Let me give you a scenario! You’re out on the road, enjoying the pace of wheels and getting close to your destination. But there’s a problem – one of your car’s rear tires is inexplicably leaning inward. For sure, your journey becomes an unexpected quirk. You have a question left, “Why is my rear tire leaning inward?”
The rear tire may lean inward for several reasons. The main cause is the negative camber. Others include damaged upper control arm or spindle and worn-out bushing on the rear arm. Again, bent suspension or steering components and low ride height can also imbalance the tire position.
Well, this curious lean may seem like a small hiccup. Yet you can prevent further issues by sorting the rear tire leaning issue quickly. However, I will help you understand all its reasons thoroughly. You will start steering the car in the right direction once again.
Wheel Alignment & Camber– Things You Should Know
Wheel alignment directly impacts a car’s handling, tire wear, and overall performance. It refers to the correction of the wheel angles to meet the manufacturer’s specs. Thus, it consists of three components: camber, toe, and caster (source).
Camber& Rear Tire Leaning
“Camber” is the main concern of this blog. It means the inward or outward tilt of the tire and wheel assembly when you view from the front of the vehicle. If your car has improper camber alignment, it may have uneven tire wear and compromised handling. Well, you can measure the camber in degrees.
A positive camber arises when the top of the tire tilts outward. Typically, car owners do not want this camber as it can lead to extreme wear to the outer tire edge and reduced grip. Alternatively, a negative camber occurs when the top of the tire tilts inward (source).
When your rear tire is leaning inward, it indicates a negative camber. However, a few degrees of negative camber (-1° to -3°) is generally suitable for a vehicle’s handling, especially for sports cars. But when the angle is higher, it may cause uneven tire wear.
Why Does Negative Camber or Rear Tire Leaning Inward Happen in Your Car?
If I (we) are talking about the rear tire leaning inward, it refers to the negative camber. According to Spoke & Word Cycles, it may happen due to some common causes:
Wear and Tear
An inward-leaning rear tire may have uneven wear and tear. It happens over time when you drive with the same tires for an extended period. More precisely, the uneven pressure distribution across the surface area is the reason for this wear (source).
A negative camber can cause one side of the tire to be more worn than the other. So, you will get an imbalance of the tires, particularly when driving.
Suspension Damage
The suspension parts are damaged if your car’s rear tire is leaning inward. These parts can be shocks, springs, struts, and control arms. Well, these parts maintain wheel alignment and stability. But when they are damaged, they can affect the wheel alignment. As a result, tire leaning happens.
Incorrect Alignment
Improper alignment of the rear suspension is another common cause of a rear tire leaning inward. Thus, misalignment can occur for various reasons. They can be driving over rough terrain or hitting a pothole. It may even happen due to improper wheel alignment during a service (source).
Loose Wheel Bearing
Have you checked all the wheel bearings, especially the rear tires? A negative camber may happen due to a loose wheel bearing. You may need to replace it to prevent the rear tire from leaning inward (source). However, some signs of a bad wheel bearing are noise (snapping, popping, or clicking) from the wheel, abnormal tire wear, and inefficient braking (source). Other symptoms include a humming or growling noise, wobbling, ABS failure, and heated wheels (source).
Weight Distribution
The distribution across the vehicle can also affect the alignment of the tires. For example, an uneven weight spreading can cause an imbalance. It may cause excessive wear on the inside of the tire. As a result, you will get your car’s tire to lean inward.
Bent Suspension Components
Suspension components like an axle can be a reason for a tire leaning inward. It occurs when your car has a bent axle or worn parts (source). And when the axle misalignment happens, it will cause uneven tire wear. Later, you will get a rear tire leaning inwardly.
Insufficient Grip of Tires
Did you change the tire recently as a replacement for OEM one? If the rear tire is still leaning inward, you may have installed poor quality tires. Good, these tires do not have sufficient grip and traction for their design and material. Over time, they will wear faster than OEM ones. It will make the particular tire lean inward.
Improper Tire Inflation
You should always inflate the tires according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Over-inflation puts excessive pressure on tire surfaces. It may cause the rear tire to wear faster and lean inwardly. On the other hand, under-inflated tires will not perform properly. They may fail to get a grip on the road.
Impact of Rear Tire Leaning Inward
Now, I have a question for you. What do you think about leaning tire – is it good or bad? Seemingly, you may consider it as a minor issue. But it has a good impact on your car’s performance, safety, and indeed overall lifespan.
Advantages
You will have enhanced handling unless the negative camber is more than 1°. It is because the tires remain almost in the same direction as the road. Hence, it helps to distribute the load of the vehicle evenly.
Let’s consider the tires are aligned correctly with the least negative camber angle. It will cause the front contact patches to turn off from the ground during cornering. Then, the movement will vibrate the car so you may feel the brakes are about to fail. But you should remember that the lowest negative camber reduces vibrations most (source).
While cornering on the road, the negative camber will help you to curve better. Also, you can avoid the straight-line difficulties due to the tiny angle of the camber (source).
The rear tire will last longer if the negative camber is less than 1°. But if it is more than 1°, it will boost wear of the tire’s inner edge. Therefore, the tire will wear more, and you may need to replace it frequently.
Disadvantages
Increased negative camber (more than 1°) can provide several drawbacks. For example, it enhances control during turns. But it can limit maximum horizontal acceleration or braking.
By default, the usual angle of the tires needs more effort to reach higher speeds.However, achieving peak performance in this scenario requires a well-balanced setup in a typical vehicle.
A rear tire leaning inward offers added traction and stability for sure. But it accelerates tire wear if the angle is higher. However, the angled alignment provides more contact with the road. It reduces grip over extended periods, especially during turns. Consequently, tire lifespan is shortened (source).
Other negative aspects are poor acceleration and braking, broken wheels, locked steering, and locked brakes.
How to Fix & Prevent Rear Tire Leaning Inward?
Let me talk about the money first! The average cost of fixing the negative camber on the rear tire varies due to some issues and location. According to Blog Pro Automotive, resolving the issue can start with a relatively inexpensive fix. For example, aligning the front wheel costs $50-$75 (source). Again, fixing a bent rear wheel may cost $75 to $300 or more (source).
Additionally, suppose the issue is caused by worn suspension parts or damaged tires. In that case, the cost may increase as these components must be replaced. So, you should contact a qualified mechanic to verify the exact cause and the appropriate solution.
You should regularly check and maintain proper tire pressure and balance to prevent the negative camber of rear tire. Also, keep your eyes on the suspension system to confirm all elements are in good condition and properly aligned.
Suppose worn-out suspension components are the cause of the issue. They should be replaced with parts that meet OEM specifications. An adjustable rear lower control arm may sometimes needed to fix the alignment (source).
Another effective way can be rotating the tires to ensure equal air pressure in all four tires. It will prevent back tires from leaning inward.
Conclusion
So, what about “Why is my rear tire leaning inward?” You have learned all possible reasons for the issue. Usually, the uneven pressure on wheels, wear and tear, suspension damage, incorrect alignment, etc. are the main reasons. I hope you will fix them soon, as I explained in this blog.
I appreciate your patience on this post!
