Basic Question RE: Alignment

[BatesMotelXIV]

Hey everyone,

I expect to get an ITS soon, and I have some wheels/tires to put on the car for the winter.

Is it wise (or a waste) to get the car aligned with the new tire/wheel package?

I would think the car is already properly aligned off the showroom floor, but I am not sure if a new wheel/tire package requires an alignment. Thanks in advance!

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[Frenzal]

You align the car, not the wheels!

 

[BatesMotelXIV]

You align the car, not the wheels!

So, that's a "NO" as in "I do NOT need to have the car aligned when I put new tires/wheels on"?

 

[jayy_swish]

No, changing wheels and tires DOES NOT affect the alignment. Only speedometer speed accuracy % if changing size from stock

 

[optronix]

Agreed, no alignment for just swapping wheels and/or tires.

Service people will try to push that but it's just something they do when people come in for tires, at which point usually they're just doing it because the tires are worn ~30-40k miles, in which case it would probably be due for an alignment. It's a muscle-memory response, but also I'm sure some people fall for it.

Don't be one of them.

 

[ChromaPop]

Hey everyone,

I expect to get an ITS soon, and I have some wheels/tires to put on the car for the winter.

Is it wise (or a waste) to get the car aligned with the new tire/wheel package?

I would think the car is already properly aligned off the showroom floor, but I am not sure if a new wheel/tire package requires an alignment. Thanks in advance!

If you meant balancing rather than alignment then that is a yes.

 

[Gefiltefish]

I would think the car is already properly aligned off the showroom floor, but I am not sure if a new wheel/tire package requires an alignment. Thanks in advance!

You'd be surprised at that comment! I have had a lot of new cars from the factory over the years with alignment specs way out of whack. Usually within factory "tolerances" but one side may be toed-in and the other toed-out.

Its not a bad idea to have the car aligned at some point, but don't feel you need to do it straight away. And alignments can be done to minimize tear wear and/or maximize handling performance. If you want both - you have to find a happy balance. Toe is what chews tires up the most (unless you have excessive negative camber). Ideally I would want to run around 1/4in to 1/2in toe out in the rear for handling purposes at autocross - but that will tear up tires and make highway handling twitchy.

I plan on autocrossing my car and took deliver in mid-October after all my events were done for the year. I won't get the car aligned until March/April now.

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