New tires on 98 Accord LX - Do I need an alignment?

Stephen:

Out of curiousity - do you see customers who actually get 60,000
million on a set off tires especially front wheel drive cars?

Any brands you prefer? I always had weird stuff with Michelins as they
would seem to attract nails.

 

I've gotten at least 40,000 miles off the original tires on every car I've
bought since 1985 (before then - no). The Original equip Michelins on the
2000 TL went 49,000. The original Bridgestones on my 2002 Pathfinder still
have at least one rotation (6,000 miles) left on them at 52,000.

If the OP is only getting 25,000 from tires on a standard sedan, then I
would say more frequent alignments are definitely in order.

 

I've gotten at least 40,000 miles off the original tires on every car I've
bought since 1985 (before then - no). The Original equip Michelins on the
2000 TL went 49,000. The original Bridgestones on my 2002 Pathfinder still
have at least one rotation (6,000 miles) left on them at 52,000.

If the OP is only getting 25,000 from tires on a standard sedan, then I
would say more frequent alignments are definitely in order.

 

I imagine it could also depend how hard they're driven. ie: around
corners, etc. Tire inflation as well, but inproper inflation would show
uneven wear.

 

I imagine it could also depend how hard they're driven. ie: around
corners, etc. Tire inflation as well, but inproper inflation would show
uneven wear.

 

Yes. If you are only getting 25,000 miles on a set of tires, check
the following:

Tire air pressure -- too low and the tires will wear out quickly, as
well as being less safe.

Tire size, type, and rating -- sportier tires (with higher speed ratings)
tend to have lesser tread life (S and T rated tires may last 80,000 miles,
though some "budget" tires have far shorter tread lifes; H rated tires
typically 50,000 to 60,000 miles, and sportier tires with higher speed
ratings like V, Z, W, Y typically less). Check the load rating on the
tires as well.

Type of driving -- city driving will wear out tires (and other things
in a car, like brake pads and oil) in less mileage than highway driving.

 

Yes. If you are only getting 25,000 miles on a set of tires, check
the following:

Tire air pressure -- too low and the tires will wear out quickly, as
well as being less safe.

Tire size, type, and rating -- sportier tires (with higher speed ratings)
tend to have lesser tread life (S and T rated tires may last 80,000 miles,
though some "budget" tires have far shorter tread lifes; H rated tires
typically 50,000 to 60,000 miles, and sportier tires with higher speed
ratings like V, Z, W, Y typically less). Check the load rating on the
tires as well.

Type of driving -- city driving will wear out tires (and other things
in a car, like brake pads and oil) in less mileage than highway driving.

 

Most all tires have some sort of mileage warranty; If you choose to look at
it and use it is up to you.
The higher performance tires do not; especially the 50 series and such and
those with z-rating ect. Also some aggressive truck tires do not also; this
is up to the manufacture

A car that is radically out of alignment MAY cause handling problem and be
unsafe; but generally speaking most alignment issues boil down to pulls,
drifts and tire wear.

I perform about 150-200 alignments a year, seldom are they dangerous on the
road prior to the job.


--
Stephen W. Hansen
ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
ASE Automobile Advanced Engine Performance
ASE Undercar Specialist

http://autorepair.about.com/cs/troubleshooting/l/bl_obd_main.htm
http://www.troublecodes.net/technical/

 

Most all tires have some sort of mileage warranty; If you choose to look at
it and use it is up to you.
The higher performance tires do not; especially the 50 series and such and
those with z-rating ect. Also some aggressive truck tires do not also; this
is up to the manufacture

A car that is radically out of alignment MAY cause handling problem and be
unsafe; but generally speaking most alignment issues boil down to pulls,
drifts and tire wear.

I perform about 150-200 alignments a year, seldom are they dangerous on the
road prior to the job.


--
Stephen W. Hansen
ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
ASE Automobile Advanced Engine Performance
ASE Undercar Specialist

http://autorepair.about.com/cs/troubleshooting/l/bl_obd_main.htm
http://www.troublecodes.net/technical/

 

Well 60,000 million--never

A few push the 60K number; a regional tire distributor is advertising a
100,000 tire. Realistically that rubber would be so hard that I wonder if it
would have any grip. Most people have forgotten about any warranty by the
60k mark, and if you don't quite make it then the tire dealer offers them a
pro rated offer perhaps 10 dollars off each on the new set.

