Do I Need a Wheel Alignment After Replacing All 4 Tires?
3 Answers
Replacing all four tires necessitates a wheel alignment. The wheel alignment procedure involves the following steps: 1. Connect the power and turn on the machine; 2. Attach the target to the wheel, ensuring the target faces the camera; 3. Click to enter the measurement program on the computer interface; 4. Open the camera to verify if the target is correctly positioned front and back—adjust if necessary; 5. Click to measure and follow the prompts to obtain measurement data; 6. Adjust the total toe data of the vehicle to the standard green range. The benefits of wheel alignment include: 1. Extending tire lifespan; 2. Improving handling; 3. Enhancing fuel efficiency; 4. Ensuring driving safety. Situations requiring a wheel alignment are: 1. Damage to the chassis or suspension due to an accident; 2. Replacement of steering system components; 3. Uneven wear on the inner or outer edges of front or rear tires; 4. Replacement or adjustment of the suspension system; 5. The vehicle pulling to the left or right when driving straight.
As a car enthusiast who often helps friends with car purchases, I've seen this issue way too often. Changing tires doesn't necessarily require a wheel alignment, but if you notice the steering wheel pulling to one side or the car feeling unstable, you should definitely check the alignment data. Last time after changing tires, my car kept pulling to the right - turned out the toe angle was off. Most new cars come with TPMS now, but alignment issues can cause severe tire wear. I've seen new tires develop scalloped wear patterns after just a few thousand kilometers - what a waste! Get a proper 3D alignment check at a reputable shop. If the numbers are good, you've saved money. If not, getting it adjusted is way cheaper than ruining a set of tires.
A car owner who recently went through this advises that getting a wheel alignment is indeed worth considering when replacing all four tires. The wear patterns on old tires often tell a hidden story—if you notice obvious uneven wear, like excessive inner tread thinning or sawtooth-like edges, don’t try to cut corners. It’s a clear sign of suspension geometry issues. My colleague’s car had severe front tire scalloping, and a 30-minute alignment fixed it. Also, if you’ve switched to tires with different specs (e.g., changed aspect ratio) or your undercarriage has taken hits from potholes or curbs, proactively getting an alignment is a must. Safety is no small matter—spending under $200 on alignment beats shelling out over $1,000 for premature tire replacements.
