I got a flat tire 2 weeks ago and I could't pull off on the side of the road where I was at (G/W parkway). While the tire was going flat (took about 10 min to go completely flat) the steering wheel was cocked at 45 degrees but I was still going straight but tugging hard left.

Anyways, after replacing my tire, the car and steering wheel still tug left but not as hard though. Also, when I drive in the rain I can barely control the car and I slide everywhere. I have to drive at a minimum 45 mph.

Do you think my tie rods are going bad or should I just get an alignment? I just don't want to do an alignment then turn around and do tie rods and another alegnment. Thanks fellow HT'ers.

 

with the car on the ground, try to wiggle the wheels back and forth (as if they were turning) if you feel wiggling or hear noises, it is probably time to do some tie rods and ends. while you are at it, do new ball joints, then get an alignment.

 

Have the tie-rods ever been done? I did mine after I did the swap, just because I knew they were never replaced in the 12 years the car had existed, figured I might as well. I had a lot of steering to do when on the gas before I replaced them, I would change lanes if I gassed it and didn't have a good grip on the wheel.