I just replaced my stock Goodyears with a set of Nokian WR tires. The salesperson tried to sell me a 4 wheel alignment for $59 based on the wear pattern of the original tires after 9K miles. The car doesn't pull right or left. I'm always leary of places that try to sell you things you didn't come in for, but I also don't want to neglect the car.
Any guidelines or suggestions?
Thanks.

The salesperson tried to sell me a 4 wheel alignment for $59 based on the wear pattern of the original tires after 9K miles. ...Any guidelines or suggestions?


Good question. I usually do it when I see some funny tire wear.

What kind wear pattern were on the stockers after only 9k ?


Will

The tech that did the change said the old tires were worn on the inside on all four tires.

Usually I think of getting an alignment if the car has been traumatized somehow (collision, big bump, etc.) but this car has not had anything unusual happen to it.

I use the following criteria mainly: Drive down a flat highway on a non-windy day and carefully let go of the wheel. The vehicle should track straight. If it's pulling to either side, time to get an alignment :D

The tech that did the change said the old tires were worn on the inside on all four tires.


Did you see this wear? Was it very noticeable?

Had they ever been rotated?

If yes....look for a problem w/ the rear "camber" (http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19814). At 9k miles I'd be asking the dealer to look into it. (I'm kind of assuming the rears wore on the inside, were moved to the front, and those replacement then wore also.)

If they hadn't been rotated, it may be an alignment issue.

Will

All Es have a ton of camber in the rear (wheels splay out at the bottom ... I forget whether that's positive or negative camber). If the wheels had been rotated back to front, that would explain the uneven wear on the insides of all four. OTOH I haven't noticed that on my tires.

I just replaced my stock Goodyears with a set of Nokian WR tires. The salesperson tried to sell me a 4 wheel alignment for $59 based on the wear pattern of the original tires after 9K miles. The car doesn't pull right or left. I'm always leary of places that try to sell you things you didn't come in for, but I also don't want to neglect the car.
Any guidelines or suggestions?
Thanks.

Just ask yourself, do you want to keep changing tires every 9k miles? or spend 59.00 and get the problem fixed. 59.00 is actually a pretty good deal on a 4 wheel alignment.

All Es have a ton of camber in the rear ... If the wheels had been rotated back to front, that would explain the uneven wear on the insides of all four. OTOH I haven't noticed that on my tires.

Yeah....but it shouldn't be especially visable at only 9k miles either. :confused:


deepdrop,
Did you take it in for new tires 'cause they were worn already? is the E lowered?

Sorry for all the questions, but a worn set of tires w/ a strange wear pattern in less than 10k miles is kinda strange...I feel like I'm missin' something here.:confused:

Will

Just ask yourself, do you want to keep changing tires every 9k miles? or spend 59.00 and get the problem fixed. 59.00 is actually a pretty good deal on a 4 wheel alignment.


Yeah, but maybe the problem ain't the alignment.... and deepdrop will spend $59 and still wear out some nice Nokians in another 10k miles. :wink:


Will

No, the OEM tires were not worn out. I just felt that they were not great performers and I wanted to get a tire that would be good all year, including the one or two times it's used in the winter.

The car is an "04 and only has 9,000 miles, so you can see it doesn't get used a lot. I rotate the tires once a year when I'm putting snows on our other car.

I did not see the wear the tire guy referred to. He said it was "very worn" on the inside. I don't think they could have been down to the belts or anything, since I saw them last winter and nothing caught my eye. He also mentioned that the 59.95 price was a special for this week only and he also made a point of charging extra for the valve stems. Maybe innocent stuff, but both behaviors are signs of possible unscrupulous businesses. Maybe I'm just too wary since I got burnt once on an expensive but unnecessary rear brake repair on my old K5 Blazer.

The car drives perfectly straight if I let go of the wheel on a straight, flat road.

Maybe, I should just keep an eye on the tread wear and if it appears uneven, get an alignment done?

