Wheel alignment angles have a significant impact on vehicle stability, tire wear, and fuel consumption. The following wheel alignment angles are distinguished:
Collapse – is the tilt of the wheel in the vertical plane relative to the center line 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 of the front tires. If the camber of one wheel is positive and the other is negative, the car will pull to the side when driving straight.
Convergence – the lateral distance between the wheels. Positive toe-in means that the front wheels are closer together than the rear wheels when measured at the height of the wheel's midpoint. Negative toe-in means that 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 maintains the so-called "rolling shoulder". The smaller the "rolling shoulder", the easier the car is to control. Also, impacts from uneven surfaces are less transmitted to the steering.
Angle of longitudinal tilt of the turning axis. The axis relative to which the wheel turns is located in space so that its lower part is tilted forward. Such an angle of longitudinal tilt is called positive. With a positive value of the angle, the self-return of the wheel to the middle position after turning is improved.
Checking and adjusting wheel alignment angles must be done at a maintenance station due to the complexity of the equipment used.
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