Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for balancing a motor vehicle wheel comprising a pneumatic tire and a disk wheel, the wheel is clamped on a measuring spindle and geometrical data of the wheel are sensed and stored. Wheel unbalance is ascertained in at least one measuring run and at least one balancing vector for balancing mass and balancing position is calculated in accordance with a balancing program selected in dependence on the disk wheel type and material, in at least one balancing plane. At least one balancing weight is fixed to the wheel in dependence on the balancing vector. When sensing a rim region of the wheel a sensor detects whether a rim portion extending substantially perpendicularly to the measuring spindle is or is not present in the rim region being sensed and the balancing program is selected in dependence on the signal obtained in the sensing operation with the sensor.