seating around entire circumference to confirm both beads are properly seated in rim. Check tire pressure with accurate gauge and adjust to specified pressure. Install valve stem cap. Repeat entire procedure for remaining three wheels.

Reassembly

1. Install balanced wheel and tire assemblies back onto vehicle following proper lug nut torque specifications for 1972 F-100 (typically 80-100 ft-lbs in star pattern).
2. Recheck tire pressures after installation and adjust if necessary.
3. Test drive vehicle and verify no vibration or pulling occurs at highway speeds.

Verification

• All four tires properly seated on rims with no visible gaps or irregularities in bead seating.
• All assemblies balanced with minimal weight and showing zero or near-zero imbalance on balancer.
• All tire pressures at specified values with no leaks detected at valve stems or beads.
• All valve stem caps installed and weights securely attached to wheels.

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