Tire Services

Wheel Balancing

If the steering wheel shakes at highway speed, the wheels are almost certainly out of balance. Balancing puts that right.

  • 45 min typical
  • At every branch
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What is wheel balancing?

No tire and wheel assembly is perfectly even in weight. The difference is tiny - often a fraction of an ounce - but at 65 mph a wheel turns around 800 times a minute, and that small imbalance becomes a vibration you feel through the steering wheel or the seat.

Balancing puts each wheel on a machine that spins it and measures exactly where the heavy spot is. We then fit small counterweights to cancel it out.

Beyond comfort, an unbalanced wheel hammers away at your suspension, wheel bearings and the tread itself, which is why the problem tends to get worse rather than settle down.

What we do

  • Take each wheel off and clean the mounting face
  • Remove any old weights that are no longer correct
  • Spin each wheel on a computerised balancer to find the heavy spot
  • Fit counterweights to cancel the imbalance
  • Re-spin to confirm the wheel runs true
  • Refit the wheels and torque the lug nuts to specification

When do you need this service?

  • The steering wheel vibrates at a particular speed, often 50 to 70 mph
  • You feel a shake through the seat or floor
  • You have just had new tires fitted
  • A wheel weight has come off
  • You have hit a significant pothole or kerb
  • Tires are wearing in patchy, uneven spots

How it works

  1. Symptom check We ask at what speed you feel the vibration and where.
  2. Removal Wheels come off and mounting faces are cleaned.
  3. Measurement Each wheel is spun on the balancer to locate the heavy spot.
  4. Weighting Counterweights are fitted to correct the imbalance.
  5. Verification The wheel is re-spun to confirm it now runs true.
  6. Refit Wheels are torqued to spec and the vehicle is road-checked.

Important information

Balancing fixes vibration caused by uneven weight distribution. It does not fix a vibration caused by a bent wheel, a damaged tire, a worn suspension component or a brake problem. If we balance your wheels and the shake is still there, that points somewhere else, and we will tell you rather than keep adding weights.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my wheels need balancing?

The usual sign is a vibration that appears at a certain speed and fades above or below it. A shake felt through the steering wheel usually points to the front wheels; one felt through the seat usually points to the rear.

How long does balancing take?

Around 45 minutes for a set of four.

Is balancing the same as alignment?

No. Balancing is about weight distribution around the wheel and fixes vibration. Alignment is about the angles the wheels sit at and fixes pulling and uneven wear. They are different jobs on different equipment.

Do new tires need balancing?

Yes, and it is included when we fit them. Balancing is part of every tire installation.

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Ready to get your vehicle back on the road?

Book a slot at your local branch and we will have you sorted.

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