When to get an alignment?
 

If a vehicle is experiencing no alignment related issues with it's current wheels and tires, and the tires are wearing fine, is it worth getting an alignment when switching to new tires and wheels? Why would caster/camber/toe-in need to change just because new wheels/tires are installed?

I'm thinking of switching my BRZ from stock wheels/tires, to aftermarket 17x8 wheels with 225/45R17 tires. I'm up for getting an alignment, but not for throwing money away for no legit reason.

Ok, I just found this thread on alignment:
https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25001

The following is mentioned in the thread: "A factory FR-S and BRZ only have adjustable toe."

In that case, if the current setup is working fine, why would I bother paying money just to have the toe setting changed when buying new wheels/tires.

(fyi, I'm new to the BRZ. I set all my Jeep CJ/Wrangler alignment by hand with measuring tape no problem.)

Who said alignment changes with new wheels? The only reasons to get an alignment after wheels would be to address/prevent rubbing with wider wheels/offsets or if you have coilovers for awhile and want to be in tip top condition.

Even with stock components the toe is incredibly important to keep in spec.

Only time you need an alignment is when you touch suspension components. Changing to coils, adding rear LCAs, going for camber adjustment etc...

Sent from my GM1915 using Tapatalk

I get my checked every year. Some shops will check for free and make adjustments if nessessary

Lol is this a serious question?

i get my alignment checked whenever i notice oddball tire wear. so about every 2-4 years.

My car has 190,000 miles and has never had an alignment. And has never had uneven tire wear.

Just sayin'.....

also, you live in florida, where frost heave doesn't exist.

a lot easier to not need to be aligned when your roads don't fall apart all the time due to extreme temperature cycling...

Florida might have a lot of problems but roads ain't one of them. well depends on the area too, some areas north of miami really suck. but still I think getting it checked every few years is wise even in places with good weather. alignment makes such a huge difference even if it's off by a little bit.

Yes it was actually a serious question on my part. Most people I know get an alignment when installing new tires. I see it recommended by shops, if for no other reason as a money maker.

With alignments running as high as $150, and companies even offering more costly alignment packages (certain number of alignments per year), I found myself questioning the need and costs of all these alignments. Especially on vehicles having relatively few adjustments.

I appreciate the responses. I'm thinking of skipping the alignment, when getting my new wheels/tires, because my BRZ currently shows no out-of-alignment issues.

Alignment should be done in cases:
* you just bought car. Even if new, worth checking out, as OE alignment often is pretty loose with wide allowances. And if used, rarely one knows, in what state it is from past owners
* if there had been very strong hits to suspension that may have bent something or slipped some connections
* if you notice some obvious handling issues. Eg. car doesn't track straight, rear is too easy to loose traction, car tends to turn to some side under gas and so on (worth checking first tire pressures to be even though) or there is abnormal toe or camber wear on tires
* if you had some work done on suspension that changed some parts or simply involved undoing/retightening connections. Eg. LCA change, install of coilovers, subframe bushing inserts, control arm bushing change, lowering of car and so on..

I wouldn't do alignment, if:
* you changed wheels or tires to that of different sizing, car doesn't need realignment (except if it's of wheel/tire size where one went overboard with and now tires rub with old alignment, and eg. extra camber needed to prevent that). With wheel/tire change camber/toe/caster stays same.
* Nor car needs realignment when you get new tires in general. No clue why many US tire shops throw it in. To generate impression, that their new tire install service is of higher value? But why not value customer's time then?

In your case i would get alignment if it never had been done, but skip it otherwise.

Still on OEM suspension parts?

He lives in Chicago area, one of the pot hole centers of the country. The car is a 2014, it probably is a good idea to have it checked no mater what else is being experienced.