A sheave plate and cable assembly for a tire lift/carrier winch comprises a sheave plate (52) having spaced apart side faces (60) defining a plate thickness therebetween and having an outer peripheral edge (62) interconnecting the side faces (60) and including an arcuate cable-wrapping track (64) thereon. The end of a cable (40) extends into the sheave plate (52) between the side faces (60) and is captured therein by the sheave plate (52) which is die cast therearound. A portion of the cable (40) end extends into the sheave plate (52) in arcuate manner about the axis of rotation of the sheave plate (52) and terminates in a flattened head portion (104). The thickness of the captured cable (40) end is less than the plate (52) thickness whereby the cable (40) end is confined between the side faces (60) of the sheave plate (52) and does not extend beyond the side faces (60) into adjacent side plates (50, 51) of the sheave assembly (20).