An imbalance of only a few grams becomes noticeable at speed, because its effect grows with the square of the speed. Where you feel the vibration tells you which wheel is at fault: felt in the steering it is the front, felt in the seat and the floor it is the rear. This is not only a comfort question — a wheel spinning out of balance keeps working the ball joints, bushings and dampers, and wears the tyre unevenly in patches. The three most common causes are a lost weight, snow or mud packed onto the wheel, and a hard hit against a kerb.
- Vibration in the steering means front wheels, in the seat means rear
- Done as standard after every fitting
- Adhesive weights on alloy rims, clip-on weights on steel
- Poor balance also tires suspension parts early
Common questions
Do I need balancing or wheel alignment?
Vibration is balancing. Pulling to one side, or wear on one edge of the tyre, is alignment. Alignment needs a lift and a fixed laser rig, so it cannot be done mobile — we do not offer it, and we say so up front.
When should I have the wheels balanced?
At every tyre change, whenever a weight falls off, and after a hard pothole or kerb strike. And the moment a vibration starts, without waiting.
What we do
