Z51 Allignment
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,457
Likes: 297
From: corpus christi Texas
Z51 Allignment
Hi Guys:I have a 08/Z51/A6.I had my car realigned at about 15,000 miles to the base corvette specs.I had Firestone's RF's put on about 10,000 miles ago.My rear tires are wearing even,but the front tires seem to be wearing more in the center ? I keep my air pressure around 31psi on all 4 tires.I'm thinking that it needs to be aligned again.I do not track the car,so does any one have any recommendations for alignment specs for a DD.I will take it to a good tire shop,not a damm dealer.........Thanks...
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 486
Likes: 2
From: The Villages FL
Hi Guys:I have a 08/Z51/A6.I had my car realigned at about 15,000 miles to the base corvette specs.I had Firestone's RF's put on about 10,000 miles ago.My rear tires are wearing even,but the front tires seem to be wearing more in the center ? I keep my air pressure around 31psi on all 4 tires.I'm thinking that it needs to be aligned again.I do not track the car,so does any one have any recommendations for alignment specs for a DD.I will take it to a good tire shop,not a damm dealer.........Thanks...
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,457
Likes: 297
From: corpus christi Texas
When you say that your tires "seem to be wearing in the center" that implies a casual observation and not an accurate measurement. If they are in fact wearing more in the center of the tread, that is due more to over pressure than alignment. 30 psi cold is the prescribed tire pressure. Deviation from that will affect the wear pattern of the tire.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,025
Likes: 2,716
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
If your front tires are wearing more on the center and inside edges, that could be two issues:
Too much air causing wear in the center.
Toe-out and/or too much negative camber, causing wear on the inner edge.
We've used the following specs on our 2006 and then 2009, both Z51:
0 toe, front and rear.
.5 negative camber front
.3 ngative camber rear
Handling is good, the fronts wear the insides a little more than center/outside but not a lot.
In my experience, toe-out will wear out the inner edges a lot quicker than negative camber.
Be sure the alignment guy gets the numbers right on, not just "close" or "within factory specs".
Also, check that your tire gauge agrees with other good (digital) gauges.
Too much air causing wear in the center.
Toe-out and/or too much negative camber, causing wear on the inner edge.
We've used the following specs on our 2006 and then 2009, both Z51:
0 toe, front and rear.
.5 negative camber front
.3 ngative camber rear
Handling is good, the fronts wear the insides a little more than center/outside but not a lot.
In my experience, toe-out will wear out the inner edges a lot quicker than negative camber.
Be sure the alignment guy gets the numbers right on, not just "close" or "within factory specs".
Also, check that your tire gauge agrees with other good (digital) gauges.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,457
Likes: 297
From: corpus christi Texas
If your front tires are wearing more on the center and inside edges, that could be two issues:
Too much air causing wear in the center.
Toe-out and/or too much negative camber, causing wear on the inner edge.
We've used the following specs on our 2006 and then 2009, both Z51:
0 toe, front and rear.
.5 negative camber front
.3 ngative camber rear
Handling is good, the fronts wear the insides a little more than center/outside but not a lot.
In my experience, toe-out will wear out the inner edges a lot quicker than negative camber.
Be sure the alignment guy gets the numbers right on, not just "close" or "within factory specs".
Also, check that your tire gauge agrees with other good (digital) gauges.
Too much air causing wear in the center.
Toe-out and/or too much negative camber, causing wear on the inner edge.
We've used the following specs on our 2006 and then 2009, both Z51:
0 toe, front and rear.
.5 negative camber front
.3 ngative camber rear
Handling is good, the fronts wear the insides a little more than center/outside but not a lot.
In my experience, toe-out will wear out the inner edges a lot quicker than negative camber.
Be sure the alignment guy gets the numbers right on, not just "close" or "within factory specs".
Also, check that your tire gauge agrees with other good (digital) gauges.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,025
Likes: 2,716
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
You're welcome.
But I don't consider my diagnosis to be a final word. If you don't get more replies in a couple of days, you might try posting under C6 General.
That will probably get some replies that are goodfy or wrong, but you can develop a concensus in the group. Best of luck to you.
BTW, a tread depth gauge can be invaluable for this kind of work. Less than $10 at the parts store, if they carry 'em.
I even keep one in the car to help diagnose tire wear problems on loooong road trips.
But I don't consider my diagnosis to be a final word. If you don't get more replies in a couple of days, you might try posting under C6 General.
That will probably get some replies that are goodfy or wrong, but you can develop a concensus in the group. Best of luck to you.
BTW, a tread depth gauge can be invaluable for this kind of work. Less than $10 at the parts store, if they carry 'em.
I even keep one in the car to help diagnose tire wear problems on loooong road trips.
Last edited by Gearhead Jim; Oct 20, 2011 at 09:26 PM.
