Wheel Truing: What It Is and Why It Matters

A wobbly wheel is more than annoying — it affects braking, handling, and can lead to broken spokes or a collapsed wheel. Here's what wheel truing is, why wheels go out of true, and when to get them sorted.

What does "true" mean?

A "true" wheel spins perfectly straight — no side-to-side wobble (lateral) and no up-and-down hop (radial). Truing is the process of adjusting spoke tension to bring the wheel back into alignment.

Why do wheels go out of true?

• Potholes and kerbs: impacts knock spokes out of tension
• Spoke fatigue: spokes gradually lose tension over time, especially on new wheels
• Broken spokes: one broken spoke throws the whole wheel out
• Heavy loads: panniers and heavy riders stress wheels more
• Off-road riding: rocks and roots cause repeated impacts

How to spot an untrue wheel

• Visual: spin the wheel and watch it pass the brake pads — does it wobble side to side?
• Brake rub: rim brakes may rub on one side intermittently
• Sound: a rhythmic rubbing or ticking sound while riding
• Feel: the bike feels unstable or pulls to one side at speed

Can I true a wheel myself?

Minor truing is possible with a spoke key and patience, but it's easy to make things worse. Wheel truing requires understanding spoke tension patterns and having a feel for how adjustments affect the whole wheel.

• Minor wobble (1–2mm): experienced home mechanics can handle this
• Significant wobble (3mm+): best left to a professional with a truing stand
• Broken spoke: always a mechanic job — the wheel needs retensioning

What happens during professional wheel truing

• Wheel mounted in a precision truing stand
• Each spoke checked for tension with a tensiometer
• Lateral (side-to-side) trueness corrected
• Radial (up-and-down) trueness corrected
• Dish checked — the wheel sits centrally in the frame
• Spoke tension equalised across the wheel
• Stress-relieved to settle the spokes

How often should wheels be trued?

• New wheels: after the first 100 miles (spokes bed in and lose tension)
• Regular riders: check every 6 months
• After a pothole hit: check immediately
• If you hear rubbing: don't ignore it — it gets worse