How often do I need wheel alignment?

There's no fixed interval — have it checked if you hit a bad pothole or notice pulling, an off-centre wheel or uneven tyre wear. UK roads after winter make it more common than the textbook suggests.

Do I need balancing every time I rotate tyres?

Not always, but it's good practice when fitting new tyres or if you feel vibration. It's quick and inexpensive.

Wheel Alignment vs Wheel Balancing Explained

Ask for one and you'll often be quoted for both. Sometimes that's fair — they're commonly done in the same visit — but they solve entirely different problems, and knowing which is which keeps you in control of the bill.

Alignment: the angles of your wheels

Alignment (or tracking) sets the angles at which your tyres meet the road. Clout a pothole or kerb hard enough — a near-inevitability on UK roads after winter — and those angles shift. The classic symptoms are a car that pulls to one side, a steering wheel that sits off-centre, or tyres wearing unevenly across their width.

Balancing: the weight distribution of each wheel

Balancing corrects tiny weight imbalances in the wheel-and-tyre assembly using small weights clipped to the rim. The classic symptom is a steering wheel or seat that vibrates at a particular speed — often around 50–70 mph on the motorway.

Wheel Alignment vs Wheel Balancing: The Real Difference

Alignment: the angles of your wheels

Balancing: the weight distribution of each wheel

Frequently asked questions