This procedure covers the removal, mounting, balancing, and installation of tires on a 2021-2024 Ford F-150 with 3.5L EcoBoost engine, including proper torque specifications for wheel lug nuts.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Tires (set of 4) × 4 — Per owner specifications or replacement size
• Valve stems (rubber or TPMS compatible) × 4 — Use TPMS-compatible if equipped
• Wheel weights (clip-on or adhesive) × 1 — Assorted sizes as needed
• Valve caps × 4 — Standard valve stem caps

Preparation

1. Verify replacement tire size matches OEM specifications on driver door jamb sticker
2. Park vehicle on level, solid surface and engage parking brake
3. If equipped with locking lug nuts, locate the key and keep accessible
4. Loosen all wheel lug nuts 1/4 turn before raising vehicle (do not remove)
5. Raise vehicle with floor jack at designated front and rear jacking points
6. Secure vehicle on jack stands at frame or axle support points rated for truck weight
7. Remove all four wheels and set aside in clean area
8. Inspect wheels for damage, cracks, or excessive corrosion before mounting new tires

Procedure

1. 1

   Deflate and dismount old tires
   Remove valve core from each tire to completely deflate. Position wheel on tire machine turntable and clamp securely. Apply tire lubricant to bead area on both sides. Use bead breaker to break both inner and outer beads free from wheel. Position demount head and carefully work tire off wheel, rotating turntable as needed. Remove tire completely and set aside.
2. 2

   Inspect and clean wheels
   Thoroughly inspect each wheel for cracks, bends, or corrosion damage on bead seating areas. Clean bead seat surfaces and wheel center bore with wire brush to remove dirt, rust, and old weights. Remove all old adhesive wheel weights or clip-on weights. Inspect TPMS sensor mounting area (valve stem hole) for damage.
3. 3

   Install new valve stems
   If replacing valve stems, remove old stems from wheels. For TPMS-equipped vehicles, ensure new valve stems are compatible with sensor design (may be integral to sensor). Install new valve stems by pulling through wheel hole from inside until seated. Do not install valve cores yet to allow for easier tire mounting.
4. 4

   Mount new tires on wheels
   Verify tire direction and inside/outside markings if applicable (asymmetric or directional tires). Apply generous amount of tire lubricant to both tire beads and wheel bead seat areas. Position tire on wheel with correct orientation. Use tire machine mount head to work top bead over wheel rim, then rotate and mount bottom bead. Ensure tire is properly centered on wheel before proceeding.
5. 5

   Seat tire beads and inflate
   Install valve cores into valve stems. Connect air supply and rapidly inflate tire to seat beads against wheel rim (may require 35-40 PSI initially). Listen and watch for both beads to 'pop' into place. Once beads are seated, adjust pressure to recommended specification on door jamb sticker (typically 35 PSI front and rear for F-150, verify for your specific model).
   ⚠️Stand clear of tire sidewall during initial inflation. If beads do not seat by 40 PSI, deflate and reposition tire before attempting again.
6. 6

   Balance first wheel and tire assembly
   Mount wheel and tire assembly on balancing machine and secure with proper cone/adapter for wheel center bore. Enter wheel diameter and width into balancer. Spin wheel to allow balancer to measure and calculate imbalance. Clean weight placement locations with solvent. Install clip-on or adhesive wheel weights at locations indicated by balancer (typically inner and outer rim positions). Re-spin to verify balance is within acceptable tolerance (typically 0.25 oz or less).
7. 7

   Balance remaining three wheel assemblies
   Repeat balancing procedure for remaining three wheels. Ensure each wheel is properly secured on balancer with correct adapter. Apply weights as indicated and verify final balance for each assembly. Mark wheels if desired to track position (LF, RF, LR, RR) for future rotation tracking.
8. 8

   Install wheels onto vehicle
   Clean wheel hub mounting surfaces and brake rotor/drum hats with wire brush to remove rust and debris. Lift wheel and tire assembly onto hub, aligning lug holes. Start all lug nuts by hand to prevent cross-threading. If equipped with different front and rear tire sizes, ensure correct tires are installed at proper axle positions.
9. 9

   Torque wheel lug nuts to specification
   Using star pattern (cross-pattern for 5-lug or alternating pattern for 6-lug), hand-tighten all lug nuts snugly. Lower vehicle until tire just contacts ground but weight is still on jack stands. Torque all lug nuts to 140 Nm (103 lb-ft) in star pattern using calibrated torque wrench. Fully lower vehicle to ground and perform final torque verification of all lug nuts in star pattern to ensure proper seating.
   ⚠Always torque lug nuts in star pattern to ensure even pressure distribution and prevent wheel/rotor warping.
   Torque spec

   Wheel Lug Nuts140 Nm (103 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Verify tire pressures and install valve caps
    Use accurate tire pressure gauge to verify all four tires are inflated to specification on door jamb sticker (adjust for load conditions if applicable). Install valve caps on all valve stems to prevent moisture and dirt contamination. If TPMS light is illuminated, perform TPMS relearn procedure per manufacturer instructions.

Reassembly

1. Verify all four wheels are properly torqued and no lug nuts are missing
2. Confirm tire pressures match door jamb specifications before customer delivery
3. Reset TPMS system if required (may auto-learn after driving or require manual procedure)
4. Install all valve caps to protect valve cores from debris

Verification

• Perform visual inspection of all wheel assemblies to confirm proper mounting and no visible damage
• Test drive vehicle at low speed (5-10 mph) and verify no vibration or unusual noise
• Re-check lug nut torque after 50-100 miles and advise customer to do the same
• Verify TPMS light extinguishes after relearn procedure or sufficient drive time
• Check tire pressures are within 1-2 PSI of specification using accurate gauge
• Verify no air leaks around valve stems or bead seats (listen for hissing)

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