Wheel Balancing, Tracking and Four-Wheel Alignment Explained

Balancing: smoothing out the weight

A wheel and tyre are never perfectly even in weight all the way round. Balancing adds small weights to the rim so the wheel spins smoothly. If it is out of balance, the heavy spot hammers against the road with every turn.

The classic sign is a vibration you feel through the steering wheel, usually at a particular speed range and often fading above or below it. A vibration through the seat can point to the rear wheels. Balancing is normally done whenever a tyre is fitted, and again if a wheel has been repaired or you start to feel a shake.

Tracking: where the wheels point

Tracking, sometimes called toe, describes whether the wheels point straight ahead or slightly in or out when viewed from above. Even a small error makes the tyres scrub sideways as they roll.

If tracking is wrong you may notice the steering wheel sits off-centre when you are driving in a straight line, the car feels twitchy or wanders, or the tyres wear in a feathered pattern across the tread. Because the effect is constant scrubbing, tracking faults can use up a tyre surprisingly quickly.

• Steering wheel crooked on a straight road
• Feathered or saw-tooth wear across the tread
• Squealing tyres on gentle bends
• A car that feels vague or darty on the straight

Four-wheel alignment: the full picture

Four-wheel alignment checks the angles of all four wheels in relation to each other and to the car's centre line, not only the front toe setting. That includes camber, the inward or outward lean of the wheel, and caster, which affects steering weight and how the wheel returns to centre, along with toe on every corner.

It is worth considering if the car pulls to one side, if wear is on one edge of the tyre, after replacing suspension or steering components, or after an impact. Rear wheels can be out too, which a front-only check will miss. Whether an angle can be adjusted depends on the car, and the inspection will show what is possible.

Vibration versus pulling: telling them apart

A shake in the steering that comes and goes with speed is most often a balance problem, though a bent wheel, a bulging tyre or a worn suspension joint can cause something similar. A car that drifts sideways when you let go of the wheel, or a steering wheel that is not straight, points more towards alignment, though tyre pressures and uneven tyre wear can also pull a car to one side.

If a car shakes under braking rather than at cruising speed, that is a different matter, often brake discs, and should be checked promptly.

Potholes, kerbs and when to book a check

Hitting a pothole hard or clipping a kerb can knock the geometry out without any visible damage. Around Tyneside, with its mix of busy town roads and winter weather that breaks up surfaces, it is easy to take one hit without noticing.

At Banks of the Tyne in Hebburn we offer wheel balancing, tracking and four-wheel alignment alongside new tyres and fitting. It is sensible to book a check after a significant impact, when fitting a new set of tyres, or when you notice any pulling, vibration or odd wear. If a wheel looks bent or a tyre is bulging, do not keep driving on it.

Frequently asked questions