Quick Answer
- Camber is the inward or outward tilt of the tire at the top, seen from the front. Positive camber is the top leaning outward, negative is the top leaning inward.
- On a 17 inch wheel (432 mm) 1.5 degrees of camber puts the top and bottom of the wheel 11.3 mm apart, and 4 degrees is 30.1 mm.
- Mevotech says positive camber causes pull to the right and wear on the outer tire edges, and negative camber pull to the left and wear on the inner edges.
Enter a camber angle to see the wheel tilt and whether it is positive, zero or negative.
Range -10 to +10 degrees. Positive means the top of the wheel leans outward.
Camber
-1.50°
Negative camberThe top of the wheel leans inward
Top to bottom offset at 17 inch wheel diameter
-11.30 mm
What Mevotech says
Mevotech says negative camber causes pull to the left and tire wear on the inner edges.
Your vehicle's camber specification, by make, model, trim and tire size, is in the manufacturer's service information. Camber is not adjustable on all vehicles.
Get a plain-English explanation of your results and what they mean for your vehicle.
Positive, Zero and Negative Camber
| Camber | Seen from the front | What Mevotech says |
|---|---|---|
| Positive camber | The top of the tire tilts outward. | Causes pull to the right and tire wear on the outer edges (Mevotech). |
| Zero camber | The tire is vertical when viewed from the front. | Neither tilted inward nor outward. |
| Negative camber | The top of the tire tilts inward. | Causes pull to the left and tire wear on the inner edges (Mevotech). |
Source: Mevotech, How to Read and Understand a Wheel Alignment Report. See also the caster angle calculator, the toe calculator and the wheel alignment guide.
Camber Degrees to mm Chart
Horizontal distance in mm between the top and bottom of the wheel for a given camber angle, by wheel diameter.
| Camber | 15 in | 16 in | 17 in | 18 in | 19 in | 20 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ±0.25° | 1.66 | 1.77 | 1.88 | 1.99 | 2.11 | 2.22 |
| ±0.50° | 3.32 | 3.55 | 3.77 | 3.99 | 4.21 | 4.43 |
| ±1.00° | 6.65 | 7.09 | 7.54 | 7.98 | 8.42 | 8.87 |
| ±1.50° | 9.97 | 10.64 | 11.30 | 11.97 | 12.63 | 13.30 |
| ±2.00° | 13.30 | 14.18 | 15.07 | 15.96 | 16.84 | 17.73 |
| ±2.50° | 16.62 | 17.73 | 18.83 | 19.94 | 21.05 | 22.16 |
| ±3.00° | 19.94 | 21.27 | 22.60 | 23.93 | 25.26 | 26.59 |
| ±4.00° | 26.58 | 28.35 | 30.12 | 31.89 | 33.66 | 35.44 |
| ±5.00° | 33.21 | 35.42 | 37.63 | 39.85 | 42.06 | 44.28 |
How Camber Is Calculated, Measured and Adjusted
Camber to offset
The top and bottom of a wheel of diameter D are D x sin(angle) apart horizontally. For 1.5 degrees on 17 inch (431.8 mm): 431.8 x sin(1.5) = 11.30 mm.
Offset to camber
angle = asin(offset / diameter). A 5 mm difference on a 17 inch wheel is asin(5 / 431.8) = 0.66 degrees.
Sign
Positive when the top of the wheel is further outboard than the bottom, negative when it is further inboard. Look at each wheel from the front of the car.
Not a replacement for a machine
This is geometry for understanding and checking a measurement. A calibrated alignment machine compares the wheel with vehicle-specific data and is what sets camber.
| Topic | What Mevotech says |
|---|---|
| Units | Camber is measured in plus or minus degrees, and it is not adjustable on all vehicles. |
| MacPherson strut | Camber may be adjusted with an eccentric bolt at the upper strut bolt location, which makes the steering knuckle pivot on the lower strut bolt. |
| SLA or double wishbone | Camber may be adjusted with eccentric cams on the control arm bushings or with shims. |
| Order of adjustment | In a front-end or four-wheel alignment, check the thrust line, set caster, then camber, then toe. |
| Specifications | Defined by vehicle make, model, trim package and tire size, from the service manual, with a preferred value and minimum and maximum limits. Adjustments should split the difference between the minimum and maximum. |
| When it is needed | After new tires, replaced steering or suspension parts, drift, pull or off-center steering, irregular tire wear, or an accident or hard impact. |
Source: Mevotech. NHTSA says a wheel alignment maximizes the life of your tires and prevents the car from veering.
How to Use the Camber Calculator
- 1In Camber Simulator, enter an angle from your alignment report to see the wheel tilt drawn to scale and whether it is positive or negative.
- 2In Camber from a Measurement, enter how far the top of the wheel sits out of line with the bottom and the wheel diameter to get the angle.
- 3Compare the result with the specification in your vehicle's service information, which lists the preferred value and the minimum and maximum.
- 4Have camber measured and adjusted on a calibrated alignment machine, because it is not adjustable on all vehicles.