Positive Camber
An alignment setting where the top edge of the tire tilts outward away from the center of the vehicle.
Positive camber is a wheel alignment specification where the top of the wheel tilts outward away from the vehicle's centerline, when viewed from the front or rear. While negative camber is common on modern cars for cornering stability, positive camber is typically found on agricultural vehicles, classic cars, or heavily loaded work trucks.
On heavy-duty trucks with solid front axles, slight positive camber is set statically so that when the vehicle is loaded with cargo or passengers, the suspension components flex and settle the tires flat (zero camber) under load. This prevents the tires from sagging into negative camber, which would stress the steering knuckles and wheel bearings. On passenger cars, positive camber can reduce steering effort but decreases cornering grip.
Symptoms of excessive positive camber include rapid tread wear on the outer edges of the tires and pull in the steering wheel. If camber is out of specification, it indicates bent suspension components like struts, control arms, or steering knuckles, or worn steering linkages. Adjusting it requires specialized alignment equipment and adjusting the control arm pivot points.