Alignment Question

[sjlee]

I'm getting new tires installed later today and was wondering if I needed to get an alignment done.

When I called to make an appointment, they told me that they charged $75 for an alignment, but for $140 they would give me life-time alignments.

I've never had to have an alignment done on either of our current vehicles. I did have to get it done once on my Integra after I slid into a curb during winter, but I didn't need another one afterwards.

I'm thinking I might need to get the alignment this time around in order to meet the requirements for the treadlife warranty (50k), but would I really need to get another alignment again?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[ptsmh73]

Its pretty much routine and probably a good idea to get an alignment when getting new tires. It does not show in the routine maintenance schedule or maintenance minder, but the alignmnet does go out after time (bumps, curbs, etc).

[sjlee]

Originally Posted by ptsmh73

Its pretty much routine and probably a good idea to get an alignment when getting new tires. It does not show in the routine maintenance schedule or maintenance minder, but the alignmnet does go out after time (bumps, curbs, etc).

Do you think it is worthwhile to get the lifetime alignment deal? Keep in mind that this is at the tire place (Firestone), not to the dealer where I take the Pilot for all the major maintenance.

[Xeption]

Heck yeah!! If you plan to keep your car for a while get the lifetime alignment. After a couple of alignments it will pay itself off. Well not pay itself off but you know what I mean. :-)

[sjlee]

Originally Posted by Xeption

Heck yeah!! If you plan to keep your car for a while get the lifetime alignment. After a couple of alignments it will pay itself off. Well not pay itself off but you know what I mean. :-)

Well, we already have had the Pilot for 5 years and 65k miles. I don't plan on getting rid of it anytime soon, so maybe it will be worth it... particularly when it's time to get a new set of tires again (granted, that probably also means that I'll be stuck getting Firestone/Bridgestone tires so that I can take advantage of the lifetime alignment).

[Xeption]

65k in 5 yrs!!! Wow, my chevy silverado has 80k in 3yrs. In the past 3 years I have aligned it 3 times, the first time right out of the dealership, the second time when i ran over a ladder on the highway, and the third time after replacing wheels and tires. I run my vehicles well above 150k. I take very good care of them and alignment is very important. I don't believe in schedule maintenance other than, oil and fluid changes. I use full synthetic oil, top tier fuel and all my veichles(Chevys, vw, and 1st Honda) run like new!

[dustino8]

FWIW, I've only done one alignment on my Pilot in the 5 years, 70,000 miles that I've owned it, and that was because a suspension link was bent and replaced. I keep an eye on the tires, and if they are wearing even and the vehicle tracks straight, I don't get an alignment, even with new tires.

However, $140 for lifetime alignments seems like a good deal.

[cofetym]

Keep them aligned, keep them balanced and check the pressures, good to go.

Yes, you are definitely limited brand wise but the lifetime alignment is an excellent deal. If you keep your vehicles for a long time.

[sjlee]

Thanks for all your responses. I went ahead and got the new tires and purchased the lifetime alignment.

I figured that at every 5k miles I'd take it in for a tire rotation (free) and alignment (now paid for). Hopefully this will ensure the tires last at least 50k miles.

When they did the alignment this time, they said that all four tires were off, so at least that's corrected now.