How to Use These Magical Panels of Measurement:
Step 1: Park it like it's hot.
Flat ground, steering wheel straight, pretend you’re about to do something that matters.Step 2: Slide the plates in place.
One on each wheel, snug against the tire sidewalls. It’s like giving your car orthotics, but way cooler.Step 3: Tape it up.
Run two tape measures between the plates—one at the front edge of the wheels, one at the back. Try not to trip over them. You’re now fully certified in "precision by string and hope."Step 4: Do the math.
Front wider than rear? That’s toe-out. Great for turn-in, terrible for tire longevity. Rear wider than front? Toe-in—your car’s version of hugging the road a little too tightly. Equal? You’ve achieved neutral toe: the Switzerland of alignment settings.Step 5: Adjust, swear, repeat.
Now, crawl under your car like a racetrack gremlin, twist those tie rods, and swear when one turn changes everything way more than you expected. Check again. Repeat until satisfied or emotionally broken.
Pro Tip:
Don’t forget to remeasure after you torque everything back down—unless you like mystery handling and uneven tire bills.