Car wheel alignment question: how much camber?

Posted by free.ranger (A) on August 31, 2015 at 20:44:04

Camber is the angle at which your wheels are slanted in or out when looking from the rear or front. If the top of the tire slants inward, its negative camber. Slanted out is positive.

My '06 BMW X3 (all-wheel) typically is set with a lot of negative rear wheel camber (-1,5 to 2.0 degrees), and a small amount of negative (-0.5 degree) in front -- factory specs.

They call for that because they say it drives safer at high speeds (technical exam withheld), but the payback is significantly shorter tire life from uneven tread wear. We don't have autobahns in the US, so I'm thinking of having the next set of tires set at 0 degrees if possible. The car will handle differently, but I'm betting not significantly so.

The current set of skins have approx 41,000 miles on them, with the outer edges down to near cord level. Very uneven wear and they are maxxed out for further use. I know that all-wheel drive vehicles get less tire mileage because all the tires are constantly stressed. But at this point, I'd like to get more from the next set.

What are your thoughts?

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Topic - Car wheel alignment question: how much camber? - free.ranger 20:44:04 08/31/15 (25)

RE: Car wheel alignment question: how much camber? - Craiger56 06:37:25 09/01/15 (7)

Lots of steady-state cross-country travel. Also near 227.000 miles - free.ranger 08:50:38 09/01/15 (6)

Have you had any major problems with the car since new? - Lee M 10:06:06 09/01/15 (5)

It seems model-specific, Lee. - free.ranger 11:48:01 09/01/15 (4)

Well, yours was made by Magna, maybe that's why - PabloP 11:57:00 09/01/15 (3)

Hi Pablo, correct as usual. I have one of the "ersatz" X3's, as I remember you calling it. - free.ranger 12:07:49 09/01/15 (2)

LOL, how about Walter White's Aztec? - PabloP 12:24:55 09/01/15 (1)

Perfect. Not sure where to find an Aztec anymore. - free.ranger 12:30:02 09/01/15 (0)

Thanks, guys. Car goes in Friday. - free.ranger 06:32:33 09/01/15 (6)

Just outta curiosity - FenderLover 06:52:59 09/01/15 (5)

Yoko 580's, an exclusive from Discount Tire. - free.ranger 08:43:28 09/01/15 (4)

Those are good tires and seems like they lasted long enough - PabloP 12:16:25 09/01/15 (1)

Good summary, thank you. nt - free.ranger 14:59:26 09/01/15 (0)

RE: Yoko 580's, an exclusive from Discount Tire. - FenderLover 09:25:14 09/01/15 (1)

RE: Yoko 580's, an exclusive from Discount Tire. - pictureguy 21:56:26 09/01/15 (0)

RE: Car wheel alignment question: how much camber? - Inmate51 03:04:17 09/01/15 (0)

RE: Car wheel alignment question: how much camber? - Lee M 22:30:24 08/31/15 (0)

BMW X3 - FenderLover 21:10:41 08/31/15 (7)

Thanks Fender. - free.ranger 21:32:54 08/31/15 (6)

RE: Thanks Fender. - pictureguy 22:07:35 08/31/15 (5)

Think the X3 uses staggered tire setup. - FenderLover 23:17:01 08/31/15 (4)

No, same wheels fore and aft. nt - free.ranger 08:46:49 09/01/15 (0)

RE: Think the X3 uses staggered tire setup. - pictureguy 23:45:12 08/31/15 (2)

RE: Think the X3 uses staggered tire setup. - FenderLover 00:01:37 09/01/15 (1)

RE: Think the X3 uses staggered tire setup. - pictureguy 12:21:37 09/02/15 (0)

Car wheel alignment question: how much camber?

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