Wheel Truing Basics to Fix Wobbles

Wheel truing fixes wobbles and improves braking performance. Minor corrections prevent rim damage and brake rub.

Quick Answer: Tighten spokes on the side opposite the wobble, loosen spokes on the wobble side. Make quarter-turn adjustments and check frequently. True side-to-side first, then round out radial variations.

Reading the Wobble

Spin the wheel and watch the rim relative to brake pad. Mark high spots with chalk. Wobbles toward the left need spoke adjustment on the right side, and vice versa.

Spoke Adjustment Technique

Tighten spokes by turning nipples counterclockwise. Loosen by turning clockwise. Make small adjustments—quarter turns maximum. Work on 2-3 adjacent spokes for each correction zone.