A vehicle exhibits uneven tire wear patterns. What alignment check might be necessary?

Uneven tire wear patterns can indicate that the vehicle's alignment angles are not within specification. Performing both a camber angle check and a toe angle check is warranted in this scenario because these measurements directly impact the vehicle's contact with the road and overall tire performance.

The camber angle refers to the tilt of the wheel relative to vertical; if the camber is off, it can lead to excessive wear on one side of the tire. For example, negative camber can cause the inner edge of the tire to wear more quickly, while positive camber can lead to wear on the outer edge.

The toe angle is the alignment of the tires relative to the centerline of the vehicle. If the toe is not correctly adjusted, it can cause tires to scrub against the road surface as the vehicle moves forward. This scrubbing can lead to uneven wear across the tire tread.

While caster angle is important for steering stability and handling, it does not directly cause uneven tire wear as camber and toe do. Therefore, to comprehensively address and diagnose the issue of uneven tire wear, checking both camber and toe angles is essential for ensuring the vehicle's alignment is correctly set, which in turn helps prolong tire life and improve safety.