Do the alignment now...no need to do it when tires are changed.
alignment when?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,588
Likes: 0
From: las vegas nv
alignment when?
I have 34000 on original tires. I have an 06 A6 F55 vert.
The front looks like more wear on inside tread both tires.
Rear is wearing evenly with more tread.
Do I wait until I get new tires or get the alignment now to try and save the front tires for another 6000.
If I get the alignment now, do I need a new alignment again when I get new tires?
TIA for your input.
The front looks like more wear on inside tread both tires.
Rear is wearing evenly with more tread.
Do I wait until I get new tires or get the alignment now to try and save the front tires for another 6000.
If I get the alignment now, do I need a new alignment again when I get new tires?
TIA for your input.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,633
Likes: 129
From: San Marcos, Texas
I got 40,000 miles out of my original set of GY runflats and swapped them out with Firestone RFlats which now have 54,000 miles on them. The Firestones are still looking good. I chose not to get an alignment because of the excellent wear pattern and the car is still running true down the road. On the original set the front tires had the most wear on the inside edge of the tire. I considered getting an alignment when I switched to the Firestones but I am now glad that I did not. In my case I don't think an alignment would improve the longevity of the tires and I am very happy with the way the car tracks down the road. Best of Luck with your decision.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
He's kinda right; most don't last that long.But I agree with George the most! Still, if all you've got is a little extra wear aft. 34K miles, I'd do it when you get new tires which could be what? another 5K miles or so?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 5,515
Likes: 646
From: Silicon Valley and Yosemite, CA
I would get the alignment now. I didn't spot the inside wear until I had 34K, and had one small spot on each tire where the cord was coming through, about 4 inches long. I knew about the inside wear and simply missed it. The rest of the tire looked fantastic. Had I gotten an alignment, I would bet I would have easily gotten 45K on them. I don't beat the car, but I have my spirited moments
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Brett Foote
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Southern Utah
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,133
Likes: 20
From: Twisp WA
Your problem is a lost cause. As I see it you must sell your car and start over with a new one. From there you can start with an alignment and then repeat alignments annually to keep them tires aligned.
How much you want for that abused Vette you own?
Honestly with the miles you've got you have done well. I'd run the OEM tires bare and then get an alignment with new ones. Then monitor wear and align regularly.
George
How much you want for that abused Vette you own?
Honestly with the miles you've got you have done well. I'd run the OEM tires bare and then get an alignment with new ones. Then monitor wear and align regularly.
George
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Generally, no. Usually, most communities have one or more shops known for doing good alignments. That's what I would look for.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,133
Likes: 20
From: Twisp WA
George
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,636
Likes: 1,185
From: Lake Worth Beach, Florida
I like to try and get the most out of my tires and get an alignment once a year, right now I have 22,000+ on my RFs and expect to get well over 35,000 by the wear rate.
I like using the dealer because they have the most experience with the late model vettes. As the cars get older and they see the dealer less then they need to go where the knowledge is best.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 19,574
Likes: 167
From: Frederick, MD
I was hoping mine last about 30k so I can get rid of them for some Michelins.
Check your front tires real good. I heard some wear problems on the inside tread of the front tires that actually hit the cord.
Do you have any handling problems? Any wear problems? If so then it is time to get an alignment. My C6 felt loose and 3 settings were off even by GM's tolerances. Otherwise I would get it aligned at least once per two years at the most. If you have no problems now then I would just wait for the new set of tires. I think you might have the record for tire life though.
Check your front tires real good. I heard some wear problems on the inside tread of the front tires that actually hit the cord.
Do you have any handling problems? Any wear problems? If so then it is time to get an alignment. My C6 felt loose and 3 settings were off even by GM's tolerances. Otherwise I would get it aligned at least once per two years at the most. If you have no problems now then I would just wait for the new set of tires. I think you might have the record for tire life though.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,486
Likes: 94
From: Southgate Michigan
I have also seen the front tires worn to the cords on the inside, (Z06), with the outside showing good tread. It is not uncommon.
The new machines that dealerships and other competent shops have give the customer a computer read-out displaying the before and after settings. Talk to your salesperson about the knowledge of the person doing alignments. It's not magic.
