Car Wheel Alignment Angles — General Information (Mercedes-Benz S-Class W220)

Wheel alignment angles have a significant impact on vehicle stability, tire wear and fuel consumption. The angle values are given in the Specifications.

Camber is the tilt of the wheel in a vertical plane relative to the centerline of the car. It can be positive if the wheels are tilted outward or negative if the wheels are tilted inward. The camber angle mainly affects the uniformity of wear on the front tires. If one wheel has positive camber and the other has negative camber, the car will pull to one side when driving straight.

Toe-in is the lateral distance between the wheels. Positive toe-in means the front wheels are closer together than the rear wheels when measured at the wheel's midpoint height. Negative toe-in means the front wheels are further apart than the rear wheels.

The transverse inclination of the steering axis of the wheel is the angle between the inclination axis of the steering knuckle and the vertical drawn through the wheel mounting point, looking in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

Due to the camber angles and the transverse tilt of the steering axis, the points of contact of the wheels with the road are located closer to the axis of the steering knuckle. This supports the so-called "rolling shoulder", the easier it is to control the car. Also, impacts from uneven surfaces are less transmitted to the steering.

Longitudinal tilt of the wheel turning axis. The axis around which the wheel turns is positioned in space so that its lower part is directed forward. This longitudinal tilt angle is called positive. With a positive angle, the self-return of the wheel to the middle position after turning is improved.