In most cases, yes. Getting a wheel alignment when you buy new tires is one of the smartest ways to protect your investment. New tires are expensive, and if your alignment is even slightly off, that brand-new set can start wearing unevenly within a few thousand miles, costing you much more in the long run.
Here is why the two services go hand in hand. Tires only last as long as the road contact is even across the tread. If your wheels are pointing in slightly different directions, your new tires will scrub against the pavement instead of rolling smoothly. That scrubbing wears the rubber down in strange patterns, usually on the inside or outside edges. Once uneven wear starts, there is no way to reverse it.
The old tires you are replacing are actually a useful clue. If they wore unevenly, with one edge much more worn than the other, or if they developed a cupped or feathered pattern, that is a strong sign the alignment was off. Installing a new set of tires onto a car with the same misalignment repeats the cycle. Within a year or two, you could be shopping for tires all over again.
There are also everyday hazards that quietly knock alignment out of specification. Ann Arbor winters are especially rough on suspension parts, and hitting even one deep pothole on Stadium Boulevard or a curb in a downtown parking structure can shift things enough to matter. Even if the car felt fine before, your old tires may have been masking a small problem that will show up quickly on new rubber.
Getting an alignment done at the same time as new tires is also more convenient. The wheels are already off, the shop already has your car up on the equipment, and the technician can measure everything against factory specifications before you drive away. You leave with tires that are set up to last their full expected mileage, offer better fuel economy, straighter steering, and a smoother ride overall.
Because pairing new tires with a fresh alignment protects your money and your safety, it pays to work with a shop that treats both services seriously. Hoover Street Auto Repair has been aligning tires for Ann Arbor drivers since 1980, and we make it easy to bundle the two services in a single visit. Learn more on our wheel alignment page.