Tyres - What is the difference between tracking & balancing?

[Lou 10]

OK, maybe you don't have to be an expert, but can someone tell me what the difference is between the "tracking" and the "balancing" on your car tyres? I think one or the other is something to do with all your tyres "pointing" the same way so they wear evenly and presumably so the weight of the car is distributed evenly or something, but I don't really know! Keep any replies simple!

[burns80 10]

tracking is where they all point straight to avoid the outer edges wearing before the main thread

balancing is where weights are added to the sides of the tyres to balance them on each side

[Lou 10]

Thanks! So I wasn't far off then! Now you've got me wondering: I've just had the balancing done on my car (was shaking when I went over 60mph. It's much better now!), so how does a car become "unbalanced" in the first place?

[burns80 10]

when you drive on to kerbs or hit them against kerbs when parking or drive over bumps and things like that

[Lou 10]

Ah, I see. I live in a narrow, steep street and parking can be tricky. I'm often bumping the kerbs so that makes sense then. (Makes me sound like I'm a right dizzy driver!).