Tire alignment is the careful process of aligning the wheels of a vehicle to the original manufacturer specifications. When wheels are not properly aligned, tires may wear unevenly or prematurely and the handling, maneuverability and safety of a vehicle may be negatively impacted.
Unfortunately, despite conflicting information from some competing sources, Walmart does not offer tire alignment services.
To have your tires aligned, try checking out places like:
- Les Schwab Tire Center
- Big O Tires
- Firestone Complete Auto Care
- Your local mechanic or tire center
Walmart Auto Care Center does, however, offer the following tire services:
- Tire mounting
- Tire balancing and rotation
- Road hazard warranty
- Valve stem installation
- Flat tire repair
- Lug nut replacement
- Re-torque
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Why Does Walmart Not Do Tire Alignment?
It’s not entirely clear why Walmart does not offer tire alignment services, but some sources have claimed it’s likely a liability issue.
As discussed above, there are still plenty of services you can avail at your local Walmart Auto Care Center, and some of these services start at just $3 per tire!
Walmart Auto Care Center Services
Walmart Auto Care Center offers a wide range of services to help you keep your vehicle operating at its best.
Here is a list of their services, including prices:
- Standard oil change – $32.88
- High mileage oil change – $42.88
- Semi-synthetic oil change – $42.88
- Synthetic oil change – $52.88
- “Pit Crew” (includes up to 5 quarts of oil, new oil filter, chassis lubrication, tire pressure check and battery performance check – does NOT include oil change service) – $22.88
- Tire mounting – $5-$10 per tire
- Tire balance and rotation – $15 per tire
- Road hazard warranty – $10 per tire
- Valve stem installation – $3 per tire
- Flat tire repair – $15 per tire
- Tire rotation – $2.50 per tire
- Lug nut replacement – $2 per lug nut
- Fuel system maintenance – $20
- Wiper blades and installation – $10 per blade
- Air filter installation – free
- Headlight restoration – $25 per vehicle
- Headlight installation – $7.50 per headlight
- Miniature bulb installation – $5 per bulb
- Battery installation – $10 (free for batteries purchased at Walmart)
How To Book Appointments At Walmart Auto Care Center
To book an appointment at a Walmart Auto Care Center, follow these steps:
- Locate your nearest Walmart Auto Care Center using this store finder tool
- When you find the store location you’d like to visit, click “details”
- From here, you will be able to see whether “Auto Care Center” is listed under the services available at that store. You will also be able to see the store’s hours of operation.
- Call the phone number listed and follow the prompts to speak to the Auto Care Center
- Request an appointment
If you’re purchasing new tires on Walmart.com or through the Walmart app, you will also be able to schedule your tire installation appointment online as part of the checkout process. For more information on how to do this, click here.
Walmart Auto Care Centers typically accept walk-ins as well. However, availability for walk-in appointments will vary depending on how busy the technicians are at the time.
It’s important to note that while many Walmart locations are open until 11pm or later, most Auto Care Centers close around 6pm.
How Often Should Tire Alignment Be Carried Out?
Tires should be aligned every 2 to 3 years. Alignment can help prevent uneven wear and tear on your tires, helping them last longer, and it can also help your vehicle maneuver optimally.
Signs that you might need a tire alignment include:
- Your vehicle pulls to one side of the road
- Tire tread is wearing unevenly or prematurely
- Tires squeak or squeal
- Steering wheel tilts off center when driving straight
- Steering wheel vibrates when accelerating
FAQs
Does Walmart do a free alignment with tire purchases?
No. Walmart does not offer tire alignment services.
Does Walmart do headlight alignment?
Yes. Walmart will restore and realign your headlights for $25 per vehicle.
Does Walmart do front-end alignment?
No. Walmart Auto Care Center does not offer tire alignment services of any kind.
Does Walmart do rear alignment?
No. Walmart Auto Care Center does not offer tire alignment services of any kind.
Why does tire alignment cost so much?
The average cost of a 4-wheel alignment is between $100 and $150. This involves returning the alignment of each of your vehicle tires to manufacturer specifications, which is a detailed and specialized process.
Can you align your own wheels to save costs?
Technically, yes. But it’s best to leave tire alignment to the experts. Front-end tire alignment can be attempted at home with the right tools, but if you have an all-wheel or 4-wheel drive vehicle, taking it into the professionals is really your only option.
Here’s an article on how to do a front-end alignment if you’re feeling confident.
Conclusion
While Walmart does not offer tire alignment services, there are still plenty of places that do, including Les Schwab and Firestone. You can also always get your tires aligned by your mechanic when you take your vehicle in for other maintenance.
It’s best to align your tires every 2-3 years, but it can be done as often as every few months for maximum safety.
Walmart Auto Care Center offers plenty of other services, even though they don’t do tire alignment. Their prices are also impressively cheap, with some services starting at just $3.
