Factory Alignment Toe-In
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 76
From: Santa Maria, CA
Factory Alignment Toe-In
Has anyone else experienced tire wear on the inside treads? I'm seeing it on both front tires and wondering if the factory alignment for toe-in is a bit aggressive.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,258
Likes: 99
From: O'Fallon Illinois - Currently own a 2016 Z06 1LZ A8 Coupe
I just recently had my 2016 Z51 alignment changed from the factory FE3 settings to 0 degree camber on the fronts and 0.2 degree camber on the rears because the Corvette tech couldn't get the toe adjustment properly on the rears. Happy with the results. Tracks straight and now hopefully tire wear is reduced. 
MT
MT
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 837
Likes: 388
From: Olathe KS
This... There is no such thing as a "factory alignment." That's why GM pays for an alignment in the first year. Mine was aligned at 500 miles and was way out of even GM's very broad factory specs.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 7,137
Likes: 3,176
From: Kannapolis MA.
GM and Michelin got something going on...Very Fishy Smelling
How many Suckers replaced tires because of the Alignment.
I bet more owners than the bent rim
Only in America
My fault I wasn't watching my wear...
Thanks GM....Again
How many Suckers replaced tires because of the Alignment.
I bet more owners than the bent rim
Only in America
My fault I wasn't watching my wear...
Thanks GM....Again
Last edited by DALE#3; Aug 18, 2020 at 05:27 PM.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,009
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
PDT blames negative camber for inside tire edge wear, I blame toe-out (not toe-in). Either one can cause the wear, just do some research and get an alignment the way you think will work well for you, and examine the tires frequently. Your current alignment is obviously not good.
Scientific Negotiator
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: USA
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'10, '14
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2012
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If you set it to a track setting because you do "spirited driving" once in a while, the inside wear will persist.
(This per my alignment guy, not personal experience.... I got mine aligned right out of the gate to prevent dicking up a ~1300$ set of tires)
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,812
Likes: 615
From: Blacksburg Va
Yes negative camber wears the inside of tires. Best tire wear will be at zero camber and minimum toein. No way around that. Any negative camber at all increases wear. We can usually get away w/ -.5 to (maybe) -.75 because when the inside tread gets to zero the rest of the tire is at 2/32 - 3/32 so it's time for new tires anyway. There is no question that more - camber (up to somewhere in the 3.0 - 3.5 range) increases cornering grip but it's a trade off vs wear. So we have to make a choice. Prior to buying my 19 Stingray I had a Factory Five cobra replica that I autocrossed heavily on Hoosier A6 and A7. Ran the front at -3.5. The street tires wore the inside off like crazy but since the car was driven about 4000 miles per year putting new street tires on at 12000 miles got me three years life which was fine w/ me. Now w/ the Stingray I have camber set at -1.0 because it will be autocrossed less and driven on the street more. BTW, although I bought it w/ 3800 miles so not 100% new but the alignment it had sucked. .5 deg camber difference left to right, rear caster worse than that.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
Yes negative camber wears the inside of tires. Best tire wear will be at zero camber and minimum toein. No way around that. Any negative camber at all increases wear. We can usually get away w/ -.5 to (maybe) -.75 because when the inside tread gets to zero the rest of the tire is at 2/32 - 3/32 so it's time for new tires anyway. There is no question that more - camber (up to somewhere in the 3.0 - 3.5 range) increases cornering grip but it's a trade off vs wear. So we have to make a choice. Prior to buying my 19 Stingray I had a Factory Five cobra replica that I autocrossed heavily on Hoosier A6 and A7. Ran the front at -3.5. The street tires wore the inside off like crazy but since the car was driven about 4000 miles per year putting new street tires on at 12000 miles got me three years life which was fine w/ me. Now w/ the Stingray I have camber set at -1.0 because it will be autocrossed less and driven on the street more. BTW, although I bought it w/ 3800 miles so not 100% new but the alignment it had sucked. .5 deg camber difference left to right, rear caster worse than that.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,009
Likes: 2,707
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
On our 2017 Z51, I run about .7 negative camber and just the tiniest bit of toe-in.
If I go a long time just doing highway touring, the inner parts of the tread wear a bit more. If I start doing autocrosses and having fun on the twisties, the outer parts wear a bit more.
My settings are right for me. Others might need something different to match their driving style.
If I go a long time just doing highway touring, the inner parts of the tread wear a bit more. If I start doing autocrosses and having fun on the twisties, the outer parts wear a bit more.
My settings are right for me. Others might need something different to match their driving style.
Scientific Negotiator
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,727
Likes: 2,031
From: USA
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'10, '14
On our 2017 Z51, I run about .7 negative camber and just the tiniest bit of toe-in.
If I go a long time just doing highway touring, the inner parts of the tread wear a bit more. If I start doing autocrosses and having fun on the twisties, the outer parts wear a bit more.
My settings are right for me. Others might need something different to match their driving style.
If I go a long time just doing highway touring, the inner parts of the tread wear a bit more. If I start doing autocrosses and having fun on the twisties, the outer parts wear a bit more.
My settings are right for me. Others might need something different to match their driving style.
Next week I am going with:
-.7 front camber
nearly zero toe
-.5 rear camber
nearly zero toe
And like to get a little more aggressive with caster (probably closer to 8 in the front). This is simply style and how I like to run it.
I would be far closer to zero if I was a highway only type.