"Tom Jackson" <Ark321@juno.com> wrote in message
news:1140409226.138559.265550@g43g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>I bought 4 new BF Goodrich tires for my 98 Accord LX 5-speed with
> 75,000 miles. The cars is very quiet now and very smooth. The guys at
> Costco told me to get an alignment and they implied it would protect my
> tire warranty. They said get an alignment every year. I think I have
> had one alignment since new.
>
> I am wondering if I really need one. There is zero vibration or shimmy
> in the steering wheel.
>
> If I take my hands off the wheel, (hold them an inch away from the
> wheel & when no cars are around) the cars drives totally straight and
> the wheel do not vibrate or anything.
>
> The tires have a 60,000 mile warranty, 500 rating and Costco provides
> free rotation, road hazard the works.
>
The shadetree trick to check whether you need alignment to prevent tire
wear: stick strips of masking tape across the treads of the front tires from
sidewall to sidewall and find a reasonably straight stretch of road to drive
for a mile or so. Pull over and look at the tape. If it is worn evenly on
the inside and outside edges, roughly matching the wear in the center, you
are wearing okay. If the inside or outside edges are more worn you need an
alignment.

If you haven't had anything replaced in the front end and the steering wheel
sits straight when you drive the alignment is probably okay. It's rare for
the alignment to be "knocked out" by a big bump without affecting one side
more than the other and so making the steering off-center.

Mike