SHOULD YOU GET AN ALIGNMENT BEFORE NEW TIRES?
Did you know the life of your vehicle’s tires can be shortened by a many of different of factors, including worn suspension and steering parts, your driving habits, the type of road surfaces you drive on, and your vehicle’s alignment? Most mechanics recommend checking the alignment regularly, especially if you buy new tires, but should you get your tires changed before you get an alignment on your vehicle?
Let’s start with what is an alignment?
Not everyone understands what the term alignment means and how an alignment affects your vehicle. To better know whether you should have the alignment completed before or after you replace the tires, let’s take a look at the process.
First, your vehicle’s steering and suspension consist of several parts that must all be in good condition and properly aligned to make sure your vehicle handles properly and the tires wear evenly. These parts typically include the following:
Struts or shock absorbers
Steering rack and pinion or steering linkages and steering gear
Ball joints
Control arms
Tires and wheels
When your vehicle rolls off the production line, these items are in perfect alignment with each other using a computerized, laser-guided alignment machine. However, potholes, mileage, collisions, and many other issues can cause these parts to become out of alignment. While a vehicle with a less-than-perfect alignment typically increases tire wear, worn tires rarely, if ever, cause your vehicle to become out of alignment.
Which should come first: New Tires or Alignment?
Most experts suggest that the only effect worn tires are likely to have is a change to the vehicle’s ride height which, given today’s steering and suspension design, is unlikely to have an effect on the alignment. So, should you complete an alignment before you install new tires or should you wait until the new tires are on the vehicle?
While your vehicle’s alignment can play a major role in how well or poorly the tires wear, other factors can also cause similar issues. One of the most common issues concerns worn or damaged steering and suspension parts. These parts include all moving and stationary steering parts, shocks, struts, and springs. Before you invest in either a new set of tires or an alignment for your vehicle, you might be better off having a certified technician inspect your vehicle’s steering and suspension for you.
So should you get an alignment before new tires?
Since every situation is different we suggest talking to a trained technician. For the most part, doesn’t matter whether you get your alignment before or after having your new tires put on. Most experts agree that the only effect worn tires have on your alignment is a change to the vehicle’s ride height which, given today’s steering and suspension design, should be negligible.
8 comment(s) so far on SHOULD YOU GET AN ALIGNMENT BEFORE NEW TIRES?
I will be changing worn struts and shocks in Three weeks. Can I get the tires before I get my new struts,shocks and alignment. I have 2013 Cadillac ATS
Since the struts and shocks are worn, we would recommend replacing the tires at the same time so that the current struts and shocks don’t cause unnecessary wear on the new tires.
If you’d like to speak to one of our GM/Cadillac Certified Technicians, they would be able go into more detail with you. They can be reached at 412-469-2100.
Can an accurate alignment be done with badly and unevenly worn tires on the vehicle? Would the alignment findings be different with a brand new set of tires in the vehicle vs the same vehicle with badly worn tires? Thanks.
We utilize alignment machines that provide accurate readings no matter the wear on the tire. If the vehicle is out of alignment, it would show regardless of the wear on the tire.
I just bought new tires less than 3 months ago and the front started to wear and feather. I had the car aligned-it turns out it was horribly aligned with extreme toe in. My question is, may I still drive on the feathered 3-month old tires post alignment without doing further damage to anything? I can’t bear buying new front tires! Thank you!
Thank you for reaching out. We wouldn’t recommend driving on those tires if that is the current condition for very long. Did you purchase them at one of our Bowser locations? We would be able to take a look at them and see what warranty may apply to replace the tires.
It is crucial to maintain your vehicle’s alignment regularly for optimal tire life. While new tires may not directly affect alignment, worn steering and suspension parts can lead to alignment issues. To determine whether to get an alignment before or after new tires, consult a certified technician. Generally, the order doesn’t matter significantly as worn tires only slightly impact ride height. Prioritize inspecting steering and suspension components to identify potential issues that may require attention before investing in tires or alignment. A well-maintained alignment, along with healthy steering and suspension, ensures better handling and even tire wear.
Before purchasing new tires, Power of Bowser’s blog post discusses the value of wheel alignment. Airdrie Tires It draws attention to the advantages of proper alignment and the potential negative effects of ignoring it. Car owners can benefit from the article by using it to inform their decisions on tire replacement. The information is succinct but comprehensive, offering helpful suggestions and showing the dealership’s knowledge of automotive maintenance.