Wheel balancing: what it is and when your car needs it

A wheel that is out of balance makes itself felt as a vibration in the steering wheel or in your seat. Balancing solves that with a few small weights on the rim. This article explains how wheel balancing works, when it is needed, what it costs according to the ANWB (the Dutch motoring organisation) and how it differs from wheel alignment.

By the team at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug, RDW-approved APK (MOT) test station since 1979 · Updated 7 November 2026

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The short answer

Wheel balancing means evening out the weight of the wheel and tyre together, so that the wheel turns smoothly at higher speeds. The mechanic measures on a balancing machine where the wheel is too heavy and sticks or clips small weights onto the rim on the opposite side. Balancing is needed with every new tyre, after a puncture repair, when a weight has fallen off and when the steering wheel vibrates at a certain speed. At Autobedrijf Willemsbrug in Rotterdam, balancing is included in the price of every tyre fitting.

Tyre service at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug: new summer, winter and all-season tyres for all makes and sizes, including electric cars, vans and motorhomes up to 3,500 kg. We tell you the price in advance based on your registration number, including fitting, balancing and disposal of the old tyres. Call +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number and we tell you the price and when we can do it. You bring the car and we call you when it is ready. A loan bike is free while one is available. Saturdays too. Our team speaks English. More about our tyre service

What is wheel balancing?

Balancing is evening out the weight of a complete wheel, so the rim and the tyre together. A tyre is not equally heavy all the way round. The rubber is not the same thickness everywhere, the point where the tread is joined weighs a little more, and the valve and the rim add weight too. A wheel that is a few grams heavier on one side turns smoothly at low speed. On the motorway that same wheel turns more than ten times a second. Then the small amount of extra weight pulls at the wheel with every turn, and the wheel starts to wobble or bounce.

The solution is straightforward: a small weight goes on the rim opposite the heavy spot. The wheel is then the same weight all the way round. Tyre manufacturer Hankook describes it like this: to bring the tyre and the rim into balance, a balance weight is fitted at the point that is lighter than it should be. The weights weigh a few grams up to a few dozen grams. You can see them on the inside of the rim or on the edge of the rim.

Balancing is not the same as wheel alignment. Balancing is about the weight of the wheel itself. Alignment is about the angle of the wheels in relation to each other and to the road. We explain the difference further down.

Static and dynamic balancing: what is the difference?

Static imbalance means the wheel is too heavy at one point around its circumference. Dynamic imbalance means the weight is also unevenly spread across the width of the wheel, for example a little heavier on the outside than on the inside. A modern balancing machine measures both at the same time.

Type of imbalance What happens What you feel Solution
Static One heavy spot on the circumference. The wheel bounces up and down A thumping or pounding vibration One weight opposite the heavy spot
Dynamic The weight is uneven across the width. The wheel wobbles from side to side A shimmying vibration in the steering wheel Weights on the inside and the outside of the rim

Most wheels have both types at the same time. The balancing machine works out where and how much weight is needed.

This is how it goes in our workshop: the mechanic takes the wheel off the car and cleans the contact surface of the rim and the hub. He puts the wheel on the balancing machine, enters the rim size and spins the wheel. The machine measures the imbalance and shows where and how many grams are needed. The mechanic clips or sticks the weights onto the rim, spins the wheel again and checks that the reading is zero. On alloy wheels we usually use stick-on weights on the inside, so that the outside of the rim stays clean. On steel wheels we use clip-on weights on the edge of the rim.

When do wheels need balancing?

Wheels need balancing every time a tyre is fitted to a rim, and also whenever you feel a vibration. Tyre manufacturer Hankook writes that balancing must be done after every fitting of the wheel, and is also needed if the rim loses a balance weight or if that weight shifts.

  • New tyres: every new tyre has a different weight distribution from the old one. That is why we balance at every tyre fitting, and it is included in our price.
  • After a puncture repair: a punctured tyre comes off the rim and gets a patch on the inside. After that the wheel has to be balanced again.
  • Lost weight: a clip-on weight can come off after a kerb, a car wash or because of rust on the edge of the rim. You then see a clean patch or a trace of glue on the rim, and the steering wheel starts to vibrate.
  • Steering wheel vibrates at a certain speed: often on the motorway, at around 100 km/h, and sometimes it calms down again above that. This is the classic sign of an imbalance in a front wheel. If you feel it mainly in your seat, it is usually at the rear.
  • After a kerb or a deep pothole: a hard knock can damage the tyre or the rim. We then check the tyre and the rim first and balance afterwards.
  • At a seasonal change of tyres on the same rims: if winter tyres go onto the same rims, we balance them again. If you have a second set of wheels, those wheels are already balanced and it is usually not needed.
If your car vibrates straight after a tyre change, stop in a safe place and have the wheel bolts checked. The ANWB advises retightening the bolts after about 100 kilometres. A vibration that suddenly becomes very strong, or a bulge in the side of the tyre, is a reason not to drive any further.

Balancing or alignment: what does my car need?

If the steering wheel vibrates, balancing is usually the answer. If the car pulls to one side or the tyres wear unevenly, alignment is needed. They are two different jobs with different aims, and one does not replace the other.

