I'm about due for replacing my original tires on my '01 Forester, after about 33,500 miles.
My question isn't about which tires to get. Instead, I'd like to know whether it's a good idea to have an alignment done at the same time. I have no specific reason to think that I need an alignment. The car is not pulling to one side and I can't recall hitting any huge potholes or anything. But a lot of tire manufacturers recommend getting one to maximize tread wear.
If it is a good idea to get the alignment now, are there any specific concerns for an AWD vehicle? Can this be reliably done at your average Firestone, Goodyear or