Wheel Balancing and Alignment: What's the Difference?

These two services get mentioned in the same breath so often that many drivers assume they're the same thing. They're not — and knowing the difference helps you describe the right problem when you book a service.

Wheel balancing: fixes vibration

Every wheel-and-tyre assembly has tiny weight variations around its circumference. Wheel balancing uses small weights, precisely placed, to even that out. If you feel a vibration through the steering wheel or seat that gets worse at a specific speed (often 80–110 km/h), that's a classic sign of an unbalanced wheel — usually from new tyre fitting, a lost balance weight, or a pothole strike.

Wheel alignment: fixes handling and uneven wear

Alignment adjusts the angles at which your wheels meet the road — camber, caster and toe. If your car pulls to one side on a flat, straight road, if the steering wheel isn't centred when driving straight, or if you notice uneven wear across a tyre's tread, that points to an alignment issue, not a balancing one.

When to book each

Book a balance whenever you fit new tyres, and immediately if you feel a new vibration. Book an alignment after hitting a significant pothole or kerb, after a suspension repair, or if you notice your car pulling or wearing tyres unevenly.

Falluja Tyres Limited offers wheel balancing at our Nairobi workshop — book a slot online and we'll sort it while you wait.