The toe measures the front of the wheels turned in or out from a straight-ahead position. The toe is positive (+) if the wheels are turned in (2). The toe is negative (-) if the wheels are turned out (1). The actual amount of toe is normally only a fraction of a degree.

The toe serves to offset the small deflections of the wheel support system which occur when the car is rolling forward. The wheels are set to toe in or out slightly when the car is standing still. Due to suspension and engine loading, the wheels tend to roll parallel when the car is moving. An incorrect toe condition will cause abnormal tire wear and decreased fuel economy.