Do I Need a Wheel Alignment When Replacing 4 New Tires?
2 Answers
Replacing 4 new tires only involves changing the tires and rims, which does not affect the alignment data, so a wheel alignment is not necessary. Here are the relevant details: 1. If the old tires were replaced due to severe abnormal wear, this may affect the wheel alignment data, and a wheel alignment would be required. 2. The main parameters adjusted during a wheel alignment include caster, camber, toe, and kingpin inclination. Adjusting caster helps maintain straight-line stability and steering return; adjusting camber also enhances stability and steering return; adjusting toe increases the tire contact area to counteract negative effects; and adjusting toe compensates for adverse effects caused by camber or toe. 3. During a wheel alignment, the data must be precise. If the alignment is incorrect, the vehicle may pull to one side, affect balance during cornering, impact acceleration and braking, and strain the suspension, posing risks to safe driving.
As someone who frequently helps friends with car repairs, I believe it's best to get a wheel alignment when replacing all four tires. This ensures the tires are properly aligned, preventing uneven wear on the new tires too quickly. Looking back, I've seen cases where people only changed the tires without an alignment, and within a few months, severe uneven tire wear was noticeable, along with unstable handling. That’s likely due to unresolved suspension issues, causing the new tires to suffer. While it’s not mandatory, I always recommend owners spend a little extra for prevention. Alignment isn’t expensive—usually costing around 200-300 RMB—but it can extend tire life by about a year and reduce future repair costs. If you notice your car pulling slightly to one side when driving straight or feeling floaty during turns, it’s even more important to address it when getting new tires. Remember, new tires are like new shoes—if they aren’t fitted right, they’ll feel uncomfortable after just a few steps. It’s always safer to have a professional shop handle it promptly.