My tire preference is the brand we sell, based on performance and what I see
on a regular basis. Also my discount plays into it allot. There are a few of
our names I don't like based upon the tread depth. I don't like tires that
have the edge tread 2/32 less than the center because if you corner allot
then you wear the tires edges and then your tire looks worn out while there
is still tread in the center.

I hate Michelins only because thy have a stiff sidewall and are hard to
remove from the rim sometimes. But as far as being "nail magnets" it seems
as though all tires are equal. We do see more nails and flats in tires that
are 80% worn...



--
Stephen W. Hansen
ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
ASE Automobile Advanced Engine Performance
ASE Undercar Specialist

http://autorepair.about.com/cs/troubleshooting/l/bl_obd_main.htm
http://www.troublecodes.net/technical/

 

Well 60,000 million--never

A few push the 60K number; a regional tire distributor is advertising a
100,000 tire. Realistically that rubber would be so hard that I wonder if it
would have any grip. Most people have forgotten about any warranty by the
60k mark, and if you don't quite make it then the tire dealer offers them a
pro rated offer perhaps 10 dollars off each on the new set.

My tire preference is the brand we sell, based on performance and what I see
on a regular basis. Also my discount plays into it allot. There are a few of
our names I don't like based upon the tread depth. I don't like tires that
have the edge tread 2/32 less than the center because if you corner allot
then you wear the tires edges and then your tire looks worn out while there
is still tread in the center.

I hate Michelins only because thy have a stiff sidewall and are hard to
remove from the rim sometimes. But as far as being "nail magnets" it seems
as though all tires are equal. We do see more nails and flats in tires that
are 80% worn...



--
Stephen W. Hansen
ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
ASE Automobile Advanced Engine Performance
ASE Undercar Specialist

http://autorepair.about.com/cs/troubleshooting/l/bl_obd_main.htm
http://www.troublecodes.net/technical/

 

Our Prius came with Potenza tires, which have a treadwear rating of 160
(!) - those really were "nail magnets." We had more punctures with those in
two years than we had altogether in a 2-car family for more than 20 years. I
think the soft compound let road debris get a perch and work its way into
the tire. The Pirellis we put on haven't had a puncture yet.

Mike

 

Our Prius came with Potenza tires, which have a treadwear rating of 160
(!) - those really were "nail magnets." We had more punctures with those in
two years than we had altogether in a 2-car family for more than 20 years. I
think the soft compound let road debris get a perch and work its way into
the tire. The Pirellis we put on haven't had a puncture yet.

Mike

 

maybe not pottering about town or straight line on a freeway, but i
assure you, if the rear alignment on a civic is out, it radically
affects cornering stability - it makes a huge difference to the adhesion
limit and therefore can significantly reduce cornering speed. do the
experiments yourself some time.

 

maybe not pottering about town or straight line on a freeway, but i
assure you, if the rear alignment on a civic is out, it radically
affects cornering stability - it makes a huge difference to the adhesion
limit and therefore can significantly reduce cornering speed. do the
experiments yourself some time.

 

In principal I agree but, how many people actually drive 9-10ths on the
road? I think alignment guy's speaking of normal drivers.

In the back and front on normal honda's, the only adjustment is toe (how
pointed in the tires are to each other). In the front, if the caster's off
you actually have to loosen and move the entire subframe fore and aft
(which means effectively it's not adjultable) . Camber's completely not
adjustable. If you have bad camber, you've either lowered the car or
something's bent.

You can put adjustable parts in, if you want to change the camber, upper
control arm's in the back and front can be replaced with adjustable ones.

 

In principal I agree but, how many people actually drive 9-10ths on the
road? I think alignment guy's speaking of normal drivers.

In the back and front on normal honda's, the only adjustment is toe (how
pointed in the tires are to each other). In the front, if the caster's off
you actually have to loosen and move the entire subframe fore and aft
(which means effectively it's not adjultable) . Camber's completely not
adjustable. If you have bad camber, you've either lowered the car or
something's bent.

You can put adjustable parts in, if you want to change the camber, upper
control arm's in the back and front can be replaced with adjustable ones.

 

Absolutely Stephen! This DOES happen. Even the so-called luxury marque
nameplates ship vehicles ocassionally with alignment issues right out of the
chute.

Ron M.

 

Absolutely Stephen! This DOES happen. Even the so-called luxury marque
nameplates ship vehicles ocassionally with alignment issues right out of the
chute.

Ron M.

 

but how many accidents occur at any less than 9/10th's? /and/ adhesion
limit depends on alignment!

right, but if it's bent, straighten it! that's why we check these things!

unless the car's lowered and as long as the bushings are factory,
standard settings are fine.