Cupping is a form of wear that causes several large, uneven divots to develop along the tire’s tread. This damage makes the surface of the tire incredibly bumpy, which—if severe enough—can start affecting the tire’s overall performance. Fortunately, tire cupping can be prevented through maintenance. It’s crucial that you know what to look for so you can stop tire cupping before it starts. These are the main causes of tire cupping and what you can do to mitigate their effects.

Wheel Misalignment

The way your car’s wheels are aligned can affect your tires in a series of ways. Most importantly, it can prevent some of the tires from sitting properly against the road. Misalignment of the axles focuses most of the general wear and tear on one or two of the tires, rather than all four. Cupping will then develop as a result of these uneven contact points and inconsistent traction.

Uneven Weight Distribution

An unbalanced distribution of weight across your tires is also one of the main causes of tire cupping. This is because, as with misaligned wheels, your tires are receiving different levels of contact with the road. Some tires will experience greater amounts of weight and be forced to maintain too much interaction with the pavement. The additional traction causes much faster wear, which inevitably develops into cupping. So, make sure you’re getting your vehicle properly maintained by a professional mechanic to avoid this issue.

Worn Suspension Components

Cupping can be caused by a worn or damaged suspicion system, as well. On a well-functioning vehicle, the suspension will limit the amount of shock experienced by the rest of the components. However, should this fail, the tires will take the bulk of the impact from rough terrain. This will make the tires bounce slightly along the road instead of roll, and the uneven wear of cupping indicates this. Professionals can assist you with this problem by diagnosing the faulty parts and helping you replace them.

Using Low-Quality Tires

Even using poorly-made tires can lead to cupping. This is because materials of low-quality simply can’t withstand the stresses exerted by the road for very long. Cheaply manufactured tires will often break down quicker than we expect, causing an inconsistency in shape and, therefore, inconsistent amounts of wear along the tread. As such, you want to ensure you’re finding a proper balance between price and reliability. Using just any type of tire on your vehicle can be a recipe for disaster. This is why, at RNR Tire Express, we only carry the best models on the market. Acquired from several high-quality brands in the industry, our stock of tires in Savannah, GA, provides everything you need at a fraction of the cost. So, you don’t need to worry about affordability or longevity.