Easy way to check for toe-in? Options

[TonyAKAVW]

I just received tires today to replace my front tires, which have worn on the inside much faster than the outside. My rear tires still have a lot of tread, whereas the fronts are basically bald on the inside. My guess is that its either toe-in or camber. The wheels don't look cambered any more than the back, though the front of the car does sit a bit lower than the back.

So my question is, is there a way to easily check to see if the front has too much toe-in? I was thinking about rigging up some laser pointers or something, but I don't know.

I would like to avoid getting an alignment because later this year I'll be putting on my carerra front suspension. For now I'd just like to prevent premature wear of the tires.

Tony

[r_towle]

simple low budget idea.

Tools needed
Framing square
Tape measure
Chalk line

one a flat surface, take the framing square and with the front wheels straight.
Set the short leg of the framing square on the ground, the long leg up against the front of the tire, centerline of the sidewall, pick a spot that is easily repeatable.

Now, on the floor draw a mark the represents the surface of the tire.
Do the rear of the tire..
Take the chalk line and snap a line between these two points, so you end up with a 2-3 foot line on the floor

Do the other three tires the same way.
To be really accurate, you can use the rim, measure from the rim to the square, both front and rear of the tire...exactly the same amount..use a mm measureing device...draw the line on the floor (on masking tape) with a small leaded pencil..the line is thinner that way..

Now, you have four lines on the floor
These are representations of the plane of each wheel.
Tape measure across the floor to see what the measurements are.

Typically you should have 1/16th to 1/8 inch toe in on each tire..
That is for street.
When you have a TOTAL difference of 1/4 inch smaller at the fromt of the line versus the rear, you are there.

Now, to verify, without lazers or paying any money..
two ways work
One is put wet newspaper on the floor, roll car over paper...the tires will twist the paper so you can see if they are toed out or in.

second way is to drive over to a buddy who has a pyrometer, and right after you stop, measure the heat on the inside and outside of all four tires...the hotter they are on the inside, the more toe out you have.

the overall idea is that when you accelerate the tires naturally toe out during acceleration, so you set the car up pre loaded with a slight toe in, so when you are accelerating, the tires become parallel.

Rich