Wear concentrated on the inner edge of one or both front tires almost always means the wheels are tilted in at the top (excessive negative camber) or the toe is out. Both are alignment issues but the underlying cause varies.
Inner edge wear is hard to see without crouching down. Many drivers do not notice until cords show through. Inspect monthly if you have lowered or lifted your car.
The wheel leans in at the top, putting all the load on the inside edge. Common after a curb strike, on lowered cars, or with sagged springs. An alignment may not be enough - some cars need camber bolts.
Toe-out drags the inside edges as the tires roll. Often combined with bad camber. Four-wheel alignment is the fix.
When bushings wear, the control arm shifts under load and camber goes negative. Bushings are $40 in parts but $300-$800 in labor depending on car.
One corner sits lower than the others, which forces extra negative camber on that wheel. Common on older cars and trucks that haul loads.
Aftermarket lowering springs or lift kits change geometry so much that standard alignment cannot bring camber into spec without adjustable parts.
A hard hit can bend a control arm or strut. The shop will tell you the alignment cannot be brought into spec without replacing parts.
| What You Notice | Likely Diagnostic Step |
|---|---|
| Inside half of tire bald, outside fine | Camber and/or toe out of spec |
| Both fronts wearing inside | Symmetric alignment issue or worn bushings |
| One side only | Bent part, sagged spring, or curb damage |
| Car sits lower on one corner | Broken or sagged spring |
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Negative camber (wheels tilted inward at the top) or toe-out. Both come from alignment being off, worn suspension bushings, sagged springs, or a curb/pothole strike.
Alignment alone is $80-$150 if the suspension is healthy. Camber bolts or kits add $50-$200. Bushings add $300-$800. Severe cases with bent parts can run $1,000+.
You can but it will not hold. Worn bushings let the suspension move under load and change the alignment dynamically. Replace bushings first.
Lowering springs increase negative camber unless you also install adjustable camber arms or camber bolts. This is the #1 hidden cost of a stance setup.
Until cords show, yes. Once you see metal threads, the tire can blow out at any time - replace immediately.
No, rotation will just spread the wear to other tires. Fix the alignment and bushings first, then rotate to even out the remaining tread.