Tire Cupping

[GRTvan]

Looking for some wisdom on a tire cupping issue I am having with my 2001 Ford E350 with 7.3L. Has new ball joints, wheel bears, tie rods and center link. Front end has been aligned my local tire stores. Running 265/75/16. Bilstien shocks (which have about 15K miles on them) with stock suspension. The tires are cupping a little on the drivers side, but definitely worse on the passenger side. Any suggestions on what to look for. Tires have about 20K miles on them and worried they are wearing way too fast. What am I missing? Tire store doesn't have any answers.

 

[hemifoot]

last time i had tire cupping was due to a bent rim,luckily it was my boat trailer so not a big expense to replace the rim.

 

[IdaSHO]

Post up the actual alignment sheets, as well as photos of the tires.

Chances are good that the alignment is within spec, but still to blame

Also likely that what actually needs aligned isn't normally done by a tire shop, so they settle for "good enough"

 

[Buliwyf]

Need pics.

Are you certain it's cupping, not feathering? Feathering is normal, just need mxore frequent rotations. 5000-10000 mile.

 

[eblau]

A lot of alignment shops do a toe and go alignment and rarely check thrust angle, post your alignment specs and tire pics.

 

[GRTvan]

Thanks for the replies. Here is a picture of tire - passenger side front. The one in the rear has does not look this bad, but what ever tire is up front this is the problem. Drivers sides is not as bad, but still doing the same thing. Hard to tell from the picture, but the inside of the tire has low spots on the lugs. Very bad low spots on the far inside lug, not great on the second one from the inside. I did not get the alignment specifications from the tire company. They got bought out about 6 months ago and not the same place I used to do business with.

As far as tire rotations, have been rotating about every 6000 miles.

 

[Buliwyf]

Looks like normal E350, excessive corner speed, or too much parking lot tight turning (ackerman).

Could also be toe angle, but doubt it.

 

[BritKLR]

If you put on NAPA Ball Joints and have over 10k on them you may want to check them. I'm heading to the shop now to replace my 8k miles BJs due to the driver side failing. My mechanic states he's had to replace 50% of the Napa BJ (warranty) due to crappy material and build quality. Good luck.

 

[GRTvan]

Thanks for the info on the ball joints. Will check to see what was used.

 

[Buliwyf]

Napa everything has been going downhill.

Their brakes are rubbish.

 

[gmtech]

those tires are known to cup easily. some tires just by tread design are more likely to cup. also vehicle design. rotate them more often like every 3000 miles. buliwyf is correct E vans are just not friendly on tires.

 

[GRTvan]

I have heard that with the suspension design and the weight, these vans are not tire friendly. Thoughts on rotating the tires from drivers side to passengers side on occasion. Pains me greatly to see them wearing this fast.

 

[gmtech]

if you have access to tire machine you could flip them on the rim so they where on the other edge...

 

[GRTvan]

Thanks for all the input.

 

[GRTvan]

Was reading another thread and was wondering if the high pop top from CCV may be affecting how the suspension is working? The Bilstein shocks maybe over worked with the high top and the change in center of gravity?? Would going to a heavier duty front shock help? Or I could be full of...