Do 4 new tires require an alignment

[PS JCS]

My 24 GT vert has 15,000 miles. One tire has a side wall slash not affecting driveability, nor is it leaking. Do I need to replace all 4 tires and will I need an alignment after installation? The car has never had and alignment and the tires have been rotated 3 time. She drives and steers like a champ. AI gives me multiple babble about. How about a real person's opinion. Thanks for your help.

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[LouG]

Depending on wear differential, I would replace just that tyre if money was short, or else do both.
If they're all down to 3mm or so I'd do all 4.
"They" say to do an alignment, I tend to look at wear patterns then decide.

 

[D/\rK•650]

You could install just one new tire, but depending on wear and at 15,000 it's probably best to install a pair. Maybe shoot a pic and get some feedback on just keeping the tire? I mean if it's not deep or like obviously very bad you might be able to just use it. The alignment is a good idea but no harm will come if not done it would depend on how the alignment is now.

 

[D/\rK•650]

Also having your tires rotated 3 times in 15,000 seems not necessary like to many times in a short time but im not sure. Maybe others might chime in on that.

 

[D/\rK•650]

All the best

 

[PS JCS]

Thank you!!

 

[Skye]

Option 1 ($):

If buying one tire, I would not place the old and the new at the rear. The difference in circumference could affect the operation of the Limited Slip Diff. One tire is going to spin faster than the other. Place old and new at the front.

With the old and new at the front, you could detect some degradation in steering. It depends on how sensitive you are to things. One tire will be higher than the other, while turning at a different rate.

Option 2 ($$):

If you buy a pair, you can decide if you want them on the front for steering or rear for traction.

Option 3 ($$$):

You don't mention how worn the existing three tires are. 15,000 on a Summer tire could be quite a bit. On an All-Season, not so much.

Depending on how worn the existing tires are, buying an entire set might be worthwhile. It'll depend on the type and amount of wear on the good three.

Regarding the alignment, if the existing tires have been wearing well, I would leave as-is. The only time for an alignment is when you have changed a suspension component that affects the geometry or you've witnessed poor wear on one or more tires.

 

[erocker]

No, unless you had an alignment done on old/uneven tires. That being said, it doesn't hurt (other than the wallet a bit) to get it checked if it's been a while. Also, AI is trash, just stop.

 

[robvas]

No.

It's called a wheel alignment, not a tire alignment.

And "no" means "not if you didn't need an alignment before you got the tires installed"

 

[Sofa King]

Since you have never had it done... The alignment as it comes from ford is not very good... I would get it done.

 

[D/\rK•650]

No.

It's called a wheel alignment, not a tire alignment.

And "no" means "not if you didn't need an alignment before you got the tires installed"

LOL who said it was called a "tire alignment" ?

 

[PS JCS]

Thanks again to all! All 4 tires in excellent condition. No excess wear. Only a gashed sidewall due to my lousy parking attempt a week after I took delivery in August 2023 250 miles on car then. Car has been driver to Colorado and back with the gash. No ill effects yet.

 

[BrianJ77]

AI will steer you in the wrong direction over and over again because it is paranoid. If the car tracks straight and true, and the wear pattern is good, I would skip it. For what it's worth (and I'll probably get some flak for this) before my 2010 F-150 got totaled by a deer I had 230k miles on the clock and not once had an alignment the entire time I owned it (bought it at 46k miles). The truck was straight and true on a straight highway, and the tires always wore uniformly. I tried getting one done with the last tire change, but the shop couldn't fit me in so I just skipped it. Unless you have gnarly potholes or hit curbs you should be just fine.

 

[LouG]

Thanks again to all! All 4 tires in excellent condition. No excess wear. Only a gashed sidewall due to my lousy parking attempt a week after I took delivery in August 2023 250 miles on car then. Car has been driver to Colorado and back with the gash. No ill effects yet.

Can you see the belts inside the gash? If so, replace it asap. If not, it's up to you, but I would not drive on it.
PS I have not had an alignment on any car since I hit a pothole, stuffed a tyre and bent the rim. I just check wear patterns reasonbly often.

 

[PS JCS]

Right on Brian! Will skip alignment

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