Balancing Alignment
What is adjusted The weight of the wheel and tyre The angle of the wheels: toe, camber and caster
Symptom Vibration in the steering wheel or seat at a certain speed Car pulls to one side, steering wheel off centre, tyres wear on one side
When At every tyre fitting and whenever there is a vibration Only when there is a reason: pulling to one side, uneven wear, after a kerb or after replacing steering or suspension parts
How Wheel off the car, measured on the balancing machine, weights on the rim Car on the alignment lift, all four wheels measured and set to the manufacturer’s data
Time A few minutes per wheel According to the ANWB, on average 30 to 60 minutes

Source for the alignment time: ANWB, Auto uitlijnen, consulted 6 November 2026.

We do not advise alignment as standard with every new tyre. The ANWB writes that alignment is needed when the car pulls to one side or the tyres wear unevenly, and after a hard knock against a kerb, a deep pothole, an accident or the replacement of ball joints or control arms. According to the ANWB, alignment is not part of a car’s preventive maintenance schedule. Read more about when we do and do not recommend it on our page about wheel alignment in Rotterdam.

Does the steering wheel still vibrate after balancing?

Then imbalance is not the cause, or not the only one. Balancing only solves a vibration that comes from the weight distribution of the wheel. Other causes need a different solution.

  • Vibration when braking: then the brake discs are often warped, not the wheels.
  • A bulge or a deformed tyre: after a kerb, the carcass of the tyre can break. A tyre like that cannot be balanced any more and has to be replaced.
  • A bent rim: a rim that is out of true does not turn in a circle, however many weights you put on it. We see this on the balancing machine.
  • Dirt or rust between the rim and the hub: the wheel then does not sit straight on the hub. That is why we clean the contact surface before we fit the wheel.
  • Play in the suspension, a wheel bearing or a driveshaft: a vibration when accelerating or a clicking noise in bends points to this.
  • Uneven wear: a tyre with flat spots or a saw-tooth pattern vibrates and hums. This pattern often comes from worn shock absorbers or a wrong wheel angle. Read more about the causes of uneven tyre wear.

That is why, with a vibrating steering wheel, we start with a test drive and a check of the tyres, rims, brakes and suspension before we replace anything. How we find the cause and what the most common causes are is on our page steering wheel vibration: finding and fixing the cause.

What does wheel balancing cost?

With new tyres, balancing is included in the price we tell you in advance. As an indication of the market: on 22 September 2026 the ANWB wrote that the large tyre chains charge € 32 to € 38 per tyre for fitting and balancing. That is a market figure, not a quote from us.

Do you want balancing only, because the steering wheel vibrates, for example after a lost weight? Then call us with your registration number (in Dutch: kenteken) on +31 10 479 00 00. We tell you the cost in advance. If the check shows there is more going on, we tell you that first and you decide. Need new tyres? On our page about tyre replacement in Rotterdam you can read what our price includes.

Frequently asked questions

Do new tyres need balancing?

Yes. Every tyre has its own weight distribution, so after a new tyre is fitted to the rim, the wheel has to be balanced again. Tyre manufacturer Hankook writes that balancing must be done after every fitting of the wheel. At our garage, balancing is included in the price of the tyre fitting.

How do I know my wheels are out of balance?

You feel a vibration in the steering wheel or in your seat that starts at a certain speed, often on the motorway, and eases off again at a different speed. If the imbalance is at the front, you feel it in the steering wheel. If it is at the rear, you feel it more in the seat or the floor. At low speed you usually notice nothing.

Can I keep driving with wheels that are out of balance?

Yes, a slight vibration at a certain speed is no reason to stop, but do have it checked soon. Imbalance loads the tyre, the wheel bearing and the suspension with every turn of the wheel. Tesla writes in its owner’s manual that imbalance has a negative effect on handling and tyre life. If the vibration suddenly becomes strong, stop in a safe place.

How often do wheels need balancing?

There is no fixed interval. Balancing is needed every time a tyre is fitted to a rim, after a puncture repair and whenever you feel a vibration. A wheel that has been balanced properly and does not lose a weight stays in balance. Tyre wear can slowly change the balance, and you then notice that as a vibration.

Do I need alignment after balancing as well?

No, not as standard. Balancing and alignment are two different jobs. We only advise alignment when the car pulls to one side, the steering wheel is off centre, the tyres wear unevenly, or after a kerb, a deep pothole or the replacement of steering or suspension parts.

Can winter wheels on a second set of rims be swapped without balancing?

Yes. Complete wheels that have already been balanced can come off the car and go back on without balancing again. If you feel a vibration after the swap, a weight may have been lost or there may be dirt between the rim and the hub. If you change tyres on the same rims, we balance them again.

Why does my steering wheel vibrate after new tyres?

Usually because of imbalance, a weight that is not seated properly or dirt between the rim and the hub. Sometimes the wheel bolts are not tight. Have the car checked. At our garage we balance every new tyre and clean the contact surface before fitting. If it still vibrates, come back. Then we look at it again.

Steering wheel vibrating? Call us with your registration number

We balance your wheels and first check that nothing else is going on. We tell you the cost in advance. Call +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number.

You will find us at Boterdiep 11 in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, close to Stadion Feijenoord (De Kuip). We work by appointment. Call us with your registration number and we tell you the price and when we can do it.

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