Tire/wheel alignment need “lift pucks”?

[uicandrew]

For the tire rotation /replacement, I’ve heard the recommendations to make sure a shop has the special “pucks” to safely lift the car. My local Costco had them for tires.

Are they also needed for tire/wheel alignments? I’m looking for places locally for alignment and I want to ask the right questions before handing over my Tesla. If I need to buy my own pucks off amazon, I will.

 

[UncertainTimes]

You shouldn’t need them for alignments. The car is driven up on special ramps.

 

[webbah]

My car is lowered 1 inch or so and with the P3D I didn't need the pucks but the shop I used did have some issues as the car bottomed out going on the ramps. Fortunately I saw it about to happen and caught them in time. We then used some ramp extensions to reduce the angle of approach.

 

[uicandrew]

Perfect thanks! Did you guys use a national chain (Firestone, etc) or a smaller local shop?

 

[Dolemite]

They’re not needed at all.