How bad is this alignment?

[CNY_Dave]

Just got a set of Blizzak WS-70 tires put on.

2003 outback, tires that came off were on since fall last year, 500miles a week, wear looked pretty darn even.


Dave

[Dodik]

i'd say not too bad. you have to realize that alignment is static and those specs will change a lot just from different amount of gas in your tank. if you sit in the car the specs will change as well. its not a race car where you need it to be dead on. As far as tires go im sure you rotated them regularly and they canceled uneven wear themselves.

[CNY_Dave]

That's the way it looked to me. There was one with a bit more asymmetric wear, but I think I can put off aligning it for a little while.

Dave

[Dodik]

well if you intend to keep a car for a long time than firestone is the answer, i think its around 175 for a lifetime alignment you pay once and can do them as often as you like for as long as you own that vehicle. i do mine twice a year once when i lower for summer once when i go stock for winter.

[CNY_Dave]

Heh, right now I don't have the $79 for the firestone one-time alignment.

Considering the number of struts and axles and wheel-bearings I'll be replacing in the future the lifetime one is probably the smart bet.


Dave

[Willjones]

I have the lifetime allignment from firestone, and it has paid for itself twice over. Plus it is a nice free diagnosis tool, because any other issue (with my other car) I just say, "hey would you mind taking a quick look at ...

[plain OM]

I'm surprised there wasn't more wear, although regular rotations might have masked it. Then again, alignment can change suddenly, such as after hitting a pot-hole or curb. The alignment might have been far better for much of the last year, and only out of spec recently. In that case the tires would have been subject to the current alignment situation for only a short time and therefore not show corresponding signs of wear.

Also, the large positive toe at the left rear along with the negative or neutral toe at the right rear would tend to direct the rear end of the car toward the right; this is reflected in the thrust angle which indicates how far off the rear wheel direction of travel is from the centerline of the car. This type of thrust usually would require the front wheels to be turned slightly to the right to keep the car going straight.

Drive a bit with the new tires; if there's no apparent problem with the steering, then carry on. If there is unusual drift (not associated with the crown of the road) and a constant need to correct the steering, then I'd try to have the alignment reset as soon as possible.