Is Wheel Balancing Included When You Buy New Tyres?

Chain-by-Chain Breakdown

Chain	Balancing Included?	Notes
Halfords Autocentre	Yes, free	Included in fitting price. Online booking shows balancing as part of the service.
Kwik Fit	Yes, free	Included with all tyre purchases. Most comprehensive tyre fitting package in the UK.
National Tyres	Yes, free	Included in fitting price. 300+ centres with consistent pricing.
Tyre Shopper	Yes, free	Included when you book fitting through their online platform.
ATS Euromaster	Yes, free	Included in fitting price. Fleet and commercial packages also include balancing.
Protyre	Yes, free	Included in fitting price at all locations.
BlackCircles	Yes, free	Included in fitting price at all partner garages. Online-only ordering.
Independent garages	Yes, free	Usually included, but always confirm before booking. Some may charge separately.

What "Included" Actually Means

What IS Included

✓ Standard dynamic balance on a spin machine
✓ New balance weights applied
✓ Old weights removed
✓ Verification spin to confirm balance

What Is NOT Included

✗ Road force balancing (premium service, extra charge)
✗ Rebalancing if vibration appears later (though many offer a 30-day warranty)
✗ Wheel alignment (different service entirely)
✗ TPMS sensor reset (may be extra at some garages)

Buying Tyres Online

Online tyre retailers like BlackCircles, Oponeo, and mytyres.co.uk work by shipping tyres to a local fitting partner. When you book fitting through the platform, balancing is included in the fitting price. The fitting partner performs the balancing at the garage, not the online retailer.

When buying online, check the following before confirming your order:

Confirm balancing is listed as included in the fitting price breakdown
Check whether new valve stems are included (usually yes)
Ask about old tyre disposal (usually included or £1 to £2 per tyre)
Confirm the fitting partner has availability for your vehicle type

Part-Worn Tyres

Part-worn tyres are usually NOT balanced at the point of sale. The seller provides the tyre only, and fitting and balancing are your responsibility. Budget £5 to £10 per wheel for balancing on top of the tyre cost and fitting charge.

Always have part-worn tyres balanced at fitting. They have unknown wear patterns that create unpredictable imbalance. Skipping balancing on part-worn tyres is a false economy that leads to vibration and accelerated wear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Halfords balance tyres for free?+

When buying tyres from Halfords, standard wheel balancing is included in the fitting price at no extra charge. This applies to all tyre purchases booked through their website or in-store. Standalone balancing on existing tyres costs £7.99 per wheel.

Are part-worn tyres balanced?+

Usually not. Part-worn tyres are sold as-is without fitting or balancing. You will need to arrange and pay for fitting and balancing separately. Budget £5 to £10 per wheel for balancing in addition to the tyre and fitting costs.

Should I pay extra for road force on new tyres?+

For standard all-season or touring tyres on a regular car, standard dynamic balancing is sufficient. Consider road force only for low-profile performance tyres, or if you notice vibration after the standard balance. Do not let a garage upsell road force as a routine upgrade.

What if vibration appears after fitting new tyres?+

Most chains offer a 30-day warranty on tyre fitting that includes rebalancing if vibration develops. Return to the fitting garage within the warranty period for a free rebalance. If the issue persists, ask about road force balancing or a tyre inspection for manufacturing defects.