Great Barr is about 99 miles in a straight line from our only base at Brent Cross, NW2 (further by road). We have no base or van stationed nearby. Call and we will tell you straight away whether we can take the job; if we can, the arrival time is given on the call.
A wheel that is out of balance can cause vibration through the steering wheel or the seat, often at higher speeds, and uneven tyre wear. We balance the wheels at the car: each wheel is taken off, spun on the balancing machine in the van, and small weights are fixed to the rim to even it out. Balancing is done whenever we fit a new tyre, and it can be booked on its own.
An unbalanced wheel is rarely an emergency, but the vibration wears the tyre unevenly and gets worse as the speed rises, so it is worth booking soon. If the vibration started suddenly after hitting a kerb or a pothole, look at the tyre for a bulge first: a bulge means the tyre needs replacing, not balancing.
It is not the same as wheel alignment, which sets the angles of the wheels. We do not do alignment, so if the car pulls to one side, a garage with an alignment rig is the place for that. Our main wheel balancing page, linked below, has more detail.
Each wheel comes off for balancing, so the fitter needs firm, level ground and room beside the car: a driveway, a legal space on a quiet street, or a car park where the owner allows it.
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Postcode districts | B43, B42 and others |
The price depends on how many wheels need balancing, and we confirm it on the call before anyone sets off.
No tyre and wheel are perfectly even in weight. Balancing adds small weights to the rim so the wheel turns without wobbling. When a weight falls off, or after a new tyre or a repair, the wheel can be out of balance.
The usual signs are:
An unbalanced wheel wears the tyre unevenly and puts extra load on wheel bearings and steering parts, so it is worth sorting even when the shake seems mild.
Tell us when the shaking starts and where you feel it: through the steering wheel, the seat or the floor.
You hear what the job involves and the options for your car. Nothing is booked until you say yes.
The fitter comes to your home, your workplace or a safe place to park, raises the car on a jack and does the job beside it.
Before the fitter leaves, the wheel is checked for security and the tyre pressure is set to the maker's figure.
Leave the locking wheel nut key somewhere easy to find, such as the driver's seat or the glovebox, and tell us if the car will be at work rather than at home.
You do not need to stay with the car for the whole job, but someone needs to hand over the keys and agree the work. If the car is in a residents' bay or a work car park, check the fitter can park close to it.
Have these ready when you call:
Most tyres have small raised bars in the main grooves, called tread wear indicators. When the tread is worn level with them, the tyre is at the legal limit. A 20p coin is a rough check: if the outer band of the coin shows when it is pushed into the main grooves, the tread may be close to the limit.
Grip in the wet falls away well before the limit, so many drivers replace tyres at around 3 mm. Age matters too: cracking in the sidewall or between the tread blocks means the rubber is perishing, even on a tyre with plenty of tread left.
There is no fixed figure that suits every car, so the price is built from a few things and told to you before you decide.
The price is the same at any hour. Asking for a price does not commit you to anything.
When you compare prices, compare like with like: the same brand and pattern, the same load index and speed rating, and whether balancing and a new valve are part of the job.
“Good communication, excellent work and takes the initiative. Happy to go the extra mile, highly recommended if you're in a tyre-related bit of bother!”
“From start to finish, Hiwad was incredibly professional and helpful.”
“Good and reliable service in all conditions.”
These are the neighbourhoods, postcode districts and main roads on record for this area. Whether we can take a particular job depends on the diary and the distance from our base, so the call always decides.
Steering wheel vibration at speed: causes and fixes
A vibrating steering wheel usually points to wheel balance or a tyre problem. Here's how to tell the cause from the speed it happens, and how to fix it.
Buckled alloy wheel: the signs and the fix
A buckled wheel causes vibration, slow air loss and uneven wear. Here's how to spot one, how it differs from a balance problem, and whether it can be repaired.
Wheel balancing vs alignment: what's the difference?
Balancing and alignment are often confused but are two different jobs. Here's what each does, how to tell which you need, and when to have them done.
Describe the vibration and when it starts, and the wheels are balanced at the car. The price is given on the call.
