Wheel Balancing Cost

Typical costs:

• 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^[1] 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^[2] : 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^[3] 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^[4] , Firestone^[5] or Goodyear^[6] ; car repair shops like Meineke^[7] or Pep Boys^[8] ; and automotive departments at retailers like Costco^[9] or Sears^[10] .
• The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence provides a searchable directory^[11] of certified shops.
• Consumer Reports lists tips for finding a good mechanic^[12] .

1.  www.walmart.com/cp/1087266
2.  www.goodyear.com/en-US/services/tire-balancing
3.  www.cartalk.com/content/today-dorothy-vs-husband-tire-balancing-act
4.  www.bigotires.com/locations
5.  www.firestonecompleteautocare.com/
6.  www.goodyear.com/en-US/services
7.  www.meineke.com/
8.  www.pepboys.com/nonmgb/my_stores
9.  tires2.costco.com/CostcoAdvantage.aspx
10.  www.sears.com/automotive/v-1020005
11.  www.ase.com/Landing-Pages/Car-Owners/Find-a-Repair-Shop/Shop-Locator.aspx
12.  www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/12/how-to-find-a-great-car-mechanic/index.htm

Check Out All Costs for Cars		How Much Does a Limousine Rental Cost?		How Much Does Valet Parking Service Cost?		How Much Do Brakes Cost?

Today's Featured Cost Articles

Parks are opening and offering reservations. We cover camping gear. A BBQ grill could be handy to enjoy backyard activities during the summer months. Spring has sprung. Are you thinking about allergy shots? April is craft month. We have the cost of scrapbooking and other crafts. In case signing up was a resolution, we cover the cost of diet plans.

About CostHelper

CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.

CostHelper Community

Small Project for Aboveground Pool Paid: 200.00 We asked our normal gardener who charges $40 a visit to level a small rectangle of our backyard (30'x15') for an aboveground pool.We asked for an estimate, and at first they said $450, and we asked for what? We don't need sod... [more] -Needed leveling for a pool Land Grading Cost Whoa! Too much. Paid: 812.02 Ridiculous. W.O. insurance : $2,822.06 With Insurance: $812.02Sounds like double billing insurance fraud... [more] -Heartfailure121 Blood Tests Cost Extraction & bone graft Paid: 986.00 Had an almost 10 year old crown that formed an abscess. Chose to have extracted with bone graft to eventually get an implant. Original quote $1,760 but he took pity on an ER nurse with no dental insurance and discounted to $986... [more] -ErikainYuma Dental Bone Graft Cost Shingles Vaccine Joke Paid: 190.00 Medicare doesn't cover it. Blue Shield supplement doesn't cover it. Humana prescription supplement doesn't cover it. Cheapest is WalMart local pharmacy for 190. I don't know if I'll shell out that much... [more] -Beahah Shingles Vaccine Cost Molar extraction and bone Graft Paid: 1724.00 Modern Dental Care in Vegas charged me 1724 for Extraction and bone graft... [more] -Fereshteh Dental Bone Graft Cost Soft washing decking and roofs Paid: 0.00 My first year soft washing houses in the Philadelphia area. My prices are questionable and I want to get it right. Currently I’m charging 15 per foot for a house wash (20 if it’s stucco) 30 per foot for a roof wash... [more] -John Francis Cleaning a Deck Cost