An Interesting Front Wheel Alignment
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 722
From: Chicago N/W Suburbs
An Interesting Front Wheel Alignment
With my new tires, I went in for a wheel alignment last week to a place near by in Elgin, IL called Hartman Bee Line. They do lots of Vettes. I asked about the severe wear on the inside of the old front tires, the same seen on every C5 I had. He asked me if I ever drive competitively of which I answered, only general commuting. He said he can adjust the alignment differently than GM 1/4" negative camber on both tires.
He set the camber to 1/8" positive driver side, 1/4" negative passenger side. He said the car should handle fine for my driving, and though there will still be inside tire wear, it will be much less. I asked why so different, left to right? He said this compensates for the crown in roads.
I heard the same story when taking my motor home for a front wheel alignment, to a truck suspension shop....consideration for the crown in the road.
The Vette still handles just fine. If you are a commuter/joy rider with your Vette, this is worth consideration.
He set the camber to 1/8" positive driver side, 1/4" negative passenger side. He said the car should handle fine for my driving, and though there will still be inside tire wear, it will be much less. I asked why so different, left to right? He said this compensates for the crown in roads.
I heard the same story when taking my motor home for a front wheel alignment, to a truck suspension shop....consideration for the crown in the road.
The Vette still handles just fine. If you are a commuter/joy rider with your Vette, this is worth consideration.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 23,900
Likes: 218
From: Foxtrot Delta Tango
That is interesting, especially considering that I have 2 sets of tires & wheels that I use. One set run flats and one set not..Neither sets show any kind of inside tire wear and I don't have any offset alignment....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 15
From: Jensen Beach FL
Thanks for the information as I do have severe inside tire wear even after a re-alignment. I have also heard of setting at 0 camber for both.
Last edited by craig04c5; Apr 20, 2010 at 08:25 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,977
Likes: 0
From: Mansfield, Ohio
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11, '14
I'm showing inside wear on my tires (about 10kmiles on them) and I was talking to the "Corvette Guy" at the Chevy dealership and he said it was because of the aggressive camber as well.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 722
From: Chicago N/W Suburbs
I asked about a "Zero" camber. The shop said the tires sitting flat on the road will yield a floating/wandering handling problem, which made sense. With such wide tires, a sight offset camber would eliminate flat-floating action.
Every C5 Corvette I've turned (5 in all), the driver front tire sees the worst inside wear. The shop's consideration to the crown in the road and his setting of a positive 1/8 is a compensation that addresses the symptom.
The car handles just fine. It will be interesting to see how the front tires wear as the miles are racked up.
I could see this being a real bad idea if you compete with your Corvette. But for every day driving, this seems a good idea. Time will tell.
The shop said a fellow came in recently for his second vist. The first time was setting an extreme camber for a competition, then his return back to a "street use" setting.
I learned a lot that morning about this stuff.
Every C5 Corvette I've turned (5 in all), the driver front tire sees the worst inside wear. The shop's consideration to the crown in the road and his setting of a positive 1/8 is a compensation that addresses the symptom.
The car handles just fine. It will be interesting to see how the front tires wear as the miles are racked up.
I could see this being a real bad idea if you compete with your Corvette. But for every day driving, this seems a good idea. Time will tell.
The shop said a fellow came in recently for his second vist. The first time was setting an extreme camber for a competition, then his return back to a "street use" setting.
I learned a lot that morning about this stuff.
Last edited by Ron Dittmer; Apr 20, 2010 at 10:33 AM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo