Back in the stone age, 1984, I bought a new Z-28 with the "H.O." engine and 4-speed automatic. Those who are old enough will remember the front toe-in was set for stability. It was probably the best handling U.S. car at the time, except maybe for the 'Vette. I can't remember the setting, but you could take your hands off the wheel and it would track straight ahead for quite some time, especially on roads that were crowned in the middle for rain run-off. I had few miles on the car and both fronts were severely worn on the outer? side. The tech was a friend and set the toe to or closer to zero. "Abnormal" tire wear was gone, but the car was squirrely, requiring pretty constant correction to maintain a straight line. I had to go back and tell him to put it back where it was. I decided I'd rather buy tires more often and have the handling. The Continental tires you bought are very inexpensive compared tot he $1500 I paid for four Michelin PS4S (no alignment), and they wear well on the factory settings. Don't be told you need an alignment unless you bend something on the suspension. I once hit a rock that bent a wheel, and the car still tracked fine. Even a tech I know well told me it takes quite a lot to knock the alignment out of our cars. Like was said, it's a good money-maker for a dealer. They always try to sell you one even though they never once looked at your tires. I heard one tell people it's required because they have the advanced driver assist system. I always ask a new advisor if they were techs before becoming an advisor. When they say no, I tell them I was, and that my alignment's fine. Shuts them up.
