If your does not hold an alignment for a long period of time after it was done, then you have worn out steering and suspension components.
A good alignment should last a very long time, until ball joints, and tie rod ends start to wear out, then, its time for a replacement.
I could have mine aligned, but it wouldnt do much, wouldnt last too long, as everything is original in my car.

i tihnk my steering components are fine, the way i drive and it only lost .22 of toe in about 8 months? not bad, plus this is about the rears, which were in spec, so if i were to replace the pair of tires for $100 and then take it easier on my car woudl the 2 new tires be worth it?

If you take a lot of corners super fast, you'll see the outter edges of the tires feather and wear. This is because you are running on the edge of the tire as it starts to fold under.

While your suspension and alignment can be right on spec.. your driving style can be the cause of premature wear.

Buy two new tires, toss the new ones on the front, and call it good for now, then you have 4 good tires, make sure the other two you buy are if not identical to the front ones, very similar. For hydroplaining issues and traction issues.
You dont want a large difference between the two.

Not sure about that. I am pretty sure most tire places use the same policy as my tire places. They will always mount new tires on the back (if you are only getting two). If you lose traction on the rear tires in a front wheel drive car you are screwed.

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoTiresRear.dos

That'* the same theory that I subscribe to.

hm, i learned that the drive or steering wheel should have the thicker tread... altho since i have full access to lifts i can rotate my tires as much as i want, ill see which way performs better

X3
Also some people only replace two at a time. When the front tires wear out the rear tires go on the front and the new ones on the rear. That way you are only buying two tires at a time.

ok, and do you guys just rotate front to back or do you cross rotate?

Rears straight forward, FL to the RR and FR to the RL. (*checks in his head to make sure all four corners have rubber on them*) Yep, we're good.