Tire Mount and Balance

This procedure covers dismounting old tires from wheels, mounting new tires, balancing the wheel and tire assemblies, and reinstalling them on the 2015-2020 Ford F-150 5.0L V8.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Tires (set of 4) × 4 — Use OEM specification or customer-supplied
• Valve stems (TPMS compatible if equipped) × 4 — Snap-in rubber or TPMS service kit
• Wheel weights (adhesive or clip-on) × 1 — Various sizes as needed
• Tire mounting lubricant × 1 — Water-soluble tire lube

Preparation

1. Verify new tires are correct size and load rating for 2015-2020 F-150 (check door jamb placard for specifications)
2. Inspect new tires for defects, shipping damage, or foreign objects before mounting
3. Park vehicle on level, solid surface and engage parking brake
4. Loosen all wheel lug nuts approximately one full turn while vehicle is on the ground
5. Lift vehicle at manufacturer-designated lift points and support securely on all four jack stands
6. Remove all four wheels and place on clean work surface near tire machine

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove old wheel weights and valve cores
   Using wheel weight pliers, remove all existing clip-on or adhesive weights from each wheel. Clean residual adhesive with appropriate solvent. Remove valve cores from all four valve stems to fully deflate tires. If TPMS sensors are present, note their positions and handle wheels carefully.
2. 2

   Dismount old tires from wheels
   Place first wheel on tire changing machine, ensuring proper clamping on wheel rim (not on face to avoid scratching). Apply tire lubricant liberally around both beads. Break both beads using machine's bead breaker. Position dismount head and carefully remove tire from wheel, being extremely cautious of TPMS sensor location (typically near valve stem). Repeat for all four wheels.
3. 3

   Inspect wheels and replace valve stems
   Thoroughly inspect each wheel for cracks, bends, or damage. Clean wheel mounting surfaces and inner barrel. Remove old valve stems and install new valve stems (rubber snap-in type or TPMS-compatible as required). If vehicle has TPMS, ensure sensors are functional and batteries are adequate before proceeding.
4. 4

   Mount new tires onto wheels
   Verify tire direction and inside/outside markings before mounting. Apply generous amount of tire lubricant to both tire beads and wheel rim edges. Position tire onto wheel on mounting machine with correct orientation (directional tread pattern and inside/outside designation). Use mounting head to work top bead over rim, then bottom bead, keeping mounting head away from TPMS sensor location. Repeat for all four tires.
   ⚠Improper mounting technique can damage TPMS sensors. Keep tire irons and mounting heads at least 6 inches away from sensor location.
5. 5

   Inflate tires and seat beads
   Install valve cores into all valve stems. Begin inflating first tire, monitoring bead seating on both sides of rim. You may hear audible pops as beads seat. Inflate to approximately 40 PSI to ensure proper bead seating, then adjust to vehicle manufacturer's specified pressure (found on door jamb placard, typically 35 PSI front and rear for F-150). Check for leaks around valve stem and bead areas. Repeat for remaining three tires.
6. 6

   Balance wheel and tire assemblies
   Mount first wheel assembly on wheel balancer and secure properly. Enter wheel specifications (diameter, width, offset) into balancer. Lower measuring arm and initiate spin cycle. Balancer will indicate weight placement locations and amounts. Clean weight placement areas with solvent. Install adhesive or clip-on weights as indicated by balancer. Re-spin to verify balance is within acceptable limits (typically less than 0.25 oz). Repeat balancing procedure for all four wheel assemblies.
7. 7

   Reinstall wheels on vehicle
   Clean wheel mounting surfaces on vehicle hubs to remove any rust or debris. Mount wheels onto hubs, ensuring correct wheel position (staggered setups may have specific front/rear wheels). Hand-thread all lug nuts onto studs. Using star pattern, snug lug nuts with impact wrench or hand tools but do not fully torque yet.
   Torque spec

   Wheel Lug Nuts140 Nm (103 lb-ft)
8. 8

   Lower vehicle and perform final torque
   Carefully raise vehicle slightly off jack stands and remove stands. Lower vehicle completely to ground. Using calibrated torque wrench, torque all wheel lug nuts to 140 Nm (103 lb-ft) in a star pattern across each wheel. Re-check torque on all lug nuts in star pattern to ensure proper seating and torque retention.
   Torque spec

   Wheel Lug Nuts140 Nm (103 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Reset TPMS and verify pressures
   If equipped with TPMS, use TPMS scan tool or Ford-approved procedure to reset tire pressure monitoring system and verify all sensors are communicating properly. Some F-150 models require driving vehicle above 20 MPH for system to relearn sensor positions. Verify all tire pressures with accurate gauge and adjust to door jamb specifications.

Reassembly

1. Double-check all lug nuts are torqued to specification in star pattern
2. Verify tire pressures match door jamb placard specifications for both front and rear
3. Confirm TPMS warning light is not illuminated after system reset
4. Dispose of old tires according to local environmental regulations

Verification

• Start vehicle and verify TPMS warning light extinguishes after a few seconds (system recognizes all four sensors)
• Test drive vehicle at low speed in safe area, checking for vibration or pulling that would indicate improper balance or alignment issues
• After first 50-100 miles, re-check and re-torque all lug nuts to 140 Nm (103 lb-ft) using star pattern
• Visually inspect all tires for proper bead seating and no bulges or irregularities
• Verify all valve stem caps are installed to prevent dirt and moisture contamination

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