The camber angle is the slope of the imaginary line that runs vertically through the center of the tire, viewed from the front or back of the vehicle. It tells you if the tire leans in or out.
The camber angle is expressed in degrees. It can be positive or negative. Negative camber means the top of the tire leans in towards the vehicle. Positive camber means the top of the tire leans out away from the vehicle.
How is it measured and adjusted?
For accurate alignment, special equipment is required. For experienced car guys, Wheel Alignment Tools and Wheel Alignment Parts are available. For most people, however, we recommend taking your vehicle to a reputable alignment shop.
How does it affect performance?
In a perfect world, camber would be variable based on what the vehicle was doing:
Straight-Line Driving - The tire would have zero camber. This maximizes the contact patch with the road for the best traction. It will also wear the tire evenly, maximizing its life.
Cornering - The tire would have negative camber. With zero camber, the tire will “roll” onto its outer edge and potentially slide. Negative camber provides better traction and helps the vehicle steer effectively at higher speeds.
Unfortunately, we can’t do both at the same time. So, we have to compromise. Camber settings should take the driving style into consideration.
For street-driven vehicles, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. This usually means a slightly negative camber. This provides traction during normal turns and maximizes tire life. For more aggressive drivers, set the camber to the maximum negative value allowed in the acceptable range.
For race vehicles, you can increase the negative camber to improve cornering. This will be a test-and-tune process. Other factors will affect the vehicle’s handling. So, you will need to find the settings that work best for you.