Hey guys. I just have a basic question to ask about tire wear. When you guys autox/road race and you're pushing the car through a turn...in general how much does rear outer tire tread affect handling. My tires in the rear of my car have good tread but the outer portion of my tire is worn; this isn't from positive camber but rather from the tires being worn from negative camber and then swapped side to side. Does that outer area receive that much wear anyways....thanks.

 

Tread will have a minimal effect on handling. Do you mean grip? Even then, depending on the tire there is nothing to suggest that you'll have better grip with/without tread in that area. Rather, the more rubber you can get in contact with the ground the better your grip. The amount of wear on the outside edge will depend greatly on the suspension settings and the amount of roll you get.

Overall, if you're asking "is it okay to race with tires that are worn on the outside edge?" the answer is yes.

 

You will just start wearing down the inner edge again from too much negative camber. The tire compund does change as you remove material, and when your outer wheel goes positive, you would notice it at the limit. You will notice a slight difference I'd assume, but you don't need to go out and buy new tires unless they are dangerously worn.

 

Thanks for the replies guys....you guys answered my question perfectly; sorry about not wording my question precisely.