# Dealer says "Tire Cupping"

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealer-says-tire-cupping/61772>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** volkswagen, passat\
**Created:** [February 23, 2011, 2:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealer-says-tire-cupping/61772 "2011-02-23T14:24:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealer-says-tire-cupping/61772/21 "2011-09-20T15:31:25Z")

</div>

I have to agree with Capriracer that “irregular wear” is a better term. “Cupping” is sort of a nebulous term that is often used to cover any of a number of wear irregularities. Irregular wear can be caused by bad shocks, bad suspension components (tie rod ends, ball joints, or whatever), and even a defective or improperly balanced tire. Or a combination of problems.

The only really clear irregular wear is feathering caused by bad toe-in, smooth center wear (overinflation), and excessive edge wear (underinflation…or habitually speedy cornering).

I also believe that once irregular wear becomes obvious it has already established a wear pattern and unless the tire tread is skimmed on a special tread-cutting machine it’ll never wear normally.

I agree that irregular wear is a symptom, not a cause.

[Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealer-says-tire-cupping/61772.md?page=1)