Tire Mount and Balance

This procedure covers the removal, mounting, balancing, and installation of tires on a 2007 Ram 3500 with 4WD.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Tires (specify size for Ram 3500) × 4 — Verify tire size from door placard or existing tires
• Valve stems (TPMS or standard) × 4 — Use TPMS-compatible stems if equipped
• Wheel weights (adhesive or clip-on) × 1 — As needed per balancing results
• Valve stem caps × 4 — Standard or TPMS compatible

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid surface and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks behind wheels that will remain on ground
3. Verify replacement tires match size specification on door placard (typically LT265/70R17 or LT285/70R17 depending on configuration)
4. If equipped with TPMS, verify sensor condition and have replacement sensors available if needed
5. Loosen all lug nuts 1/4 turn while vehicle is still on ground (22mm socket, turn counterclockwise)
6. Gather all tires to be mounted and inspect wheels for damage, corrosion, or cracks

Procedure

1. 1

   Raise and support vehicle
   Using a floor jack on appropriate jacking points (front: frame rails or differential housing; rear: axle housing near springs), raise one corner or side of vehicle at a time. Place jack stands under frame rails or axle housing. Lower vehicle onto stands. Repeat for remaining wheels as needed. Remove lug nuts completely and remove wheels from vehicle.
2. 2

   Inspect wheels and TPMS sensors
   Inspect each wheel for cracks, bends, or corrosion particularly around bead sealing surfaces. Clean wheel bead seats thoroughly. If TPMS equipped, note sensor locations and condition. Check sensor battery life if sensors are more than 7-8 years old. Remove valve cores to fully deflate old tires.
3. 3

   Dismount old tires
   Using tire mounting machine, break both beads on old tire. Position wheel on turntable and use mounting arm to lift tire bead over rim edge, working around circumference. Remove tire completely. If TPMS sensors are present, carefully avoid damaging sensors during removal. Remove and discard old valve stems if not TPMS equipped.
4. 4

   Install new valve stems
   Install new valve stems (TPMS sensors or rubber stems as applicable) into wheel. For rubber stems, pull through from inside of wheel using valve stem installation tool. For TPMS sensors, ensure proper orientation and torque sensor nuts per manufacturer specifications (typically 35-60 in-lb, but verify with sensor documentation). Apply sealant if required by stem type.
5. 5

   Lubricate and mount new tires
   Apply tire mounting lubricant to both beads of new tire and wheel bead seats. Verify tire direction (if directional tread) and inside/outside orientation (if asymmetric). Position tire on wheel and use mounting machine to work bottom bead over rim, then top bead. Keep mounting head away from TPMS sensor location by at least 90 degrees during mounting process.
6. 6

   Seat tire beads
   Install valve core and inflate tire. Initial bead seating may require 35-40 PSI or use of bead seating blast from tire machine. Listen and watch for both beads to pop into place on rim. If beads don't seat with normal inflation, deflate and reposition tire, add more lubricant, or use bead seater tool. Once seated, adjust to approximately 35-40 PSI for balancing.
7. 7

   Balance tire and wheel assembly
   Mount tire/wheel assembly on balancing machine. Input wheel dimensions (diameter and width) if machine requires. Spin wheel and wait for machine to calculate imbalance. Install wheel weights as indicated by balancer on both inner and outer rim flanges. Verify balance is within 0.25 oz or less on final spin. Repeat for all four tire/wheel assemblies.
8. 8

   Install wheels on vehicle
   Clean hub mounting surfaces and wheel hub contact areas with wire brush to remove rust and debris. Position wheel on hub, ensuring it seats fully. Install lug nuts by hand, threading at least 3-4 turns to ensure proper thread engagement. Install all lug nuts finger tight in a star pattern before using tools.
9. 9

   Torque lug nuts to specification
   With vehicle still on jack stands, use torque wrench to tighten lug nuts in star pattern to 145 ft-lbs (Ram 3500 typical specification - verify in owner's manual or service information for your specific wheel type). Make at least two complete passes in star pattern to ensure even torque distribution. Raise vehicle slightly off jack stands, remove stands, and lower vehicle to ground.
10. 10

    Final torque verification
    With vehicle weight on wheels, perform final lug nut torque verification. Using star pattern, torque all lug nuts to 145 ft-lbs. This ensures proper clamping force with suspension loaded. Adjust tire pressure to specification on door placard (typically 60-65 PSI front, 70-80 PSI rear for Ram 3500, but verify for your load requirements). Install valve stem caps.

Reassembly

1. No disassembly of vehicle components required for this procedure beyond wheel removal

Verification

• Test drive vehicle at low speed (under 25 mph) and verify no vibration or pulling to one side
• After 50-100 miles, re-torque all lug nuts to 135 ft-lbs to account for wheel settling
• If TPMS equipped, verify all four sensors are reading and no warning lights are illuminated. TPMS relearn procedure may be required (drive vehicle above 15 mph for 10+ minutes)
• Check tire pressure when cold and adjust to door placard specifications
• Verify no air leaks at valve stems or bead seats by applying soap solution and checking for bubbles

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