Do I need an alignment after fitting a lift kit?

Yes. Changing ride height changes suspension geometry, which moves your alignment angles away from where they should be. Skipping it is the fastest way to wear out a new set of tires and to make the steering feel vague.

What is the difference between a leveling kit and a lift kit?

A leveling kit raises the front of a truck to sit level with a rear that is already higher from the factory, which is a small change. A full lift raises the entire vehicle for real ground clearance and involves considerably more of the suspension.

Will a lift kit affect how my truck drives?

Yes. A higher center of gravity means more body roll and different weight transfer, and larger heavier tires change braking and acceleration. It is a normal trade for the clearance you gain, and a proper alignment afterwards is what keeps it feeling controlled.

Will bigger tires throw my speedometer off?

If the overall rolling diameter increases, yes, and your odometer with it. It is worth working out the finished tire size before ordering, so any correction needed is part of the plan. Five Points Tire can recalibrate the speedometer where the vehicle allows it, and will tell you when it does not.

Lift Kits in Redwood City: What Changes When You Go Up

A lift kit raises your truck or SUV to fit larger tires and gain ground clearance, and it changes the suspension geometry in the process, so it has to be aligned afterwards. Five Points Tire can supply the components, from coil springs to shock absorbers, and set the alignment so the vehicle handles properly once it is up.

Request this service 650-365-0280

Gray lifted GMC truck with bronze-colored rims parked under a red roof.

Lift kits at Five Points Tire, in short

Five Points Tire supplies and fits lift kit components in Redwood City, from coil springs to shock absorbers, and sets the alignment afterwards so the truck handles properly at its new ride height. Changing ride height moves the suspension geometry, so the alignment is part of the job rather than an optional extra.

A lift kit is one of the few modifications that changes how a vehicle behaves in every situation, not just off road.

That's not an argument against it. It's an argument for going in knowing what changes.

Leveling kit or full lift?

A leveling kit raises only the front of the truck to match the rear. A full suspension lift raises the whole vehicle, and it touches far more of the suspension.

Most trucks leave the factory with the nose sitting lower than the tail, so there's room for a load without the back squatting. Leveling that out is mostly a stance change, and it gains you a modest amount of tire clearance.

Real ground clearance comes from the full lift, and so does most of the extra work on this page.

The alignment is part of the job, not an extra. Suspension geometry is designed around a particular ride height. Move away from it and the alignment angles move too. A lifted truck that has never been aligned shows it in the tire wear first, usually within a few thousand miles.

Signs you need a lift kit

You want to fit larger tires than the vehicle will currently clear
You need more ground clearance for trails or rough access
The truck sits nose down or squats under load
Your existing lift has never been aligned and the tires are wearing unevenly
You are towing or carrying weight and the rear sags

How the two options compare

Which one you want depends on whether you are after clearance or stance.
	Leveling kit	Full suspension lift
What it does	Raises the front to match the factory rear	Raises the whole vehicle
Clearance gained	Minimal	Real, and the point of the exercise
Suspension touched	Front only, limited	Front and rear, extensive
Alignment after	Yes	Yes, and more of it
Tire size gain	Modest	Significant

Which one you want depends on whether you are after clearance or stance.

What our team does for lift kits

01Supply the components the lift needs, from coil springs through to shock absorbers
02Set the alignment after the lift so the vehicle handles correctly at the new ride height

Why an alignment is part of every lift

Suspension geometry is designed around a particular ride height.

Move away from it and your alignment angles move too, particularly camber and caster. The vehicle will drive, and it'll wear tires at a rate that gets expensive fast.

A lifted truck that's never been aligned usually shows it in the tire wear within a few thousand miles, which is why we treat the alignment as part of the lift rather than an add-on.

What actually changes when you lift a truck

A higher center of gravity, longer stopping distances, changed steering feel, a speedometer that reads off, and on larger lifts, driveline angles and brake lines that need addressing.

Higher center of gravity: More body roll in corners, and different weight transfer under braking.
Longer stopping distances: Especially with heavier wheels and tires added on top.
Changed steering feel: Caster shifts, and self-centering usually goes with it.
Speedometer error: Bigger tires mean a bigger rolling diameter unless you correct for it.
Driveline angles: On larger lifts this needs addressing, or you get vibration.
Brake line length: Full droop can stretch a line that was fine at stock height.

Want it checked? Describe what the car is doing and Five Points Tire will tell you whether it needs a lift kit or something else. Call 650-365-0280, or send the form and someone calls you back. Request an appointment

Tires, gearing and the speedometer

Most people lift a truck in order to fit bigger tires, and bigger tires change your effective gearing.

Rear three-quarter view of a lifted black four-door SUV on oversized mud-terrain tires, with a matching spare mounted on the tailgate. — Tires this much taller than stock change your effective gearing, so the speedometer reads low until it's recalibrated.

The engine has to turn more to move the same distance, so acceleration softens and fuel economy usually drops. Your speedometer reads low, which matters more than it sounds when the reading is what a ticket is based on.

It's all correctable, and it's much easier to plan for as part of the build than to discover on the drive home.

Common lift kit mistakes to avoid

Skipping the alignment. The fastest way to destroy a new set of expensive tires.
Ignoring driveline angles on a bigger lift. Produces a vibration that no amount of wheel balancing will fix.
Forgetting brake line length. A line that was fine at stock height can be stretched tight at full droop.
Not correcting the speedometer. Bigger tires mean you're going faster than the dash says.
Assuming the ride will be the same. Higher center of gravity, more roll, longer stops. It's a real trade.

The bottom line

Decide first whether you want stance or clearance, because that's the difference between a leveling kit and a full lift.

Then budget the alignment into the job rather than treating it as optional, and plan the tire size up front so the speedometer and gearing get sorted at the same time.

We supply the components, from coil springs through shock absorbers, and set the alignment afterwards.

A lift is a system change, not a part. It moves the suspension geometry, usually needs a wheel alignment afterward, and it is the point at which custom wheels and tire size have to be worked out together.

Call Five Points Tire on 650-365-0280 and tell us what you're trying to achieve. The right kit depends on what you actually do with the vehicle, not on how it looks parked.

Thinking about new wheels? Start with fitment: offset, load rating and brake clearance. Find wheels for my vehicle

Need new tires? Tell us your vehicle or tire size and we'll come back with options and pricing. Find tires for my vehicle

Lift kits questions we get asked

Question not on the list? Ask us directly.

650-365-0280 Email us

Do I need an alignment after fitting a lift kit?: Yes. Changing ride height changes suspension geometry, which moves your alignment angles away from where they should be. Skipping it is the fastest way to wear out a new set of tires and to make the steering feel vague.
What is the difference between a leveling kit and a lift kit?: A leveling kit raises the front of a truck to sit level with a rear that is already higher from the factory, which is a small change. A full lift raises the entire vehicle for real ground clearance and involves considerably more of the suspension.
Will a lift kit affect how my truck drives?: Yes. A higher center of gravity means more body roll and different weight transfer, and larger heavier tires change braking and acceleration. It is a normal trade for the clearance you gain, and a proper alignment afterwards is what keeps it feeling controlled.
Will bigger tires throw my speedometer off?: If the overall rolling diameter increases, yes, and your odometer with it. It is worth working out the finished tire size before ordering, so any correction needed is part of the plan. Five Points Tire can recalibrate the speedometer where the vehicle allows it, and will tell you when it does not.

Talk lift kits in Redwood City

Request an appointment 650-365-0280