Vibrations through your steering wheel or seat are a classic sign of unbalanced wheels. Find out how wheel balancing is done and how often you need it.
Wheel balancing is a routine maintenance job that is easy to overlook but causes significant problems if neglected. Unbalanced wheels lead to steering vibrations, accelerated tyre wear and unnecessary stress on wheel bearings and suspension components.
1How Wheel Balancing Works
A tyre and wheel assembly is mounted on a computerised balancing machine and spun at speed. Sensors detect heavy spots in the rotation and the machine calculates exactly where small counterbalance weights should be attached to the rim to achieve smooth, vibration-free rotation.
2Signs Your Wheels Need Balancing
The classic symptom is a vibration felt through the steering wheel, floor or seat at motorway speeds — typically above 50–60 mph. You may also notice scalloped or cupped wear patterns developing across the tyre tread, which are a reliable visual indicator of imbalance.
3How Often to Balance
Wheels should be balanced every 10,000–12,000 miles and whenever new tyres are fitted. After hitting a significant pothole, kerb or road debris, it is worth having the balance checked promptly — even a small impact can displace a balance weight and trigger vibration.
4Balancing vs Alignment
Balancing addresses the weight distribution of the tyre and wheel assembly. Alignment addresses the angle at which the wheel meets the road. Both are important and both affect tyre wear, but they address different problems — you may need one, the other, or both.
Bradford Mobile Tyres includes professional wheel balancing with every tyre fitting as standard. Book a check today and eliminate that steering vibration for good.
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