[s-cars] Alignment issues

[seanupchurch at comcast.net]

Recently got my wife's A4 1.8T Q aligned at a local shop I have used quite a few times before and also had them replace the front tie rod ends.  Two days later on a road trip to Montana, left front end starts making loud noise.  I have my wife pull over and  discover that 4 lug bolts are loose (the fifth was probably bound up and could not come loose).  I re-tightened bolts, cussed for about three minutes and then continued on without much issue.  Did not notice it right away but now car pulls to the left.  When we returned to Seattle I took the car back to same shop to get the pull fixed.  Alignment shop says that car is aligned but it sitll pulls to the left.  They swapped front to rear tires and it still pulled to the left.  They switched left to right and car pulled to the right.  They swapped left to right again and car pulls to left.  Alignment shop says 'must be the tires, put up with it until the tires wear out and then car should pull straight again.' 



I am no tire/alignment expert but has anyone experienced this?  Oh, the tires are about a set of Yokohama Avids, about 4yrs old and have some decent tread life left in them. 


Sean U 

95 S6 Avant 

Bothell, WA