Do you get a new alignment when getting new tires?

[ListedGuru]

One of our local Ford dealers is doing a buy 3 get the 4th tire for $1.00 sale. I called and inquired about pricing and was told the price included an alignment with the new tires. Honestly thinking back I don't think I've ever had an alignment done on a car when getting new tires. I was told I had to get the alignment done to get the buy 3 get 4th for $1.00 deal

Just curious what are your thoughts on getting an alignment done when getting new tires? From looking online it doesn't seem necessary if your current tires are wearing evenly and the vehicle tracks straight ,etc. Just curious what the general consensus is on the issue here on MTC.

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[ShadowBlack XL440]

One of our local Ford dealers is doing a buy 3 get the 4th tire for $1.00 sale. I called and inquired about pricing and was told the price included an alignment with the new tires. Honestly thinking back I don't think I've ever had an alignment done on a car when getting new tires. I was told I had to get the alignment done to get the buy 3 get 4th for $1.00 deal

Just curious what are your thoughts on getting an alignment done when getting new tires? From looking online it doesn't seem necessary if your current tires are wearing evenly and the vehicle tracks straight ,etc. Just curious what the general consensus is on the issue here on MTC.

And what did they want to charge you for the unnecessary alignment? Chances are they would just do a quick check and verify all is good and charge for a full alignment.

 

[Carlitos_92]

...it doesn't seem necessary if your current tires are wearing evenly and the vehicle tracks straight ,etc.

Agree with this as a strategy.

That dealer is making up the loss on the "$1.00 tire" by charging you for an alignment that they may or may not do to any reasonable standard of care.

 

[BK007]

One of our local Ford dealers is doing a buy 3 get the 4th tire for $1.00 sale. I called and inquired about pricing and was told the price included an alignment with the new tires. Honestly thinking back I don't think I've ever had an alignment done on a car when getting new tires. I was told I had to get the alignment done to get the buy 3 get 4th for $1.00 deal

Just curious what are your thoughts on getting an alignment done when getting new tires? From looking online it doesn't seem necessary if your current tires are wearing evenly and the vehicle tracks straight ,etc. Just curious what the general consensus is on the issue here on MTC.

If the alignment is included in the cost and not an extra charge it can't hurt anything. But I would not pay extra for it unless you have uneven wear or it's pulling. Is this a Maverick? how many miles?

 

[Fibrepunk]

I would get an alignment when I get new tires if my alignment was already off with the old set of tires.

If my car was going straight and fine with the old set of tires, when getting new tires, I would not get the alignment done.

 

[F150 2.7 TT user]

I have done quite regular yearly alignments on my 2017 F150, all at a local independent shop. I sunk a lot of $$$$ into the suspension and want it kept healthy. They will check my alignment after every tire swap because they know what I want. They only charge actual time spent setting up and checking. They only charge if work is needed.
An exception but a great example of good customer shop relationship.

But if a stock vehicle and the old tires had worn even, I would not hesitate to skip an alignment.

 

[ListedGuru]

If the alignment is included in the cost and not an extra charge it can't hurt anything. But I would not pay extra for it unless you have uneven wear or it's pulling. Is this a Maverick? how many miles?

This is actually for our 2023 Ford Escape Hybrid AWD that has around 51K miles on it. It has the OEM Michelin Primacy's on it which are close to end of life so looking for new tires that won't kill the MPG's before winter. We also have a 2025 Maverick Hybrid AWD but only 12K on it so no need for new tires on that yet.

 

[BK007]

This is actually for our 2023 Ford Escape Hybrid AWD that has around 51K miles on it. It has the OEM Michelin Primacy's on it which are close to end of life so looking for new tires that won't kill the MPG's before winter. We also have a 2025 Maverick Hybrid AWD but only 12K on it so no need for new tires on that yet.

Oh I see cool. I would have the alignment checked at 51k if you have never checked it. If its's off from hitting a good pothole or something it will save you a lot of money keeping your new tires wearing healthy. Just what I would do.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

One of our local Ford dealers is doing a buy 3 get the 4th tire for $1.00 sale. I called and inquired about pricing and was told the price included an alignment with the new tires. Honestly thinking back I don't think I've ever had an alignment done on a car when getting new tires. I was told I had to get the alignment done to get the buy 3 get 4th for $1.00 deal

Just curious what are your thoughts on getting an alignment done when getting new tires? From looking online it doesn't seem necessary if your current tires are wearing evenly and the vehicle tracks straight ,etc. Just curious what the general consensus is on the issue here on MTC.

Correct
Tires, in and of themselves, will not change the mechanical aspects of a properly aligned vehicle.
Any shop that owns alignment equipment. Has to justify that investment and get a return on said investment.

If they will allow you to watch and show you whether or not the front end is aligned within specification before they touch a single tie rod or lower control arm. I don't see the harm in that.
The only time I had an alignment was when I replaced front suspension parts on my 93 Ranger.

 

[whitef]

Yes. Every time.

It's always a little off, and it sucks when your new tires start humming after 10k miles, just to save $109.

 

[notaz3]

One dealer I went to did an alignment check on every vehicle that came in for service. I only went the one time to buy a rear whipper blade for my C-Max.

In my past 40+ years of driving, the only time I've had alignments done was when I had problems with irregular tire wear (hitting rocks at high speeds), or after replacing steering/suspension components.

 

[OleFordGuy]

As long as I've been driving (a loooong time) I've always had the alignment checked with the new tires on and the alignment adjusted if/when needed. My thought process is to always verify so not to put unnecessary ware on a new set of tires.

 

[DinoLord]

Always

If it is included, why wouldn't you?

I buy the lifetime alignment from Firestone and alignment with every oil change. I've only had 1 alignment done where it wasn't out of spec beforehand. Houston roads suck.

 

[Tbone289]

Always

If it is included, why wouldn't you?

IMO, the answer to that should lie in the trust you have in the tech doing the job. If the tires they replace have perfectly even wear, why would you trust a tech/shop with unknown background to do the job right and not make it worse?

It sounds like you can trust your tire shop, and thankfully I'm in the same situation. However, I don't believe the average consumer going to the average tire shop is necessarily in that same situation. In my area, I can't even trust the average tire shop or my dealer to mount new tires without chipping paint off my wheels.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

It depends on a lot.

But I rarely do. Like twice in 500,000 miles across all vehicles which means some vehicles, never.
I watch the tire wear. If you're good, you're good. You can't fix what isn't broken. And micro millimeter adjustments are unnecessary.

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