I always like to say I am a car enthusiast first and an automotive journalist second. The Toyota GR Supra is a car I am showing great interest in, despite my initial apprehensive attitude towards it (because of the BMW engine). I decided to scout out the Toyota Supra Mk V forum and see what's cooking there.
A topic immediately caught my attention. Many owners track their Supras and one supposed way to get the most out of the platform (or any platform) is corner balancing. Not everyone agrees, however, and some claim it is a waste of time and money.
I decided to do some digging and see what corner balancing really is and whether you need it or not, especially when it comes to a car like the GR Supra.
Some owners feel corner-balancing is a necessary thing after installing upgraded suspension.
Vivek says: “Just installed Fortune Auto 510 RMC Motorsport coilovers. Waiting for an alignment and to dial in the ride height. How important is it to corner balance right away? Is it even worth It? Seems that people have mixed opinions and have had different experiences on different platforms, so wondering how it is for this platform. I track about once a month, 160lb, intermediate and do not plan to compete anytime soon, where everything matters.”
What is corner balancing?
As explained by Track Spec Auto, "Corner balancing is the process of shifting the carried weight of each tire by adjusting the suspension's spring height. The goal is to get the diagonal weights even, meaning the Right Front and Left Rear corners will carry 50% of the vehicle's total weight, and the Left Front and Right Rear corners will carry the other 50%.”
Corner balancing is different than the axle weight distribution (the vehicle weight carried by each wheel axle) and the static weight distribution, which is the left vs right percentage of the vehicle weight.
Corner balancing (corner weighting) allows the front/rear and left/right percentages to stay constant while weight can only be shifted across the two diagonals (front-left/rear-right and front-right/rear-left).
In theory, corner balancing should allow for neutral handling. The process involves putting each individual wheel on its own scale and adjusting the suspension until the weights equalize across the diagonals, ideally with a driver and a full tank of gas.
Here are some other testimonies from Toyota GR Supra owners who have done corner balancing.
Traxion says: “I felt like I wasted money corner balancing and I'm doing Time Trials. The shop charged me around $200-300 on top of the cost of the alignment... Get the alignment after you've set the heights and let it settle.”
Bryan says: “Waste of money unless you are looking for every little bit of an advantage while competing.”
Rmak says: "I do my own alignment and corner balancing, and also can't notice any significant difference after corner balancing, although I'm not particularly fast. Mainly use the scales to just make sure weights aren't way off when changing rake, ride height, adding/removing parts, etc.
So I think it's only worth doing if you're racing, doing track days, and are particularly fast.”
Do you need corner balancing?
There aren't any significant benefits from corner balancing when it comes to street cars. The Toyota GR Supra has a relatively short wheelbase of 97.24 inches (2,700 mm), which in theory means, it should be very nimble around corners.
While the GR Supra does have certain oversteer tendencies, it is generally a predictable experience. The GR Supra Final Edition is said to take the driving characteristics to a new level, with more emphasis on track use. The Japanese sports car (with Bavarian underpinnings) has a 50/50 weight distribution, which aids handling.
Whether it makes sense for you to do corner balancing in your GR Supra (or any other sports car) depends largely on your driving style. Even some track enthusiasts say they feel little to no change after doing it. The GR Supra is already an insanely capable sports car, and by now, you probably know, the B58 engine is severely underrated in terms of the numbers it makes. Corner balancing aims to minimize oversteer and understeer tendencies, allowing you to carry more speed through the corners, but the results vary in different cars.
Do you own a GR Supra that you drive on track or around a canyon? I am curious to hear your opinion on corner balancing (a.k.a corner weighting) and whether it makes sense, both on the road and track.
Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.
Image source: 2025 Toyota GR Supra