Tire Mount and Balance

This procedure covers dismounting tires from wheels, mounting new or serviced tires, and balancing the wheel and tire assemblies for a 2011-2014 Ford F-150 with 5.0L V8 engine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Tires (set of 4) × 4 — Use size specified on door jamb label
• Valve stems (TPMS-compatible if equipped) × 4 — TPMS rubber or metal valve stems
• Wheel weights (adhesive or clip-on) × 1 — As needed for balancing
• Valve caps × 4 — Standard valve caps

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid surface and engage parking brake
2. Loosen all wheel lug nuts one full turn before lifting vehicle
3. Lift vehicle at proper jacking points and support with jack stands at all four corners
4. Remove all four wheels and place on clean work surface
5. Inspect wheels for cracks, bends, or damage that would prevent safe tire mounting
6. Note TPMS sensor positions and verify all sensors are present and undamaged

Procedure

1. 1

   Deflate and break tire bead
   Remove valve core from each tire to fully deflate. Position wheel on tire machine with TPMS sensor at 12 o'clock position to avoid contact with bead breaker. Apply bead breaking pressure to both sidewalls at points 90 degrees away from the valve stem to protect TPMS sensor.
   ⚠TPMS sensors are fragile. Keep bead breaker and tire irons away from valve stem area.
2. 2

   Remove old tire from wheel
   Mount wheel on tire changer turntable. Apply tire bead lubricant generously to both beads. Insert tire iron between upper bead and wheel, ensuring TPMS sensor is positioned away from tire iron. Rotate turntable while lifting upper bead over wheel rim. Repeat for lower bead, taking care not to catch or damage TPMS sensor.
3. 3

   Clean wheel and inspect TPMS sensor
   Use wire brush to remove all corrosion, old weights, and debris from wheel mounting surfaces and bead seats. Inspect TPMS sensor for damage, ensure sensor band is tight, and verify valve stem is not cracked or damaged. Replace valve stem if TPMS sensor is being removed or if stem shows any signs of aging or damage.
4. 4

   Install new valve stem if needed
   If replacing valve stem on TPMS-equipped wheels, use only TPMS-compatible valve stems. Install valve stem from inside of wheel, ensuring rubber grommet seats properly against wheel surface. Torque valve stem nut to manufacturer specification if using metal TPMS stems.
5. 5

   Mount new tire on wheel
   Position TPMS sensor at 12 o'clock. Apply generous amount of tire bead lubricant to both tire beads and wheel bead seats. Position tire on wheel with directional arrows pointing correct direction of rotation if applicable. Use tire machine to press lower bead over rim, keeping tire iron movements away from TPMS sensor area. Rotate wheel and mount upper bead, ensuring sensor remains undamaged.
   ⚠Verify directional tire orientation before mounting. Arrow on sidewall should point in direction of forward rotation.
6. 6

   Seat tire beads
   Install valve core and inflate tire to seat beads. Start with 20-25 PSI and increase in 5 PSI increments while monitoring bead seating. Listen for both audible pops indicating beads have seated. Maximum inflation pressure for bead seating is 40 PSI. Once beads are seated, adjust to recommended inflation pressure from door jamb label (typically 35 PSI front, 35 PSI rear for F-150).
   ⚠️Stand clear of tire trajectory during inflation. Never exceed 40 PSI during bead seating process.
7. 7

   Balance wheel and tire assembly
   Mount wheel assembly on balancing machine. Input wheel diameter and width specifications. Spin wheel and wait for machine to calculate imbalance. Remove any existing wheel weights. Install adhesive or clip-on weights at positions indicated by balancer, using inner and outer plane weights as needed. Re-spin to verify balance is within 0.25 oz or better on each plane.
8. 8

   Final inspection and preparation
   Verify tire pressure matches door jamb specification using accurate tire pressure gauge. Install valve cap on each valve stem. Visually inspect tire bead seating around entire circumference of both sidewalls, ensuring bead line is uniform distance from rim edge. Check that no weights contact brake components or suspension when wheel is installed. Repeat steps 1-8 for remaining three wheels.
9. 9

   Install wheels on vehicle
   Clean wheel mounting surfaces and brake rotor/drum hat areas with wire brush. Install wheel onto hub, aligning lug holes. Thread all lug nuts by hand to prevent cross-threading. Tighten lug nuts in star pattern using torque wrench to specification in three progressive stages: first to 50 Nm (37 lb-ft), then to 100 Nm (74 lb-ft), and finally to full specification.
   ⚠Always torque lug nuts in proper star pattern to prevent wheel warping and ensure even clamping force.
   Torque spec

   Wheel Lug Nuts140 Nm (103 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Lower vehicle from jack stands slowly, ensuring all four wheels contact ground evenly
2. With vehicle weight on wheels, perform final lug nut torque verification in star pattern to 140 Nm (103 lb-ft)
3. If TPMS warning light is illuminated, drive vehicle for 5-10 minutes at speeds above 25 mph to allow system to relearn sensor positions

Verification

• Test drive vehicle at various speeds to verify no vibrations are present
• Verify TPMS light is not illuminated after relearn period
• Re-check tire pressures when tires are cold and adjust if necessary
• After 50-100 miles of driving, re-torque lug nuts to specification to ensure proper seating
• Visually inspect all wheels for proper weight retention and valve stem integrity

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