Negative Camber and How it Affects Performance
The automotive suspension market surpassed $549.6 billion in 2019. This means many car enthusiasts have taken vehicle tuning to different levels to suit how they like driving.
It doesn't take away that people love to stance their cars with negative camber, as it can affect performance.
Are you looking to add negative camber to your vehicle. Did you know negative camber can also cause harm? If you want to know more, keep reading.
What is Negative Camber?
Negative camber is when the top of the tires is tilted inward. As that happens, it causes the tires to form a triangular angle from the ground toward the middle of the car.
All road cars will have a bit of negative camber on their tires. Performance road cars will have a more tilt. Negative camber is good for taking corners and makes it easier for a vehicle to turn.
The opposite of negative camber is, of course, positive camber. Positive camber is mostly used in heavy-duty vehicles such as tractors, semi-trucks, and off-roaders. Positive camber provides stability on straight lines and makes it easier to steer the car.
The Benefits of Negative Camber
As mentioned earlier, negative camber is suitable for road performance driving and racing. How does it work?
Imagine taking your car out to the tracks, and you have to tackle all these corners. When you enter a right corner and push through, your car will lean to the left.
As the car leans, the left wheels will contact the road since the negative camber is tilting them that way. More contact on the tire treads gives more grip and stability while cornering.
The Drawbacks of Negative Camber
Negative camber is excellent, but there can be many negative drawbacks.
Many car enthusiasts will buy European aftermarket parts to change up their suspension and appearance to fit excessive negative camber. This is all purely for aesthetics and the stance culture.
Here are the drawbacks of negative camber.
Aggressive Tire Wear and Reduced Grip
The angle with negative camber causes the tires to load the inside with more weight. It makes the car unstable as the tires don't have enough contact with the ground. As the tire wears out, it can make the vehicle have reduced grip on straights.
You will have to pay more for tires as they wear out quicker than usual.
Road Sensitivity and Suspension Wear
Tramlining is an issue when excessive negative camber is involved. When driving a vehicle on the road, there are cracks everywhere. If you were to go over a giant crack that angles differently, the inner part of the tires might follow the crack, causing you to lose control of your car.
Although it looks nice, excessive negative camber is not recommended for a daily driver. Sometimes, if the vehicle tuning is off on the suspension, the negative camber can cause cars to lose their wheels because of all the pressure and weight that's put into the tires.
Learn More
These are the downsides to negative camber. It can cause your vehicle to experience issues such as tire and suspension wear and losing your wheels. This can lead to a big hole in your wallet.
With the proper European aftermarket parts, you wouldn't have to worry about the long-term damages negative camber can bring. Contact us and learn how we can help bring a positive experience to you and your car.
