Both help your tyres last longer and your car drive smoothly. One deals with weight distribution in the wheel, the other with the angles at which the wheels point.
What is wheel balancing?
A tyre and wheel assembly is never perfectly even in weight. Small differences cause the wheel to wobble as it spins, usually felt as a vibration through the steering wheel or seat at certain speeds. Balancing uses a machine to find the heavy spots and small weights are fixed to the rim to even things out.
### Signs you need balancing
- Vibration in the steering wheel at motorway speeds, often between about 50 and 70mph.
- Vibration through the seat or floor.
- Uneven or patchy tyre wear.
- After fitting a new tyre, repairing one or hitting a kerb.
Balancing is done whenever a new tyre is fitted. Our mobile wheel balancing service does it at your location.
What is wheel alignment?
Alignment, sometimes called tracking, is the angle of the wheels relative to the car and each other. The main angles are toe, camber and caster. If they drift out of specification, the car may pull to one side, the steering wheel may sit off-centre and tyres wear unevenly.
### Signs you need alignment
- The car pulls to one side on a flat road.
- The steering wheel is crooked when driving straight.
- One edge of a tyre wears faster than the rest; see tread depth guide.
- Squealing tyres when cornering.
- After hitting a pothole or kerb, or replacing suspension parts.
Alignment needs a workshop with an alignment rig, and a mobile technician cannot normally do it on a driveway. A good mobile fitter will tell you when a visit to a garage is needed.
How they differ
Balancing corrects weight distribution in each wheel and cures vibration. Alignment corrects the geometry of the suspension and cures pulling and uneven wear. You can have one without the other, and a car can need both.
Why they matter for tyre life
An unbalanced wheel can scrub the tyre unevenly and wear out the suspension. A misaligned car can wear the edges of a tyre bald in a fraction of its normal life. Checking both can save you tyres in the long run.
Before you change tyres
If a tyre wears unevenly, ask why before fitting a new one. Otherwise the new tyre may wear the same way. See replace tyres in pairs.
EVs, performance and heavy vehicles
Electric cars and performance models are sensitive to balance and alignment; see electric car tyres and performance car tyres.
Mobile balancing at your location
When we fit tyres, we balance the wheels as part of the job; see mobile tyre fitting. If you only have a vibration, we can often check and rebalance wheels on site. We cover places like London, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol; see the areas list. Call now for a quote on 0800 772 0355 or book now.
What a technician can check at your location
Even though full alignment needs a workshop, a mobile technician can check for obvious signs: uneven wear patterns, loose wheel nuts, bent rims, damaged valves and out-of-balance wheels. They can balance the wheels on site, which fixes the most common cause of vibration. If the wear pattern suggests alignment problems, they will say so honestly and suggest a garage visit.
How often to check
There is no fixed interval, but it is sensible to check balance whenever you fit a tyre, repair a puncture or feel a vibration. Alignment is worth checking once a year, after any suspension work and after a hard impact with a kerb or pothole. If you notice your tyres wearing on one edge, do not wait for the next set.
Do not ignore small symptoms
A slight shimmy that comes and goes at a particular speed is easy to live with, and that is why it often goes unfixed for months. Over that time the vibration can wear suspension bushes, steering components and the tyre itself. A quick balance is among the cheapest jobs to do, so deal with it early rather than letting a small issue become a larger repair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is balancing the same as alignment?
No. Balancing evens out weight in the wheel; alignment sets the angles of the wheels.
What causes vibration at speed?
Often an unbalanced wheel, but also damaged tyres or worn parts.
Can alignment be done at home?
Usually not; it needs a workshop. Balancing can often be done mobile.
Can you balance my wheels at home?
Yes in most cases. Call now for a quote on 0800 772 0355.
Related Help
Need help with your tyres now?
Call now for a quote, or book now online. Phone 0800 772 0355.