Cupping of tires

[Paul P 4]

I have a 2003 ST Premo with Goodyear/wrangler tires (OEM) .Have a problem with uneven wear and cupping of tires.Every other ST I see in my area has some of the same problem.I have maintianed air pressure as well as rotation. I was told might be shocks as well as another alighnment.

Also like know know what is the biggest tire I can put on my St with no problems resulting.Would like height as well as width.It has a 410 limited slip rear end.

thanx Paul

 

[Adam Shirley]

It is a combination of crappy tires and weak suspension. Almost every ST owner has had the same problem, and it will only get worse! If you upgrade the tires without fixing the suspension, the new tires will eventually begin to wear unevenly. A higher quality tire will take much longer to wear, but you will run into the same problem sooner or later. Mine started cupping at around 15,000. Once a tire is cupped, that's it, it needs to be replaced if you want the noise to stop, and again...it only gets worse. I recently upgraded to Monroe Reflexes and noticed a dramatic improvement in ride and handling. Reflexes or Rancho RSXs seem to be the shock of choice for the ST (same shock, different boot) The pathetic bouncing is gone. As for tires, go with a good, high quality tire like Michelin Cross Terrains, BFGs, Good Year Forteras, ect. (see the Tire Rack survey.) I just ordered some Michelin Cross Terrains; they'll be here in a few weeks. I would do the shocks first so you don't screw up new tires.. There is a lot of good info on tires on this site. Also check out the survey on The Tire Rack for more info. You will be glad you did for safety, better handling, and an enjoyable ride. Here's a link to the survey for Highway all season tires. You can change the type of tire for additional surveys

Adam

 

[Bill Reeves]

I've got 59,000+ on the original GoodYears on my '01 ST and still have about 10,000 left on them. I put Monroe Reflexes and the EE sway bar on at about 15,000 and have rotated/balanced every 5,000 and keep pressure at 30 front/33 rear. No tire problems at all.

 

[Ryan Schaecher]

68K on OEM's. Cupped, badly, but still have 10K left on them. I noticed how bad they were after driving a rental Durango all week then returning to the ST...

 

[Ernie Longino]

We had the same issue on our '01. Replaced the shocks with Reflexes and the tires with BFG LongTrails and had the front end aligned. After that the Trac was like a new truck.



I highly reccommend that anyone who has not completed these upgrades do so. You will be glad you did.

 

[Paul P 4]

Thanx everyone for your reply! really appreciate the info. Out pricing tires and shocks as we speak. The Rancho shocks are they Sear brand of Rancho's 5000? Can they be installed easily by yourself. Also looking for bigger and wider tires. Maybe 265/75 16 or larger. Thanx again everyone Paul

 

[Michael Cacioppo]

The cupping is not a characteristic of Goodyears, it is caused by soft suspension on the Trac. I don't believe you will have a cupping issue if the shocks are replaced with after market ones.

 

[Mark Grumpy]

Not to hijack a thread, but here's a thought - and just a thought, no real knowledge involved



Those of you that have/had Goodyear cupping problems, do you have concrete freeways and/or rough roads?



I wonder because neither of my STs has had a problem. BUT, the first ST in Europe was driven mainly on asphalt roads with stock shocks whereas current ST is here in TX with concrete (read - wump-wump-wump) continual bouncing tires but with new shocks within first 2000 miles.



Just wondering if it is a combination of soft shocks and continual wump-wump of the road.



grump

 

[Bart Adkins]

My left front tire did that...wheel bearing had worked loose.

 

[Richard L]

Cupping is caused by weak shocks. IT'S NOT THE TIRES and it's not all Sport Tracs. I have had a 2001 and now a 2003 Sport Trac, and never had a tire cupping problem.



...Rich

 

[Tom Schindler]

My Goodyear tires cupped with new shocks. Both the Edelbrock and then the Monroe Reflex.



The BFG tires have not begun to cup yet. My winter Bridgestone tires have never cupped.



Why did the Goodyear tires cup and the new BFG and the winter tires didn't?





Tom

 

[Gavin Allan]

Goodyear makes crappy tires.

 

[Mike Ioco]

My Pirelli's cupped pretty bad.

I changed my shocks after 85K miles, but the damage was already done.