YACT: $200 for alignment and 2 new tires, does that sound fair?

Argo

Lifer
Apr 8, 2000
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Recently my car has been pulling to the right pretty badly. Stopped by a local Monro center and they say my front tires are misaligned. As a result, the bolt has been scratching the tire. He even showed me the marks on the tire.

So the guy says I'll need two new front tires (Bridgestones at $39 each) as well as alignment. I agree with the tires, even outside of the damage done by the bolt they both had very little thread left. But $120 for alignment and replacing tires seems pretty steep. Will I be able to find a better deal?
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
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I don't think it's that good of a deal...shop around some more but get it done soon
 

brtspears2

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2000
8,659
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Minus well go for 4 tires and free install, balancing, alignment, stuff like that at costco.
 

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
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Are the ones you are going to buy the same as the ones currently on the rear wheels?
 
Apr 5, 2000
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Zen - most tire places don't recommend replacing all 4 unless absolutely necessary anyway. Suppose one goes flat - you ALWAYS replace the matching one on the opposite side unless you're just a cheap @$$ mofo - if the tires are relatively new and/or have significant tread left, it doesn't make a lot of sense to replace all 4. The 4 tire blowouts/flats I've had - every place I've taken it to has suggested 2 over 4 except the first time, where the tires were pretty worn down anyway.

And $200 total does seem steep - like stated already, check Costco/Sams if you have a membership there - they do great service over there plus they have good prices on their tires from what I've seen
 

Argo

Lifer
Apr 8, 2000
10,045
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Originally posted by: RalphKramden
You should replace all 4 tires at once.
Go to someone else.

Any reason why? The rear tires are not worn off at all.
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
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You don't have to replace all four. It's a good idea if you have a good amount of wear (so you don't have unevenly matched threads), but if you have plenty of meat on the rear tires, don't sweat it.
 

grillmasterP

Senior member
Apr 2, 2000
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You already know the price of the tires - add tax, mounting, stems etc... - disposal of the old tires.
As far as alignment - Usually basic computer alignment runs 40-65 bucks. For my vehicles & families vehicles - we've been dealing with Brake Check - paid 80 bucks (think they usually mail a 10% off coupon) for the lifetime alignment and have had very good dealings with the particual Brake Check/Manager that we go to.
I have a 4wd Tacoma that I which between my daily driving all-terrains and larger Mud Terrains and get the vehicle aligned after I go wheeling or swap the tires. Or I bring in my fiances' vehicle. In my case I really get alot out of the lifetime alignment. basically I can bring my truck in anytime (reasonably) for an alignment.

So basically $100 bucks for 2 tires +60 bucks for alignment - $200 is reasonable for a shop quote. Just make sure they are not adding extra services such as headlight replacement fluid or the power steering belt filter needs replacing.
 

T2T III

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
12,899
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Originally posted by: brtspears2
Minus well go for 4 tires and free install, balancing, alignment, stuff like that at costco.

Costco doesn't do front-end wheel alignments in my area. :(
 

aswedc

Diamond Member
Oct 25, 2000
3,543
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We just did the exact same thing - alignment and replacement of 2 tires - and the best we could find was $200 also.
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,512
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Originally posted by: brtspears2
Minus well go for 4 tires and free install, balancing, alignment, stuff like that at costco.
"MIGHT AS well..." damn it! Do you have any idea how stupid it looks when you type "Minus well..."?

Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello
Zen - most tire places don't recommend replacing all 4 unless absolutely necessary anyway. Suppose one goes flat - you ALWAYS replace the matching one on the opposite side unless you're just a cheap @$$ mofo - if the tires are relatively new and/or have significant tread left, it doesn't make a lot of sense to replace all 4. The 4 tire blowouts/flats I've had - every place I've taken it to has suggested 2 over 4 except the first time, where the tires were pretty worn down anyway.

And $200 total does seem steep - like stated already, check Costco/Sams if you have a membership there - they do great service over there plus they have good prices on their tires from what I've seen
You're right, but he stated that the fronts are worn to the point of needing replacement anyway. I've had two blowouts/flats. One time the tire was patched and the other time the sidewall was destroyed so I had to replace it. Luckily the blowout that ripped the sidewall happened with less than 1,000 miles on the set of tires so it wasn't necessary to replace both tires on that axle.

I would strongly recommend against putting putting non-matching tires on the car if he does choose to replace only two tires. If one is switching tire types I do not consider it wise to change fewer than four tires.

ZV
 
Apr 5, 2000
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Zen - gotcha. I didn't see him state the condition of the rear two tires, but you're right in that the rears are probably worn.
 

bonk102

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2000
5,473
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you should just go get 4 new ones and get em all realligned at the same time, well worth it IMHO.
 

slikmunks

Diamond Member
Apr 18, 2001
3,490
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a couple months ago, i got my front aligned and got 2 new yoko avs es100's (in hindsight... they're ok tires) & alignment for 180... and those tires were 65 a pop
 

slikmunks

Diamond Member
Apr 18, 2001
3,490
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Originally posted by: bonk102
you should just go get 4 new ones and get em all realligned at the same time, well worth it IMHO.

but he has a lot of tread on his rears still, tha'd be a waste of those rears, wouldn't it?

oh, and about my reply above, i only changed my fronts and not all 4 b/c my rears had plenty of tread left, and i run 225's in the rear, 205's in the front, so no point in changing all 4
 

Antisocial Virge

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 1999
6,578
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What bolt was rubbing on the tire?? Rims and tires do not move independant of the hub. The only thng I can see is that your camber was so bad it was rubbing up top but that would be horribly out of wack.
 

Recently my car has been pulling to the right pretty badly. Stopped by a local Monro center and they say my front tires are misaligned. As a result, the bolt has been scratching the tire. He even showed me the marks on the tire.

So the guy says I'll need two new front tires (Bridgestones at $39 each) as well as alignment. I agree with the tires, even outside of the damage done by the bolt they both had very little thread left. But $120 for alignment and replacing tires seems pretty steep. Will I be able to find a better deal?

Bolt ?

There are no bolts on your front end that will rub against the tires even if the alignment was off at it's maximum, outside tire tread wear will result from incorrect toe in/toe out and/or incorrect camber.

Camber = The tilt of the wheel off it's center axis.

Caster = The tilt of the wheel as it is turned off it's center axis.

Toe = Where the wheels are pointed in relation to the body and to each other.
 

Murpheeee

Diamond Member
Apr 30, 2000
3,326
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I got 4 wheel aligment done for $65 at my local goodyear store

I would avoid Monro at alll costs - they are robbers
I got a quote from them to do some brake work - $650
I priced out the same parts at Autozone for $120.....and I'm sure they get them much cheaper than that.