[timon]

Firestone should at least check to see if you need an alignment. I read that it’s a good idea to get an alignment done once a year. If it’s done properly.

Lifetime anything? I’m not so sure, especially with certain Firestone dealerships. Some actually have decent service.

If you do a lot of DIY work on your suspension, it may be a good deal. It will also save your tires from wearing prematurely.

One alignment at Firestone costs around $135. Could be more now in these inflationary times. (Which is a big money maker for all corporations now). Big companies are enjoying this pandemic and supply chain problem.

@Theseus161 - It's $99 for alignment one time.

 

[Theseus161]

Prices vary by location. That’s why Firestone doesn’t advertise pricing. $99 is fair. I wonder what the dealership charges.

 

[Splitfyre]

Unless you live in an area with bad roads, do not get it. Another concern that I would like to point out is that techs don't normally do it proper when you are part of a "program" since it does not pay as much as a retail customer and you might end up with a "quick" alignment every time and not an actual proper one.

 

[Theseus161]

A good shop will give you a print out and use a Hunter machine or comparable. A good shop will also tell you if you DON’T need an alignment.

 

[timon]

A good shop will give you a print out and use a Hunter machine or comparable. A good shop will also tell you if you DON’T need an alignment.

@Theseus161 - This helps; Thank you. This Firestone does give a print out and explain. But I was wondering about Hunter though.

 

[timon]

Prices vary by location. That’s why Firestone doesn’t advertise pricing. $99 is fair. I wonder what the dealership charges.

@Theseus161 - I was charged ~ $130 at dealer.

 

[CLe4R]

Hi,

I plan to change my tires soon (almost 49k on my stock Yokohama Geolander) plus the Subaru dealer recommended a wheel alignment at 48k service which I declined.

Is it worth purchasing lifetime wheel alignment at Firestone for $199?

I will keep this Subaru till it dies on me . Just want to check others experience using Firestone for wheel alignment and it's worth.

Thanks.

I am a believer in the Firestone lifetime alignment. I have them do that and the rotation at the same time (which came with the tires). it's nice to know you can take it in after every oil change (or get your oil changed there if you like overpaying LOL) and get the handling polished up.

 

[ForesterBill]

$89 at Tucson Subaru.

 

[Passepartout22]

Hi,

I plan to change my tires soon (almost 49k on my stock Yokohama Geolander) plus the Subaru dealer recommended a wheel alignment at 48k service which I declined.

Is it worth purchasing lifetime wheel alignment at Firestone for $199?

I will keep this Subaru till it dies on me . Just want to check others experience using Firestone for wheel alignment and it's worth.

Thanks.

I had a Firestone lifetime alignment on a car I had years ago. Yes, it was worth it. Despite the bad advice posted by many in this thread, you should do alignments routinely. But make sure your vehicle doesn't require a 4-wheel alignment, which I don't believe is included in the lifetime alignment offer.

 

[hawkster]

It all depends on vehicle. When I had the Subaru SVX, it needed wheel alignments at 20-30K intervals with the Potenza's 980AS. Then it was worth it. My forester XT with the Potenza 980AS didn't need at all.

Hi,

I plan to change my tires soon (almost 49k on my stock Yokohama Geolander) plus the Subaru dealer recommended a wheel alignment at 48k service which I declined.

Is it worth purchasing lifetime wheel alignment at Firestone for $199?

I will keep this Subaru till it dies on me . Just want to check others experience using Firestone for wheel alignment and it's worth.

Thanks.

