Wheel Alignment vs Wheel Balancing — What's the Difference?

By Salek Tyre & Mechanic · Ashford, TW15

Many drivers use the terms wheel alignment and wheel balancing interchangeably, but they are actually two completely different maintenance procedures. While both are critical for a smooth ride and extending the life of your tyres, they address different mechanical issues, display different symptoms, and require different specialized equipment. In this guide, we will look at wheel alignment vs wheel balancing, outlining what each process does, how to identify which service your car needs, what they cost, and how often they should be checked.

What is wheel alignment?

Wheel alignment, which is also commonly referred to as wheel tracking, is the process of adjusting the angles of your vehicle's steering and suspension components. It is not an adjustment of the tyres or wheels themselves, but rather an adjustment of the mechanical links that connect the wheels to the vehicle. The primary goal of wheel alignment is to ensure that all wheels are pointing in exactly the same direction and are perfectly perpendicular to the road surface.

When a mechanic performs a wheel alignment, they use specialised laser-guided measuring equipment to check and adjust three primary angles:

• Toe: This is the angle at which the tyres point inward or outward when viewed from directly above. If the fronts of the tyres point toward each other, it is called "toe-in" (pigeon-toed). If they point away from each other, it is called "toe-out". Incorrect toe is the most common alignment issue and causes rapid, diagonal wear across the tyre tread.
• Camber: This is the inward or outward tilt of the wheel when viewed from the front of the vehicle. If the top of the wheel tilts inward toward the car, it has negative camber. If it tilts outward, it has positive camber. Misaligned camber causes uneven wear on only one edge of the tyre (the inner or outer shoulder).
• Caster: This is the angle of the steering axis when viewed from the side of the vehicle. Caster helps to self-centre the steering wheel after cornering and provides high-speed stability. It does not typically affect tyre wear, but incorrect caster can make the steering feel exceptionally heavy or light.

On most everyday road passenger vehicles, toe is the primary angle that is adjustable. Camber and caster are often fixed by design, meaning they can only be adjusted on high-performance cars or if specialized aftermarket parts are fitted, or if suspension components have become bent or damaged.

What causes wheel alignment to go out?

Your vehicle's suspension system is a complex network of springs, shock absorbers, control arms, and bushes designed to absorb road shocks. Over time, these parts wear out, or their mounting positions shift. The most common causes of alignment problems include:

• Impacts: Hitting a pothole, hitting a kerb while parking, or driving over speed bumps too quickly can easily bend suspension parts or knock the steering tracking out of specification instantly.
• Wear and tear: Over time, rubber suspension bushes degrade, ball joints develop play, and steering tie rods wear out. This gradual wear allows the wheels to move slightly out of alignment.
• Modifications and repairs: Lowering a car, fitting new shock absorbers, or replacing suspension components will alter the geometry of the suspension, requiring a professional alignment check immediately afterward.

What is wheel balancing?

Wheel balancing, on the other hand, is the process of correcting uneven weight distribution within the tyre-and-wheel assembly. When a new tyre is manufactured, it is impossible to make it perfectly uniform in weight. Similarly, alloy and steel wheels have tiny weight variations around their circumference, especially around the valve hole. When a tyre is mounted onto a wheel, these minor differences combine to create heavy spots.

If a wheel is not balanced, the heavy spots will spin unevenly at speed, creating centrifugal forces that cause the wheel to hop vertically or wobble horizontally. To correct this, a tyre technician places the wheel assembly onto a computerised balancing machine. The machine spins the wheel, identifies the exact heavy spots, and tells the technician where and what weight to add. The technician then clips or glues small zinc or lead counterweights to the wheel rim to achieve perfect balance.

What causes wheels to go out of balance?

A wheel assembly that was perfectly balanced when fitted can become unbalanced over time due to several factors:

• Loss of wheel weights: Adhesive weights on alloy wheels can detach due to heat from the brakes, road grime, or high-pressure jet washing. Clip-on weights on steel wheels can be knocked off by kerbs.
• Tyre wear: As a tyre wears, it loses rubber tread material. If the tread wears unevenly, the weight distribution shifts, throwing the assembly out of balance.
• Puncture repairs: Adding a patch or plug to a punctured tyre introduces additional weight to one specific area of the tyre, requiring the wheel to be re-balanced.
• Tyre slipping: Hard braking or rapid acceleration can occasionally cause the tyre to rotate slightly on the wheel rim, shifting the heavy spot relative to the weights.

How to tell which one you need

Because both issues affect the smoothness of your drive, it can be hard to know whether you need alignment or balancing. The symptoms are generally distinct:

It is important to note that you can have both issues at the same time. For instance, hitting a pothole hard can knock the alignment tracking out and knock off a wheel weight simultaneously.

How much do they cost?

Both wheel alignment and wheel balancing are relatively inexpensive maintenance jobs, especially when compared to the cost of replacing tyres prematurely due to uneven wear.

• Wheel balancing: Generally costs between £10 and £20 per wheel. When you purchase new tyres from Salek Tyre & Mechanic, wheel balancing is always included in the fitting price. You can find more detail in our wheel balancing cost guide.
• Two-wheel alignment: Front-wheel alignment typically costs between £30 and £50. This is suitable for most front-wheel-drive hatchbacks and saloons.
• Four-wheel alignment: Full four-wheel alignment check and adjustment ranges from £60 to £90. This is recommended for all-wheel-drive, four-wheel-drive, and premium rear-wheel-drive vehicles. Check our wheel alignment cost guide for details.

How often should you check alignment and balance?

Regular maintenance ensures safety and saves money. We recommend the following schedule:

• Wheel alignment: Get your tracking checked at least once a year, or every 10,000 miles. You should also book an alignment immediately if you notice the car pulling, if you hit a kerb or pothole hard, or whenever you fit new tyres to prevent them from wearing out unevenly from day one.
• Wheel balancing: Wheels should be balanced every time new tyres are fitted, if a tyre is removed from the rim for a puncture repair, or if you begin to feel a steering vibration at motorway speeds.