The present invention relates to a method and a device for assigning an electronic wheel unit, which is assigned to a wheel of a vehicle and is for ascertaining at least one characteristic parameter of the wheel, to a side of the vehicle. In this case, a direction of rotation of the wheel is determined by means of the wheel unit. The direction of rotation of the wheel which is determined by means of the wheel unit is compared with a direction of rotation of another wheel which is determined by means of another wheel unit assigned to the other wheel, wherein the wheel and the other wheel are arranged on different sides of the vehicle on a shared axle. Depending on the comparison of the determined directions of rotation of the wheel and of the other wheel, the wheel unit is assigned on the basis of a first procedure for assigning the wheel unit to the side of the vehicle or on the basis of a second procedure for assigning the wheel unit to the side of the vehicle. In this case, the direction of rotation determined by the wheel unit is utilized in the first procedure, and the second procedure is independent of the direction of rotation determined by the wheel unit.