I raised the question because back in the 70's I used to get alignments all the time ($15.99) on our cars but it's been a long time since I've had any of the cars I've owned aligned.

I know the newer laser alignment racks do cost a pretty penny and labor cost has gone up a lot so that's probably the reason for most of the price increase.

No, the OEM tires were not worn out. I just felt that they were not great performers and I wanted to get a tire that would be good all year, including the one or two times it's used in the winter.

The car is an "04 and only has 9,000 miles, so you can see it doesn't get used a lot. I rotate the tires once a year when I'm putting snows on our other car.

I did not see the wear the tire guy referred to. ...


(Without seeing what the tire guy saw) I think you were right to be suspicious. :wink:

Since the car rides and drives ok and you don't use it that much, I'd say "forget it."

Now go use that $59 for some gas to go for a nice long spring ride w/ some new tires! :)

Will

I'll second that. Go driving :D

Yup, that's what I'll do-Go Driving!

This tire center told me how they had inflated the tires to spec and tightened the lugnuts to spec. Well the tire pressures were all over the place from 35-48 psi and the lug nuts were over 100 ft lbs (spec is 80).
I fixed all that today. Confirms my lack of confidence in the place. Anyway, the tires are nice and the price was fair...

Yup, that's what I'll do-Go Driving!

This tire center told me how they had inflated the tires to spec and tightened the lugnuts to spec. Well the tire pressures were all over the place from 35-48 psi and the lug nuts were over 100 ft lbs (spec is 80).
I fixed all that today. Confirms my lack of confidence in the place. Anyway, the tires are nice and the price was fair...

At least you didn't get what I had at the last place that I got an oil change and tire rotation - all the tires were something over 500 ft/lbs! :shock:

Well, updating your profile would end some of the questions (what year, etc.), but, if you drive reasonably, and don't hit things like curbs at speed, then it should not really an alignment at 9K. My dealer, at 16K, suggested that I needed to align them when I get the winter tires changed over (tomorrow). I was able to put him off by saying I am going to change the rear camber to the adjustable one (NOT a lie), but, still, alignment at 16K?? Seems a little early to me. Like others have said, if it tracks OK, and there is no unusual tire wear, then you should be OK..... :-)

Hope this helps..... :grin::grin:

I got BigTzSqueeze's Element it's first alignment. That was two weeks ago.

She has over 103,000 miles on her E. It is a 2004 by the way. :)


As always....

Your mileage may vary....

Void where prohibited....

See your local store for details.

:D:D:D


BTW...Her's was a little off, but nothing that would eat tires in under 10k miles and her's pulled a little to the right.

As always....

Your mileage may vary....

Void where prohibited....

See your local store for details.

:D:D:D

Batteries not included? :rolleyes: :lol:

My Element was so far out of alignment, stock from the factory, I wore out my Goodyears on the inside at 5000 miles. Although not awarranty item, the Honda dealer felt so bad about how OFF the alignment was, they did it for free.

Your camber is indeed off, and you should get the alingment fixed. Noticable wear on the inside edge is NOT normal, even for an Element.

Always make sure you have at least half a tank of gas and that they are putting weight in drivers seat equal to at least 150lbs when doing the alignment.

At $59 doesnt sound like they are doing anything. A good alignment requires about an hour maybe a little longer just to get the car on and off the alignment machine. Back several years ago a alignment machine was over $30k.

Typically in DC a alignment at a dealer or good independnent will run about $150 to over $200.

Find a tire shop were the the guys who take their cars to track days go. They should also offer the best prices. Mine does. If they dont do alignments they will know a quality shop that does.

Fred

Find a tire shop were the the guys who take their cars to track days go. They should also offer the best prices. Mine does. If they dont do alignments they will know a quality shop that does.

Fred

Agreed 100%. Here in town it's the local BMW dealer that does the best alignment, all the track guys go there.

And if you really want to go whole hog find a shop that does alignments and corner balancing. A few shims and you are set for canyon arving.

Fred