5.7 wheels

Wheel Truing — Lateral

Wheel Truing — Lateral. Step-by-step procedure for bike maintenance — tools, time, and what to watch out for.

Difficulty ★★☆ moderate
Time ~30–60 min
Applies to All bikes (any wheel can need lateral truing)

A wheel that wobbles side-to-side as it spins.

Tools

  • Spoke wrench (correct size for your nipples — confirm before using)
  • truing stand or use the bike frame as reference (caliper rim brake pads make a great gauge)

Procedure

  1. Mount the wheel in the truing stand

    , or in the bike (with brake pads as the reference).

  2. Spin slowly and watch for the worst wobble

    — the highest-deflection point.

  3. Identify which side the rim deflects toward

    — left or right.

  4. Identify the spoke that pulls the rim AWAY from the deflection

    — the spoke on the opposite side of the rim from the deflection.

  5. Tighten that spoke

    by 1/4 turn (counter-clockwise from underneath, looking up at the nipple — i.e., clockwise looking from the spoke head side). At the same time, you can loosen the spoke directly opposite by 1/4 turn for a more balanced result.

  6. Spin and re-check

    The wobble should reduce. Repeat at the next worst point.

  7. Work in small increments

    Aim for 1/4 turn maximum per adjustment.

  8. Final result

    the rim should run within ±0.5 mm laterally.

Spoke wrench fit is critical. Common sizes: Park SW-0 (3.23mm), SW-1 (3.30mm), SW-2 (3.45mm). Wrong size rounds the nipple. If unsure, measure the nipple flats with a caliper.