"Track" alignment vs "Street"
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,243
Likes: 4,362
From: Chirper Island
If you put any number of miles on the car at all (between track events), then the street-neutral alignment is the best thing you can do for your tire longevity.
If you track, then you must do what you must for your track performance.
There is no in between, IMO.
If you track, then you must do what you must for your track performance.
There is no in between, IMO.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 618
Likes: 66
I just went back to "street" alignment after about 8 years of a track alignment on my c6z06. It is obvious to me driving the car that it doesn't turn it as quick. Some call this "twitchiness". Seems to me to be "responsiveness". Only driven once on the new setup, but I'm not sure I like this sloppy feel of the street alignment I now have... Even though I pretty much don't track my car anymore.
I guess my point is, if you're thinking of going to a track alignment because you want sharp turn in, you should try it, if you are thinking about going back to street, you may have forgotten how much of a difference it makes!
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,457
Likes: 657
From: DFW Texas
After my one track day the outer edges of my front tires were worn MUCH more than the inside. This after my local dealer did the Track Alignment.
I was suspicious so I had an independent shop do a check. I've attached copies of the 'actual' check alignment comparison with 'regular' spec, Track spec and actual. Documentation for each also included. It would seem that the outside tire wear is explained by the actual readings.
I was suspicious so I had an independent shop do a check. I've attached copies of the 'actual' check alignment comparison with 'regular' spec, Track spec and actual. Documentation for each also included. It would seem that the outside tire wear is explained by the actual readings.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 180
Likes: 15
From: Memphis tn
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,019
Likes: 2,714
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Our 2017 Z51 has 9k miles on the original PSS runflats. At about 1k miles the suspension was set to a very slight toe-in front and rear, very close to 0 toe. Camber at -.6 on the LF and -.8 on the RF, rechecked recently and it hasn't changed.
We have been using the car as a DD and long distance straight-road tripper, only one autocross weekend and no HPDE.
The tires look good to a visual inspection, but a tread depth gauge shows that the innermost groove on all four tires is a full 1/32" less than the other grooves. That means I will probably lose about 20% of my tire life by the time the inner groove gets to 2/32", the center will be about 3/32" and the outer at 4/32".
The "fault" is mine, I had expected to be driving more aggressively to get more even tire wear. On our c6, I ran a bit more negative camber and the wear was pretty even but I was driving the car much more aggressively. We need to match the (negative) camber with our driving style. This time, I guessed wrong.
We have been using the car as a DD and long distance straight-road tripper, only one autocross weekend and no HPDE.
The tires look good to a visual inspection, but a tread depth gauge shows that the innermost groove on all four tires is a full 1/32" less than the other grooves. That means I will probably lose about 20% of my tire life by the time the inner groove gets to 2/32", the center will be about 3/32" and the outer at 4/32".
The "fault" is mine, I had expected to be driving more aggressively to get more even tire wear. On our c6, I ran a bit more negative camber and the wear was pretty even but I was driving the car much more aggressively. We need to match the (negative) camber with our driving style. This time, I guessed wrong.
Last edited by Gearhead Jim; Aug 4, 2018 at 07:02 PM.
