What's Causing Tire Cupping

[Bandit59]

Jeep Brain Trust,
On the road headed out west from NC for camping/overlanding etc.

2021 JLUR. Bought new. Now 27,000 miles. Manual trans. Ursa Minor camper top. 2.5" AEV lift. Long range America aux fuel tank. Stock 33" KO2. Tire rotation every 5000 miles. Front end alignment after lift installed. Tires normally inflated to 35-36 for pavement.

Felt shimmy yesterday above 60mph on interstate. We have no interstate at home. Stop at discount tire in TN for rebalance. Nice folks. Helpful. But they found tire cupping. I felt it with my hand. All the tires.

We discussed what it could be. No real idea. We had alignment when I installed the lift. Tires rotated very 5000 miles. AEV dual sport lift had correcting geometry. Good components. Reputable.

Thoughts on why tire cupping?
Looking for some insight.

Continuing on to NM, Colorado, Utah. Maybe I'll see ya out there.

Once a tire pattern is established it is very hard to totally change it back to normal

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[Willys41]

If you want to keep tire cupping to a minimum
You MUST X cross rotate
I have been repairing cars for over 50 years have always X rotate the tires and get 60 to 80K out of a set of tires with no cupping
The way I know it is time to rotate is if I heir the tires starting to make a slight noise or by rubbing my hand over the outside age of the tire
If you feel a slight cupping it is time to cross rotate
Once they are badly cupped no mater what you do they will always make noise
So always X rotate
Hope this helps

 

[Jeep Wick]

I have 40k on the K02 and have noticed some cupping. Been running lower pressure (32-33 cold) and rotating with minimal improvement. One tire worn more than the others, but mostly evenly.
Is this just normal with these tires at this mileage? They sound a little louder after pulling a camper recently (did up pressure to 36 for that) and the rhythmic 'thrumming' seems to be worse at times.

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