Is an alignment necessary with new tires?

[gatorbob]

I need new tires for my 06 HSE. The dealer is quoting me ~ $1700 for Latitude Tours, alignment, "road-force" balance, nitrogen, etc which is more than I'm looking to spend.

After reading all the threads on tires I am thinking of going with the Toyo ST II since I don't do any off-roading. I can pick them up for around $208 each locally.

Two questions - Is there any reason why not to have the local tire shop put on the new tires, balance, etc opposed to the dealer.

Is an alignment necessary with new tires, and does it have to be done by the dealer?

Appreciate your advise.

 

[Bluebird]

OK here is what I did YMMV> I bought from Tire Rack (Pirelli Ice and Snow).
Then I had them installed locally. Then went to the dealer for the alignment.
I knew my rear tires were wearing out unevenly I have about 60K on my SE.

 

[toddjb122]

You can get the tires mounted and aligned at any place that has the correct equipment. This is one of the things you don't need access to the LR3 computers to do.

A tire shop with a good alignment rack will have LR3 in the program and will know what to do. Has worked for me, although, I went to NTB and hated them. So I can't recommend a particular shop...

I did, however, first price shop at some smaller shops and they didn't have the big alignment machine that NTB used. I don't know what it is...the vehicle goes on a rack, the alignment of all wheels are measured, compared against the spec, adjusted, remeasured, etc...

 

[roverman]

And of course if you have no reason to think that you are out of alignment, then getting tires won't require one. With this vehicle it is always a good idea to get one with some regularity. My dealer wanted almost $200 for the alignment, but I went to the place they have it done (belle tire, they farm it out there anyway) for $80.

 

[nashvegas]

Alignment

There _is_ some setting that rover dealers use when they do an alignment (or at least LR Nashville does and LR Huntsville does) -- its called "high tolerance mode" or "tight tolerance mode. Its not a setting with the alignment machine, its a setting that they do to the car's air suspension (or at least thats what they told me).

 

[Disco Mike]

Never ever buy tires from a dealer when you can get a much better deal thru a local tire chain store that will include free rotations and rotations.
As your alignments, if you haven't curbed your r/f tire and the only wear on the tread is normal cupping from bad shocks, low air pressure and lack of rotations, then don't waste your money on an alignment.

 

[cdodkin]

Good choice on the STIIs - I had mine installed at the local tire shop - who did the balancing etc.

No need for an alignment if your existing tires have worn evenly.