A handling process for a wheel of large mass from a storage position, in particular to enable its mounting onto the hub of a vehicle, wherein said process comprises the following steps: a handling device that comprises at least two flexible non-elastic attachments parallel to one another and linked by at least two flexible and non-elastic fastening means is positioned on said wheel, said attachments and said fastening means enable the tire tread mounted on said wheel to be encircled over substantially 360°, said attachment thus being position at each side flank of said wheel, the ends of said different flexible attachments are brought together so as to imprison said wheel within said handling device, said ends of said different flexible attachments of said handling device are hooked onto a handling and lifting device, such as a winch integral with a bridge crane, said bridge crane ensuring the lifting and displacement of said wheel.