Wheel Balancing Cost

• Wheel balancing can cost $6 -$20 per wheel ($24 -$80 for all four wheels), but it typically is about $10 -$12 a wheel ($40 -$40 total) depending on local labor rates, and the make and model of vehicle. This service is usually slightly more expensive at a car dealership than at a tire store or automotive repair shop. CostHelper readers report paying $24 -$75 to have all four wheels balanced at a shop for an average of $50 ($12 per wheel) and $44 -$70 at a dealership for an average of $53 ($13.32 per wheel).
• A complete wheel balancing may include tire mounting (putting the tire on the wheel) and tire rotation (changing where an individual wheel-and-tire is located on the vehicle, because tires in front wear down faster than those in back) or these may be done separately for about $2 -$10 per wheel. For example, the automotive centers at Walmart charge $8 per wheel for balancing, $5 per tire for mounting and $2.50 per tire for rotation, or $11 per tire for a complete tire installation package with mounting, a new valve stem and both rotation and balancing every 7,500 miles.

• Goodyear outlines a typical complete wheel-balancing service: removing each tire and wheel; putting each one on a balancing machine; spinning each one to make sure the weight of the wheel and tire are balanced evenly around the axle; detecting and locating any imbalance; attaching a lead weight on the opposite side of the tire to compensate for the weight difference; and remounting the wheels on the vehicle.
• Wheel balancing is typically done anytime a tire is mounted on a wheel, or if the tire is dismounted for repair and then remounted. Although a tire will gradually wear down and eventually need to be rebalanced, car experts Tom and Ray Magliozzi of the Car Talk radio show say this is a slow process, and tires that are in balance tend to stay in balance; they suggest having the wheels rebalanced only if there is a shimmy or vibration, or if the tires are remounted on different rims.

• If needed to make sure the wheels are running parallel to each other, wheel alignment can cost $20 -$100 at a repair shop or $75 -$400 or more at a dealership, depending on the make and model of vehicle.

• Mounting and balancing may be included in the cost of buying a set of new tires. Some tire sellers also include lifetime rotations, balancing and flat repairs.

• Wheel balancing is done at most car dealerships; tire dealers like Big O Tires, Firestone or Goodyear; car repair shops like Meineke or Pep Boys; and automotive departments at retailers like Costco or Sears.
• The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence provides a searchable directory of certified shops.
• Consumer Reports lists tips for finding a good mechanic.

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