Glossary
What is Toe? Toe-In vs Toe-Out, Typical Settings & Effects
Toe describes whether the front edges of a pair of wheels point towards each other (toe-in) or away from each other (toe-out), measured in millimetres or degrees. Front toe-out makes the car turn in faster at the cost of straight-line stability and tyre wear, while rear toe-in keeps the car planted under power. Most circuit cars run 0 to 3 mm total front toe-out and 1 to 4 mm total rear toe-in.
| Axle | Setting | Effect of more | Effect of less |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front | 0 to 3 mm toe-out | Faster turn-in, nervous on straights, more wear | Calmer, slower initial response |
| Rear (RWD) | 1 to 4 mm toe-in | Stability on power and braking | More rotation, risk of snap oversteer |
| Rear (FWD) | 0 to 2 mm toe-out | Helps rotate a front-heavy car | More understeer |
| Speedway sedan front | 3 to 6 mm toe-out | Helps the car turn left on entry | Pushes in the middle of the corner |
How toe changes handling
Toe generates a small slip angle before the driver turns the wheel. With toe-out, the inside front wheel is already pointing into the corner, so the car responds immediately on turn-in. With toe-in, both wheels fight each other slightly, which self-centres the car and damps out small steering inputs.
At the rear, toe-in loads the outside tyre into the corner as the car rolls, adding stability. Rear toe-out does the opposite and is rarely used on rear-wheel-drive cars.
How to measure toe
Use toe plates, a string box or a laser alignment system. String is the most accurate for race cars because it references the chassis centreline rather than the opposite wheel. Set toe last, after ride height, camber and caster, because all of them move the toe reading.
Record toe in the same unit every time. Setup Genius stores per-corner toe alongside camber and caster so you can see how the three interact across sessions.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use toe-in or toe-out on the front?
Start at zero and move to a small amount of toe-out if the car is lazy on turn-in. If the car darts or feels unstable under braking, come back towards zero or slight toe-in.
Does toe affect tyre wear?
Yes, strongly. Toe drags the tyre sideways down every straight, so excess toe shows up as feathered wear across the tread and higher tyre temperatures without extra grip.
Why does toe change when I adjust ride height?
Steering tie rods and suspension arms swing through arcs. Raising or lowering the car changes where those arcs intersect, which alters toe. This is the same mechanism that causes bump steer.
Related
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