Dealer won't do an alignment???

So I purchased a lifetime alignment while our local Toyota dealership was running a special coincidentally and they stated I needed one based on tire wear... gut was saying bullsh!t at 20k miles on the truck. However I was thinking ahead and said to my self it will pay for itself over time.

Fast forward change my front shocks 5100s middle setting. I have new tires in my garage but rims did not show up in time. Soo figured let me get an alignment so I don't where the tires down more during this time.

Schedule an alignment they come out dealer guy has his tread wear gauge I'm super close to the wear bars and he stated they can't align it. Wouldn't do anything and tires are " legally balled" never heard that in my life. I didn't argue it and just left.

Is this Bull Sh!t ? I think it is but wanted evryones take on it. Or should I have pushed on that to get them to do it?

 

Hmm, this is quite interesting.
I see why they wouldn't do it, but at the same time, I don't see why they couldn't have just given you an alignment

1) I guess they didn't want to be in any way liable in the case that you're injured in a fiery crash because of your "legally bald" tires
2) or they were simply lazy and wanted just wanted an excuse
3) but they should have done it anyway because you paid for your lifetime alignments whether or not it has the most illegal mods in the world on it

 

I’m a bit confused, think maybe I don’t understand what you’re asking. But, if you’re asking if tire tread can be too bald to be legal, yes, that’s a thing. And, if they are, no reputable shop will agree to do any work on your truck that will let you drive away afterward on bald tires.

If I’m understanding what you’re asking, the answer would be, mount your new tires then go back for your lifetime pre-paid alignments.

 

X2

 

You got it. Tires aren't visually balled they have tread on them and would not go sliding on wet roads, I understand you comment on being reputable and letting me leave on worn tires and can understand that thinking.

My goal was to keep minimal wear on current Tires I have on before the rims got here. And get it aligned with the rims /tires..

Also being reputable to me would be... man this guy's tires have low tread let's not let him f them up more round them out and possibly cause a blow out etc.. I while he gets his new tires. Picture is to give you an idea of tread i know not the best picture ..this was about 4 day before going

 

Also I can't argue the legal part if that is a thing, need to suck it up put tires on and get it aligned. I was just bothered a little bit being sent away when you purchase a lifetime alignment. Wanted to see what you all thought. Thank you all for the feed back.

 

I don’t know the law in FL and can’t really tell by your pic, but the front tire looks low. It doesn’t have to be completely bald to fail inspection. Try the penny test in it.

 

In the commonwealth of pa you need 4/32 on the steering axle and 2/32 on the all the rest.

 

Thats the rub with those prepaid lifetime service agreements. Once they get your money, they tell you the terms. I had an oil change freebie on the first 25K only to find they would only do it at 10 K intervals because it had synthetic oil in it. No way I am going 10K on a new engine. I changed it myself at 5K.
bc

 

They sell / provide a "lifetime" anything they're not going to provide the service as often as you want, no matter what. There are people out there who'd want it aligned every few months and demand it be done because they think it's a good idea and they paid for it. Likewise, the oil change freebie. They know that 25,000 miles worth of oil changes per Toyota's recommendations will be two oil changes. You want one at 5000, you've just added one -- 15,000 and 25,000. You're an old coot and can't get past 3000-mile changes , and you're up to 8.

I bought our RAV4 in December, 2013, and it provided service for the first three years. My wife was self-employed and worked in a building 50 yards from our back door, so she didn't drive much. I took it in for the first free oil change in December, 2014, and they didn't want to do the change at 6,600 miles. He said "It's not due until 10,000 miles", and I said "Or one year." I got the oil change and two more each of the following Decembers.

 

With "lifetime this/that" deals, they will avoid doing it anytime they can.

Also tires at or below 3/32nd's in most states fails inspection, tires will easily hydroplane in rain.

Aligning bald tires is almost impossible if the wear is uneven, that is why they said no.
You also likely will not drive enough miles more to make doing the alignment have any effect on your already worn out tires.

Get new tires asap (yours are unsafe in the rain), then go get your alignment.