Severe Front Tire Cupping

[bcountry69]

Hey, I have a 2005 Silverado 4x4 half ton reg cab with 82k miles that is SEVERELY cupping the front drivers side tire on the outside. I have checked shock/tie rod ends/wheel balance and alignment. Any ideas on what it could be, or has anyone had this problem also? Thanks for any help you can give.

Tim

[minibike132]

There is not really too many things it could be. The usual suspects are cheap tires, improper inflation, lack of rotations, improper allignment, unbalanced tire, shocks and use of 4wd on dry pavement.

[Zembonez]

GM trucks will cup front tires (both sides) but severe wear on one side indicates something bent, worn, or out of adjustment. There just isn't another answer.

[bcountry69]

There is not really too many things it could be. The usual suspects are cheap tires, improper inflation, lack of rotations, improper allignment, unbalanced tire, shocks and use of 4wd on dry pavement.

 

Well, I know its not cheap tires (BFG All Terrains), and I run them at 36 psi all the time, rotate every other oil change (every 6k), alignments good, tires balanced and the shocks are only 4 months old, (and I checked the shock). I very rarely use 4wd, and the tie rod ends seam to be fine. I cant figure it out. Someone told me it could be a wheel bearing, but Im not hearing any noise from it. Ball joints seam good. Im confused...usual suspects dont seem to be the culprit...

[mooreapi]

bcountry,

It's from taking those curing on/off ramps at high speed

Or maybe you're driving the wrong way on the race track?

 

Seriously, for it to be only one tire, something has to be bent/wrong. Get a second opinion on the alignment.

A loose bearing could cause that, but IMHO it would more likely wear on the inside edge (I speak from experience with the loose bearing/inside edge wear).

Maybe check the bushings on the a-arms...

 

Matt

[Zembonez]

Seriously, for it to be only one tire, something has to be bent/wrong. Get a second opinion on the alignment.

A loose bearing could cause that, but IMHO it would more likely wear on the inside edge (I speak from experience with the loose bearing/inside edge wear).

I agree that something has to be out of spec. There is no other reason. The tire is reacting to traveling in a direction it doesn't like. A good alignment tech needs to look at it and double check tie rods, ball joints, front bearing assemblies, etc. SOMETHING is there. It has to be.