 

[cptplt]

For the first 2 decades of owning cars I never got an alignment unless the car was clearly having a problem I could feel in the handling or some major suspension work was done. Then when I had my first Legacy wagon (yes in the days before the Outback) I trashed a brand new expensive Michelin tire due to alignment issues even though I could not recall any problems with the car drifting etc, the alignment was way off, probably from the zillion potholes on Chicago roads and I could see the steel belts exposed from the uneven wear! Since then I would obsessively rotate my tires and ask for an alignment check with at least every other oil change and certainly any new tire. I rarely ever found any local shop (what was NTB, now Mavis, Sears, Firestone) or dealer said I needed an actual alignment if I had no hint of driving issues. In the last decade+ Ive been using Nokian all weather tires a lot to save having to have true winter ones swapped every season. The directional tread Nokians wear and become noisy like crazy if not perfectly aligned, the tires almost sound as loud as a bad bearing! Now on any car I have directional Nokians, I will get an alignment maybe every 10-20k. Beats buying a new set of Nokians at 150 each! Ive driven some Nokians 60K miles and still had 4mm tread (they have succesive 2mm tread markers) yet with a directional one they are so noisy at 30K if not perfectly aligned I've had to ditch them as the wife was going nuts from the noise. Ive never heard Firestone locally offering lifetime alignments but I've gotten my moneys worth from NTB for 2 or 3 year alignment packages, they also would let you swap to another car once. So I could usually get 2 checks on one car and one sometimes 2 checks on a 2nd car in the 3 years.
Its like insurance, some people need it more than others depending on all sorts of things!!

 

[innerfish]

i bought mine for a little bit less than $199. I forgot how much exactly, $175?? Yea, people don’t need to do alignment that often, but when you do, it’s expensive. So that said, $170-190 for lifetime is worth it for me. You do it 2-3 times depends where you at, you get your money back already. Since I bought it I just do the alignment every time I go there rotate the tires.

 

[ThorsHammer]

Alignment is something that should be done periodically. The big catch with lifetime anything is if the shop is good and if you are going to stay with them for the lifetime you keep the vehicle.

I have found them to be well worth my time in general. It sucked when my shop changed owners they no longer honored the lifetime alignment I purchased as a national chain store.

 

[skamedagain]

I purchased it because I do mods and already upgraded the struts and did a spring lift. I already had 2 alignments and still need to have my sub frame lowered to re-center the rear wheels in the wheel well . I also have three sets if wheels. Winter,summer and off road. Lots of tires.lol I have my own TPMS reset tool I use when I do my own wheel swaps.

 

[PeterfromOz]

Is it unlimited alignments whenever you want? If you plan to do some steering or suspension work in stages and want a four wheel align every time, it might be worth it,

 

[Irish33]

@steve_k It's lifetime alignment for sure

Personally I wouldn’t go to a goodyear or firestone shop. Better to get a mechanic you trust.

 

[ForesterBill]

But make sure your vehicle doesn't require a 4-wheel alignment, which I don't believe is included in the lifetime alignment offer.

@timon ^^Something to check out^^

 

[Black Lab]

Hi,

I plan to change my tires soon (almost 49k on my stock Yokohama Geolander) plus the Subaru dealer recommended a wheel alignment at 48k service which I declined.

Is it worth purchasing lifetime wheel alignment at Firestone for $199?

I will keep this Subaru till it dies on me . Just want to check others experience using Firestone for wheel alignment and it's worth.

Thanks.

Just be aware, every time you take it in, you'll be pressured to replace allegidly worn struts, balljoints, or any other service they provide.

 

[lxrsub]

If you are going to keep the car for a long time and especially if you do your own repairs, I strongly recommend it. Alignments are necessary after any procedure that affects the front suspension, including struts, tie rods, or impacts. It may be possible to change control arms, ball joints, and axles without affecting the alignment but I disconnect the spindles assembly from the struts to make it easier. With the requirement for four identical tires, one tire out alignment wearing out prematurely can result in the need to purchase four tires.

I purchased a Firestone Lifetime alignment and use it at least once a year, after any of the above repairs, just before buying new tires, or before a long trip. One local Firstone shop was borderline incompetent so I go to another one that is quite competent. It's not bad that they inspect the car and recommend other services but since they don't know the maintenance history of the car, they are aggressive in their recommendations. It's easy to say no.

 

[Ramblerman]

The idea behind the lifetime alignment, brakes, exhaust etc. is to get you to come in so they can sell you more stuff not covered by the "lifetime" part. It's called" maximizing the customer".