Tire Mount and Balance

This procedure covers the dismount, mount, and balance of tires on the 2018-2024 Toyota Camry with the 2.5L I4 engine, including proper wheel removal, tire service, and reinstallation with correct torque specifications.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Valve stems (TPMS compatible) × 4 — Use OEM specification or TPMS-compatible aftermarket
• Adhesive wheel weights × 1 — As needed per wheel balance
• Valve caps × 4 — Generic

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid surface and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels if lifting front, or front wheels if lifting rear
3. Loosen all wheel lug nuts approximately one turn before lifting vehicle
4. Lift vehicle at manufacturer-specified jacking points and support securely on jack stands at all four corners
5. Remove all four wheels and transport to tire machine work area
6. Inspect wheels for damage, cracks, or bends before mounting new tires

Procedure

1. 1

   Deflate and dismount old tires
   Remove valve cores to fully deflate tires. Position each wheel on tire changing machine. Break both beads using the machine's bead breaker. Rotate wheel and use mounting arm to lift top bead over rim, then remove bottom bead. Inspect wheel for corrosion or damage.
2. 2

   Clean wheel and inspect TPMS sensors
   Use wire brush to clean wheel bead seating surface and center hub mounting area. Remove old wheel weights. Inspect TPMS sensor condition and torque nut (if equipped with band-type sensors). Verify sensor is secure and not damaged. Note sensor position for tire mounting.
3. 3

   Install new valve stems if needed
   If replacing valve stems, ensure TPMS-compatible rubber or metal valve stems are used. Pull new valve stem through rim using valve stem installation tool. For vehicles with metal valve stems integral to TPMS sensors, verify stem integrity and replace sensor if damaged.
4. 4

   Mount new tire to wheel
   Apply tire mounting lubricant to both tire beads and wheel rim edges. Position tire on wheel with directional arrows correct (if applicable) and tire brand facing outward. Ensure TPMS sensor location is noted and mounting head will not contact sensor during installation. Use tire machine to lever bottom bead over rim, then top bead. Keep mounting head positioned opposite from TPMS sensor location (approximately 180 degrees away from valve stem).
5. 5

   Seat tire beads
   Install valve core and inflate tire to seat both beads. Listen and watch for both beads to pop into place on rim. Do not exceed 40 PSI during bead seating. Once beads are fully seated, adjust pressure to 35 PSI or manufacturer specification for balancing.
   ⚠Stand to the side of the tire while inflating. Never inflate beyond 40 PSI for bead seating.
6. 6

   Balance wheel and tire assembly
   Mount wheel/tire assembly on balancing machine. Ensure wheel is centered properly on the cone or pin plate. Enter wheel diameter and width into balancer. Spin wheel and wait for balancer to determine weight placement locations. Install adhesive weights on inside rim surface at positions indicated by balancer. Re-spin to verify balance is within acceptable limits (typically less than 0.25 oz).
7. 7

   Repeat for remaining three wheels
   Complete dismount, mount, and balance procedure for the remaining three wheels. Maintain organization to ensure directional tires are mounted correctly and wheels are returned to their original positions if rotating is not being performed.
8. 8

   Install wheels onto vehicle
   Clean wheel hub mounting surfaces on vehicle with wire brush to remove rust and debris. Position wheel onto hub, aligning lug bolt holes. Hand-thread all five lug nuts to prevent cross-threading. Using a star pattern, snug all lug nuts with lug wrench or impact wrench, but do not fully torque while vehicle is on jack stands.
9. 9

   Lower vehicle and torque lug nuts
   Carefully lower vehicle until tires contact ground but vehicle weight is not fully on wheels. Remove jack stands. Lower vehicle completely to ground. Using calibrated torque wrench, torque all wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern. Make at least two complete passes in star pattern to ensure even torque distribution.
   Torque spec

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

    Set final tire pressures
    Check tire pressure in all four tires using accurate tire pressure gauge. Adjust to vehicle manufacturer specification found on driver door jamb sticker (typically 35 PSI). Install valve caps on all four wheels. Reset TPMS system if required using vehicle menu or TPMS reset button.

Reassembly

1. Verify all lug nuts are torqued to 140 Nm (103 lb-ft) in star pattern
2. Confirm all valve caps are installed
3. Double-check tire pressures match door jamb specification

Verification

• Test drive vehicle at low speed (under 15 mph) and verify no vibration or pulling
• Listen for any unusual noises from wheels that might indicate loose lug nuts or improper mounting
• Re-check lug nut torque after 50-100 miles of driving
• Verify TPMS warning light is not illuminated on instrument cluster
• Confirm tire pressures are holding and no leaks are present after 24 hours

More procedures for this vehicle