I read on a forum that every tire rotation you need to tire align.

That does not make sense to me, I thought tire aligning was only when you get new tires. My tires are aligned fine and I have rotated 5 times since I bought new tires, every oil change.

Confused, any thoughts or frustrations about reading that you need to do this, potential agreements?


On the other hand, if you install a new drive shaft do you need to tire align -- my own separate question as I am getting a balanced ..... Tom Woods shaft soon by mail.

 

if you own your own alignment machine then by all means go for it. Otherwise rotate the tires and check for abnormal wear and make sure nothing is loose.

 

The driveshaft has nothing to do with tire wear.

The only reason you rotate your tires is so they wear out all at the same time.
The only reason you would need a alignment is if you had irregular tire wear, which you will never notice if you are rotating your tires at every oil change.

If you are driving on a flat straight road at 60 mph and you can take your hands off the steering wheel and the truck stays straight for at least 10 seconds your alignment is fine.

 

Thank You. The responses are in "alignment" with my perspectives.

 

If you have to do it yourself, here's how.

Jack up the truck and exchange the first tire with the SPARE TIRE. Then take the removed tire, and exchange it for the next tire in the rotation order. Then exchange that tire for the next and so on. Lastly, you'll exchange the last tire to be rotated with the spare you installed in the first place. All 4 tires changed, and all with one jack.

 

I like the front to back route, and save the spare tire with a tire cover.
Bought tires on c-list brand new, had a auto shop install and now get free tire rotations even though I did not buy their tires thru warranty. Takes an hour, but it is near a mall so I don't mind.