Can You Drive Without Alignment After Replacing Tires?

Wheel alignments for old, worn-out tires are unquestioned; you must service them periodically to ensure proper and smooth rides. But how about brand-new tires that barely have any scratches?

Our article will dive further into this issue to clear our readers’ bafflement. 

Do You Need An Alignment After Replacing Tires?

Yes. While many people do not regard new-tire alignment as an immediate need, auto technicians still highly recommend it to guarantee all the tires are angled correctly against each other. 

Despite being brand-new, these tires can still not escape technical issues that might ensue on dirt roads. Failure to address those problems early via regular alignments might give the tires premature damage; they will do a horrible job of protecting you from accidents.

Worse, non-alignments put excessive pressure on the car’s suspension, leading to high damage risks in the suspension components. Though they are not irreparable, their costs give you quite a headache.

Furthermore, new, unaligned rear tires can damage the car’s steering axis when traveling at high speeds. Violent shakes and shudders will be the norm; at this point, crashes and collisions may arrive anytime. 

Other huge consequences to look out for are loosened wheel control and deteriorating fuel economy. You will be lucky if only one of these issues occurs; imagine how disastrous it might be when they all attack the car simultaneously!

The main takeaway: while new tires are becoming cheaper these days, no one wants to spend more money than necessary. Aligning your tires right after their purchases is the best tactic for both safety and finance purposes. 

What Is The Cost of Proper Wheel Alignments for New Car Tires? 

The average service costs fluctuate from $50 to $168 depending on the brand and provider. Aside from that, other factors also play a part in deciding how much you must invest: 

  • Numbers of tires. Front-end alignment (involving tires in pairs at the car’s front) costs about $50 to $75. Meanwhile, four-tire options clearly charge more than two-wheel alignments, usually at $100 to $168.
  • Your car type. Luxurious cars demand more expensive alignments. Why? They either demand specialized tools or have complex designs that extend the process longer than average. 
  • Extra labor. Additional post-alignment services like suspension repairs or tire balancing might increase the total cost. 
  • Local regulations. The total price ranges depend on each neighborhood’s law/regulation. Sometimes, branches of the same brand may even offer different fees in different regions.   

Other Signs That Your Tire Needs Alignments

Here are the two most common (and easily recognizable) signals to keep an eye on:

1. The Steering Wheel Does Not Stay Straight

A good stationary steering wheel should always stay centered, even if you let it go. Sure, the device might drift a bit at downward curves to the right or left for better drainage, but regardless, there should not be any huge angle variations compared to its original position.

So if the wheel no longer stays straight and even pulls harshly, it’s time for you to seek steering corrections and have the tires aligned. 

2. The Wheels Start Vibrating Violently

Off-balanced and misaligned tires cause severe vibrations inside the steering gear.

You will recognize that instantly when driving over potholes or joining off-roading trips at high rates. On the contrary, they are a bit harder to identify at slower speeds.  

Neglecting their alignments only worsens these vibrations on every type of road surface. Stop putting them off! 

FAQs

1. Should I Align All Four Tires or Only The Replaced Ones?

Yes. Aligning all four will be the best, ensuring appropriate caster angles on rough road surfaces.

2. How Often Should I Align Them/Have Alignment Checks?

Most manuals specify these issues, so check them out! And if they don’t, then once per year is the safest option. 

Conclusion

This article has explained why in detail and also provided extra tips that all first-timers should keep close to heart. Do not skip them! 

For more advice on alignment issues, please get in touch with us. 


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Michael Koper

Michael Koper

Maintenance Mechanic At Interstate Tires

Michael Koper is a skilled Maintenance Mechanic with over 7 years of experience in tire and wheel repair. He specializes in diagnosing and repairing issues, performing routine maintenance, and ensuring quality standards at Interstate Tires.


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