The new machines that dealerships and other competent shops have give the customer a computer read-out displaying the before and after settings. Talk to your salesperson about the knowledge of the person doing alignments. It's not magic.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Dealers can do just as good a job of alignment as an independent shop.
I like to try and get the most out of my tires and get an alignment once a year, right now I have 22,000+ on my RFs and expect to get well over 35,000 by the wear rate.
I like using the dealer because they have the most experience with the late model vettes. As the cars get older and they see the dealer less then they need to go where the knowledge is best.
I like to try and get the most out of my tires and get an alignment once a year, right now I have 22,000+ on my RFs and expect to get well over 35,000 by the wear rate.
I like using the dealer because they have the most experience with the late model vettes. As the cars get older and they see the dealer less then they need to go where the knowledge is best.
It is all about what you want out of the car (and how you drive it) as to how it's aligned as well as who will actually do the work and their competency. Your case may very well be in the other category of "generally, good and competent alignment from a dealer."
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 371
Likes: 0
From: Long Valley NJ
Here is my take on MY dealers ability to align front ends.
Took it in for an alignment after the fronts had new tires mounted.
2500 miles later I have serious wear on the insides of the tires. Car is super twitchy.
Back to the dealer for another alignment. All in spec. No problem.
2500 miles later. Tires are showing steel on the insides. Car is near undrivable in the rain.
Back to the dealer for another alignment by their "best guy".
All in spec except this time they tell me to take it to a body shop as the frame must be bent. They can get the 4 wheel alignment in spec but now my frame is bent? BULL S@#T.
New tires mounted and the car was driven to Phoenix Performance in Palm PA for an alignment by recommendation of AORoads. (Outstanding operation and highly recommended)The toe was so far out they made me come out and look at the alignment rig. Night and day difference driving the car. Went to the dealer with the report and he tells me the calibration must be off on his machine. Im still waiting to hear what they are going to do about my tires. I feel sorry for all the other customers cars that are now "in spec"
Take you car to a real shop to get the suspension aligned and set up. Dealers suck.
Took it in for an alignment after the fronts had new tires mounted.
2500 miles later I have serious wear on the insides of the tires. Car is super twitchy.
Back to the dealer for another alignment. All in spec. No problem.
2500 miles later. Tires are showing steel on the insides. Car is near undrivable in the rain.
Back to the dealer for another alignment by their "best guy".
All in spec except this time they tell me to take it to a body shop as the frame must be bent. They can get the 4 wheel alignment in spec but now my frame is bent? BULL S@#T.
New tires mounted and the car was driven to Phoenix Performance in Palm PA for an alignment by recommendation of AORoads. (Outstanding operation and highly recommended)The toe was so far out they made me come out and look at the alignment rig. Night and day difference driving the car. Went to the dealer with the report and he tells me the calibration must be off on his machine. Im still waiting to hear what they are going to do about my tires. I feel sorry for all the other customers cars that are now "in spec"
Take you car to a real shop to get the suspension aligned and set up. Dealers suck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,492
Likes: 808
From: West coast CA
I have 34000 on original tires. I have an 06 A6 F55 vert.
The front looks like more wear on inside tread both tires.
Rear is wearing evenly with more tread.
Do I wait until I get new tires or get the alignment now to try and save the front tires for another 6000.
If I get the alignment now, do I need a new alignment again when I get new tires?
TIA for your input.
The front looks like more wear on inside tread both tires.
Rear is wearing evenly with more tread.
Do I wait until I get new tires or get the alignment now to try and save the front tires for another 6000.
If I get the alignment now, do I need a new alignment again when I get new tires?
TIA for your input.
A C6 set up properly for the street will not wear out the inside of the front tires. I have nearly 70K miles on my Z51 Coupe, and each of the three sets of tires I've run have worn dead evenly across the tread, front and rear. And it handles very well.
I probably get my car aligned more often than most people (once or twice a year and/or every tire change). I can report that despite having hit my share of potholes between visits, the alignment isn't usually off by much. These cars seem to hold a setting pretty well.
I even dropped the front subframe completely to work on the engine and had it aligned afterward, just in case, but it turned out that pretty much nothing up front had moved.
So figure out who the go-to Corvette alignment specialist is in Las Vegas and get your car aligned (if the car is handling okay and you've already made it to 34K, there isn't much rush). Then you should be in good shape for your upcoming tire change.