Wheel Balancing – Chester-le-Street

Wheel balancing and wheel alignment are two different things, and it’s worth understanding the distinction. Alignment refers to the angle of the wheels relative to each other and the road. Balancing refers to the even distribution of weight around the wheel and tyre assembly.

Both matter, and problems with either will manifest in ways that are easy to mistake for something else.

What Happens When Wheels Are Unbalanced

An unbalanced wheel creates a small but repeating vibration as it rotates. At low speeds this may be barely perceptible. As speed increases, the vibration amplifies, and by motorway speeds it can be felt clearly through the steering wheel, the seat, or the floor. Beyond the discomfort, unbalanced wheels accelerate tyre wear, put strain on wheel bearings and suspension, and reduce the tyre’s contact with the road.

When Balancing Is Needed

• When new tyres are fitted balancing should always be included as standard
• If vibration develops at speed
• After a tyre repair or puncture
• When a wheel weight has visibly come off
• As a periodic check, particularly on high-mileage vehicles

Our Process

We use a balancing machine to identify exactly where weight correction is needed around the wheel, then fit small calibrated weights to bring the assembly into balance. It takes only a few minutes per wheel and makes a noticeable difference to ride quality and refinement.

All tyre fitting at A Hedley Motor Engineers includes balancing as standard. If you’re experiencing vibration and want it investigated, book in at our Chester-le-Street workshop.

A Hedley Motor Engineers is proud to be affiliated with the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), and to partner with Payment Assist to give our customers another way to pay for repair bills.

To find out more about Wheel Balancing in Chester-le-Street, contact us online, or call us directly on 0191 388 9066.

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