TIRE WEAR

[17MagMetal]

Hey everyone,

Washing car today for the first time in forever, took wheels off for cleaning and noticed after 13k the front Michelin PSS are wearing a little more aggressively on the inner shoulder tread block.

The car was set to have just the slightest bit of toe in and -1.6 negative camber on the front end.

The rear was set similarly and is wearing (seemingly) more evenly. I won’t feel bad about replacing them when the time comes. It would just really bug me to have to replace $900 in tires because of the inner shoulder (as I’ve seen in other posts!).

I’m very diligent about checking tire wear/tread depth, so i’m hoping I can get some advice on alignment specs to reduce some of this front inner shoulder wear. The rest of the tires have a ton of tread (7/32, inner shoulder is probably down to 3-4/32).

Is this an alignment problem? Did I just knock my alignment out? Do I need to turn harder and more often?

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[elChupacoffee]

Don't know how true this is, but the guy I bought mine from told me that mustangs (or at least mine) comes with some negative camber from the factory, which I can only assume is for performance handling reasons.

 

[17MagMetal]

Don't know how true this is, but the guy I bought mine from told me that mustangs (or at least mine) comes with some negative camber from the factory, which I can only assume is for performance handling reasons.

You’ve definitely heard correctly!

I have adjustable parts on the front and rear end camber adjustment. I think Ford specs base GTs to have something like .6-1.2 deg negative camber for the cars. I’m just trying to prolong some tire life for weekend cruising.

 

[K4fxd]

Check your toe, probably have some toe out

 

[17MagMetal]

Check your toe, probably have some toe out

I hope you’re right and my car just got knocked out of spec. I’ll have to go in for an alignment.

To your knowledge, toe IN should scrub the outer edge of the tire right?

Camber obviously wears the inner portion of the tire, but I’m seeing actual shoulder issues.

 

[K4fxd]

No, toe in and or out will wear the inner edge of the tires. Camber has little to no effect up to -2.5 or more.

 

[17MagMetal]

No, toe in and or out will wear the inner edge of the tires. Camber has little to no effect up to -2.5 or more.

Hearing you say that brings me comfort for some reason, I’ll ask my favorite tech to do a two wheel and see if the toe got knocked out. I’ll bring it back to the .02 deg toe in if so.

Will report back!

 

[K4fxd]

Slight toe in helps take out steering slack and runs the tires straight when rolling. I like .05 each side of toe in and I run -2.25 camber each side. I get even wear but I do like to push corners once in awhile.

 

[GJarrett]

Toe would be the first place I'd look, but I'm also thinking -1.6 camber is a little much for street camber and might be part of your inner wear if you are not driving seriously aggressive on the street. You could also consider dialing that back a tad while you're checking your toe in.

 

[17MagMetal]

Toe would be the first place I'd look, but I'm also thinking -1.6 camber is a little much for street camber and could be part of your inner wear if you are not driving seriously aggressive on the street.

Agreed!

I’ve got camber to tuck the GT350 wheels on my base GT, but otherwise like to drive 25-50% of the time spiritedly on the backroads.

i’ll have to see what the car is sitting at and make a decision.

 

[17MagMetal]

Slight toe in helps take out steering slack and runs the tires straight when rolling. I like .05 each side of toe in and I run -2.25 camber each side. I get even wear but I do like to push corners once in awhile.

I’ve really enjoyed a less aggressive version of your alignment. My car on all four corners is like .03 toe in and -1.6 camber.

Rear ends wearing wonderfully, something must be awry up front.

 

[K4fxd]

I’ve really enjoyed a less aggressive version of your alignment. My car on all four corners is like .03 toe in and -1.6 camber.

It still plows like a dump truck. If I could live with the tramlining I'd go to -3 front camber.

 

[17MagMetal]

It still plows like a dump truck. If I could live with the tramlining I'd go to -3 front camber.

At least on road, my biggest challenge is oversteer still.

I’ve thrown all kinds of stuff at the car and can’t drive it at its true limit (on road with no risk). I should track it for repeatability and make the most of the adjustable bits on it.

edit: I also have BMRs adjustable bars set to their middle setting on both axles, I have considered dropping the rear setting to “soft” and seeing if I can reduce the oversteer I experience.

 

[K4fxd]

I’ve thrown all kinds of stuff at the car and can’t drive it at its true limit (on road with no risk). I should track it for repeatability and make the most of the adjustable bits on it.

I can't use more than about 50% throttle on street curves without feeling like I'm being reckless. We do have several round-a-bouts but hitting them without other traffic is rare.

 

[17MagMetal]

I can't use more than about 50% throttle on street curves without feeling like I'm being reckless.

You and me are on the same page, I feather every corner.

I’m young, naive, stupid, but not a moron, I know how dicey all RWD cars get

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