RC Toe In / Toe Out Explained
What Is Toe In / Toe Out?
Toe In / Toe Out refers to the angle of the wheels when viewed from above.
• Toe In: The front of the wheels point inward toward the centerline of the car
• Toe Out: The front of the wheels point outward away from the centerline
This setting can be applied to both the front and rear of the car, but each has a very different purpose:
• Front Toe In / Toe Out affects steering response and corner entry
• Rear Toe In / Toe Out affects stability, traction and forward drive
Most RC cars run:
• Front: Slight Toe Out
• Rear: Moderate Toe In
How Does Toe In / Toe Out Affect Your Car?
Toe In / Toe Out has a direct impact on how aggressive or stable your car feels.
Front Toe Out (most common front setup)
• Increases steering response
• Improves corner entry
• Makes the car feel more aggressive
• Can reduce straight-line stability if excessive
Front Toe In (rarely used)
• Reduces steering sensitivity
• Makes the car easier to drive
• Increases straight-line stability
• Slows down corner entry
Rear Toe In (most common rear setup)
• Increases rear stability
• Improves forward traction
• Helps prevent spin-outs
• Makes the car easier to drive
Rear Toe Out (very uncommon)
• Increases rotation
• Reduces rear grip
• Makes the car loose and difficult to control
• Typically only used in very specific conditions
How Do You Change Toe In / Toe Out?
Changing Toe In / Toe Out depends on your vehicle type and design.
Front Toe In / Toe Out Adjustment
• Adjust the steering turnbuckles (tie rods)
• Shortening or lengthening the turnbuckles changes the wheel angle
• Use a turnbuckle wrench for precise adjustments
Rear Toe In / Toe Out Adjustment
This depends on your car:
• Fixed rear hubs: Use different rear hub carriers (degree blocks)
• Adjustable systems: Use inserts, pills or adjustable arms
• Solid axle vehicles (like crawlers): Adjust via link geometry
Measuring Toe In / Toe Out
• Use a setup station for accuracy
• For quick tuning, you can visually estimate, but precision matters for racing
• Typical measurements are in degrees (e.g., 1°, 2°, 3°)
When To Change Toe In / Toe Out
Knowing when to adjust Toe In / Toe Out will help you dial in your car faster.
Increase Front Toe Out when:
• The car lacks steering entering corners
• You need quicker response in tight sections
• The track is technical or low grip
Decrease Front Toe Out when:
• The car feels twitchy
• It wanders on straights
• Steering is too aggressive
Increase Rear Toe In when:
• The rear feels loose
• The car spins out under throttle
• You need more forward traction
Decrease Rear Toe In when:
• The car feels stuck or slow
• You need more rotation in corners
• The track has high grip
Surface-Based Adjustments
Low grip (dusty, loose dirt, cold track)
• More Rear Toe In, slightly more Front Toe Out
High grip (carpet, turf, prepared clay)
• Less Rear Toe In, reduced Front Toe Out
What to Check After Changing Toe In / Toe Out
Whenever you adjust Toe In / Toe Out, it can affect other parts of your setup. Always double-check the following:
1. Steering Trim
Ensure your car tracks straight after adjustments
2. Camber Settings
Toe changes can slightly alter Camber angles
3. Ride Height
Aggressive changes can affect weight transfer
4. Tire Wear
Excessive Toe In / Toe Out will increase tire wear
5. Steering Endpoints (EPA)
Make sure your servo isn’t overdriving after adjustments
6. Suspension Free Movement
Confirm nothing is binding after turnbuckle changes
FAQ
Q: What is the best Toe In / Toe Out setup for beginners?
A: Start with:
• Front: 1°-2° Toe Out
• Rear: 2°-3° Toe In
This provides a good balance of steering and stability.
Q: Does Toe In / Toe Out affect top speed?
A: Yes. More Toe In / Toe Out increases rolling resistance, which can slightly reduce top speed.
Q: Why does my car feel unstable on straights?
A: You may have too much Front Toe Out or not enough Rear Toe In.
Q: Can Toe In / Toe Out fix a spinning car?
A: Yes. Increasing Rear Toe In is one of the fastest ways to improve rear stability.
Q: How much Toe In / Toe Out is too much?
A: Front Toe Out above ~3° can make the car twitchy. Rear Toe In above ~4° can slow the car and reduce rotation.
Q: Do all RC cars use the same Toe In / Toe Out settings?
A: No. Touring cars, buggies, trucks and crawlers all use different ranges depending on design and surface.
Related Tuning Adjustments
To get the most out of this setup change, review these related guides:
• Ackermann
• Axles – Inline and Trailing
• Steering Throw Symmetry
Back to the RC Suspension Tuning Guide.
