Alignment & Tire Change Question
05-31-2005, 01:50 AM
#1
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Borat Impersonator
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Borat Impersonator
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Alignment & Tire Change Question
Ok, I'm going to get my alignment done this week and I need to replace the tires as well. Should I replace the tires, then drive the 25 miles to the alignment shop? Or, should I take the car on the old tires, do the alignment, then change the tires. If I do the tires after will that mess up the tires or alignment specs? I just replaced the tie rods & ball joints. I eyeballed the alignment and It's not that bad (to the eye).
05-31-2005, 03:15 AM
#3
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The point si that the jacking to replace the tyres will mean it needs some driving to ensure its settled back to stabel ride height before the alignment is done. I suggest you measure the fender arch height at wheel centre line front and rear, get the tyres replaced, and drive it until the heights have come back to previous figures (within a few mms) before doing any alignment .
jp 83 Euro S AT 49k
jp 83 Euro S AT 49k
05-31-2005, 11:40 AM
#4
Electron Wrangler
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Borys,
For sure - tires first - just give it miles or better a few days of normal driving to settle back down - it won't harm/wear the tires in a few days if you are anywhere close already. If you change the alignment with the old tires - even if its perfectly done it likely won't track well if they are badly worn down or especially unevenly worn. Its always nice to drive away from an alignment with the car feeling perfectly set up, and then you will want to throw it around a bit to see how it really feels - you won't really want to do that on worn out OR first day tires right?
Besides its also nice to have a real feel for the difference before/after with the same good condition tires in place.
Alan
For sure - tires first - just give it miles or better a few days of normal driving to settle back down - it won't harm/wear the tires in a few days if you are anywhere close already. If you change the alignment with the old tires - even if its perfectly done it likely won't track well if they are badly worn down or especially unevenly worn. Its always nice to drive away from an alignment with the car feeling perfectly set up, and then you will want to throw it around a bit to see how it really feels - you won't really want to do that on worn out OR first day tires right?
Besides its also nice to have a real feel for the difference before/after with the same good condition tires in place.
Alan
05-31-2005, 04:29 PM
#6
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Also... you can settle the front end about 95%+ by taking it up to 40 or so and stabbing the brakes real hard a few times. Don't lock 'em up, and do it in a safe place, but between this, a bit of swerving around, and a bumpy road or two you should be able to get it damn close in just a few miles.