Carmakers, in their infinite wisdom, realized that in order to minimize tire
wear, they had to build adjustments into the steering and suspension systems to
compensate for the effects of worn out parts. Otherwise, when you hit a pothole
the size of the “Sea of Tranquility,” you would knock out all the perfect factory-
set alignment angles and cause unsolicited tire wear.
How do you get the most life out of your tires? Long tire life depends on four
things: The condition of the suspension system, the condition of the steering
system, accurate wheel alignment, and proper tire maintenance with respect to
maintaining proper inflation, rotation, and rebalance. These four elements work
together to create the environment necessary for maximum tire life.
Wheel Alignment
Vehicle steering and suspension systems wear out over time. Rubber bushings,
metal joints, and parts that make up these systems get jostled from regular use
over hill, highway, and dale. This wear results in the alignment angles going out
of spec. This is why alignment adjustment points are built into the systems, to
compensate for this wear which causes misalignment of steering and suspension
parts.
The three adjustable alignment angles include camber, toe, and caster.
These angles affect tire wear and the handling characteristics of your vehicle.
Camber
The term camber refers to the angle of wheel alignment that measures the tilting
in or out relative to the top of the tire. If a car’s camber angle is too positive the
top of the tire is tilting outward. If the camber angle is too negative the top of the
tire is tilting inward. Conditions that cause excessive camber include worn ball
joints, control arm bushings, strut bearings/mounts, or excessively worn wheel
bearings. These parts must be tight (not sloppy) before the camber angle can be
adjusted accurately.
A tire affected by negative or positive camber exhibits smooth even wear on
the outside rib (positive camber) or inside rib (negative camber). Mechanical
adjustments will correct both positive and negative camber unless the parts
affecting the camber angle are worn beyond adjustment within factory specs. If
this is the case, the parts need to be replaced and the tires re-aligned.
Toe
The best way to explain how toe affects wheel alignment is to look down at the
tops of your feet. Imagine that you’re hovering above the hood of your car and