Apparatus for determining the orientation of a wheel assembly (32, 132, 232) having a tire mounted on a wheel rim secured for rotation on an axle of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising: a contact assembly (36, 136, 236) for engaging the wheel assembly (32, 132, 232) by being selectively pressed there against without being fixedly secured thereto to define a plane of orientation of the wheel assembly (32, 132, 232); a positioning assembly (38, 138, 238) including a mount to which said contact assembly (36, 136, 236) is affixed via a pivot for pivotally securing said contact assembly (36, 136, 236) to said mount, and including a locating assembly (72, 272) to which said mount is affixed, wherein said locating assembly (72, 272) is adapted to move said contact assembly (36, 136, 236) relative to the wheel assembly (32, 132, 232) to selectively engage and disengage said contact assembly (36, 136, 236) with the wheel assembly (32, 132, 232); a light source (40, 240) for projecting a beam (42, 242) of light with respect to and based on the orientation of said contact assembly (36, 136, 236) when said contact assembly (36, 136, 236) is pressed against the wheel assembly (32, 132, 232); and a light beam receiving assembly (44, 144, 144A, 244) for receiving said light beam (42, 242) and forming an image of said light beam (42, 242) indicating the orientation of the wheel assembly (32, 132, 232) with respect to a predetermined position, said light beam (42, 242) being directed from said contact assembly (36, 136, 236) to said receiving assembly (44, 144, 144A, 244), said receiving assembly (44, 144, 144A, 244) including a target and a lens (68, 168), said lens (68, 168) adapted to direct said light beam (42, 242) to said target, wherein the location at which said light beam (42, 242) impinges upon said target is indicative of the planar orientation of the wheel assembly (32, 132, 232). a contact assembly (36, 136, 236) for engaging the wheel assembly (32, 132, 232) by being selectively pressed there against without being fixedly secured thereto to define a plane of orientation of the wheel assembly (32, 132, 232); a positioning assembly (38, 138, 238) including a mount to which said contact assembly (36, 136, 236) is affixed via a pivot for pivotally securing said contact assembly (36, 136, 236) to said mount, and including a locating assembly (72, 272) to which said mount is affixed, wherein said locating assembly (72, 272) is adapted to move said contact assembly (36, 136, 236) relative to the wheel assembly (32, 132, 232) to selectively engage and disengage said contact assembly (36, 136, 236) with the wheel assembly (32, 132, 232); a light source (40, 240) for projecting a beam (42, 242) of light with respect to and based on the orientation of said contact assembly (36, 136, 236) when said contact assembly (36, 136, 236) is pressed against the wheel assembly (32, 132, 232); and a light beam receiving assembly (44, 144, 144A, 244) for receiving said light beam (42, 242) and forming an image of said light beam (42, 242) indicating the orientation of the wheel assembly (32, 132, 232) with respect to a predetermined position, said light beam (42, 242) being directed from said contact assembly (36, 136, 236) to said receiving assembly (44, 144, 144A, 244), said receiving assembly (44, 144, 144A, 244) including a target and a lens (68, 168), said lens (68, 168) adapted to direct said light beam (42, 242) to said target, wherein the location at which said light beam (42, 242) impinges upon said target is indicative of the planar orientation of the wheel assembly (32, 132, 232).