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Shims when changing from Track Alignment to Street Alignment?

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2.2K views 3 replies 3 participants last post by  rdslon01  
#1 ·
Has anyone ever heard that you have to use factory shims to change from Track alignment to Street alignment? I just recently replaced my stock summer tires on my 2016 Z51 with Michelin A/S3+ non-run-flats, and thought I would have to have the alignment changed to prevent wear. I was under the impression they came from the factory with it set for "track". The alignment specialist today, came out and ask me if I had the shims necessary to change the alignment? I had never hear of that before. As it turns out, the shims are $167 but it also requires 4 hours of labor. He said if my car had been set for "track" alignment, my tires would have never lasted 17,000 miles, which had cord showing by then. They said a track alignment would have worn them out in less than 5000 miles.
I had nothing done as a result. I'll rotate them from side to side when they have 5,000 on them and check for unusual wear. The technician totally agreed.
The car drives and tracks perfectly as it is, and the non-run flats are so much quieter better riding and not at twitchy on the freeway.
Any thoughts?
 
#2 ·
Your Z51 would not have come from the factory set up for the track. So if you bought it new, it wasn't. There is mixed opinions on whether you should rotate side to side (in non-square setups). If your tires are truly wearing evenly nothing is gained.
 
owns 2018 Corvette C7 2LT
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#4 · (Edited)
I was under the impression they came from the factory with it set for "track".
C7s came from the factory with a completely random alignment that was supposed to be somewhere within an enormous range of a "green" zone.

I think the factory gave the technician who was responsible for aligning all four tires, plus the headlights, about two minutes to complete each car. The exact time was quoted here on this site previously by people in the know, but, regardless of exactly how few minutes it was, it was laughably too little time for the job.

So, in reality, the factory wasn't even always able to hit the broadside of that barn (if you know that phrase). My C7 was delivered with an alignment that was in the red instead of the "green" zone. It was trying to ditch itself. The dealership I bought it from footed the bill to have an alignment done before I took it home.