Front Tire Cupping

[NOLA_Gladiator]

22 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon here with 18k miles and I am noticing cupping on the right front tire. I suspect that the shock is starting to fail which is causing the cupping. I have the stock tires / rims still and the Fox shocks. There is no noticeable shake or vibration at any speed and a slight feathering on the outer edge. The only thing I can figure is the shock is weak/failing. I had the dealership look at it and they said nothing is wrong, just rotate your tires, which in my opinion just hides the problem and wears another tire. Any suggestions?

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[whysoserious]

Pictures?

 

[bleda2002]

3 jeeps (JT, JL, JK) and all of them have light feathering on the outside edge of the front tires. I rotate and even the wear out every 5-7k miles. I will emphasize the light part of this, its just enough that I can feel it with my hands but just looking at it I dont really see it unless i've let it go for 10K+ miles.

 

[Reddog]

3 jeeps (JT, JL, JK) and all of them have light feathering on the outside edge of the front tires. I rotate and even the wear out every 5-7k miles. I will emphasize the light part of this, its just enough that I can feel it with my hands but just looking at it I dont really see it unless i've let it go for 10K+ miles.

Sometimes this issue is due to driving habits. I have a JTR with 37's. I previously had a JK with LS conversion and 35's. Both vehicles used Milestar Patagonia's. I do not corner or brake hard with Jeeps that I own and my tires wear flat with no problems. Both my sons have JK's, and they have had the same issues described in this thread regarding tire wear. They both corner and brake much harder than I do. They have both acknowledged that their driving habits are probably the cause of their uneven tire wear. Sometimes, it's the operator, not the Jeep or the tires that are at fault.

 

[Hootbro]

One position cupping is a tell tale sign of that shock or other suspension items wearing out. I would at a minimum be taking that shock off and checking for self collapsing and/or minimal to no rebounding.

I have outside feathering also but at most, it is maybe 1/32" difference from inside to outside tread depth. I rotate religiously and ever other rotation do an X pattern rotation.

 

[Freems]

22 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon here with 18k miles and I am noticing cupping on the right front tire. I suspect that the shock is starting to fail which is causing the cupping. I have the stock tires / rims still and the Fox shocks. There is no noticeable shake or vibration at any speed and a slight feathering on the outer edge. The only thing I can figure is the shock is weak/failing. I had the dealership look at it and they said nothing is wrong, just rotate your tires, which in my opinion just hides the problem and wears another tire. Any suggestions?

Did you check to see if any of your wheel weights are missing on the cupping tire? I was out logging road driving late this summer and crawling over some dead fall, got home and a pine branch removed about half of my glued on wheel weight for me. Just a thought…hope you solve the mystery.

 

[NOLA_Gladiator]

Pictures?

 

[NOLA_Gladiator]

Did you check to see if any of your wheel weights are missing on the cupping tire? I was out logging road driving late this summer and crawling over some dead fall, got home and a pine branch removed about half of my glued on wheel weight for me. Just a thought…hope you solve the mystery.

Wheel balance was my first thought but there is no vibration in the steering wheel at any speed. After reading a lot about the factory Rubicon Fox shocks; the consensus is that they basically suck and I have defiantly narrowed it down to the shock. Just sucks that I only have 18k miles on them and need to replace them already.

 

[NOLA_Gladiator]

One position cupping is a tell tale sign of that shock or other suspension items wearing out. I would at a minimum be taking that shock off and checking for self collapsing and/or minimal to no rebounding.

I have outside feathering also but at most, it is maybe 1/32" difference from inside to outside tread depth. I rotate religiously and ever other rotation do an X pattern rotation.

I'm fine with the amount of feathering, especially for a solid axle. I am just disappointed that the stock Fox shocks only lasted 18k miles. By the way that is the mileage on the truck. I did inspect the front end and all is good there.

 

[Almost]

I have the same exact issue on my JTRD. I just rotated it to the back. The stock Fox shocks are garbage and I'm already on my 2nd set as my first set was replaced as part of the bottoming out TSB. Only about 24K on this set of shocks.

You can fight the dealer to replace it under warranty, but it appears Jeep is trying to avoid replacing them because they no longer have a contract with Fox and Fox is raking them over the coals for replacements. I'll just eat the cost and will be changing them out for Bilsteins in the spring.

 

[Hootbro]

I am just disappointed that the stock Fox shocks only lasted 18k miles.

I feel ya. Being on my second Gladiator Rubicon, I liked the OEM FOX shocks at first but came to despise them. I eventually replaced them with Falcon Monotube shocks and like them, but will go to Eibach or Biltstein when those wear out.

 

[Birds83]

This sucks to need shocks already at that mileage.
Out of curiosity how often do you rotate?
I do agree if it’s only one side and not both that more then likely worn parts though.

 

[NOLA_Gladiator]

To update everyone, I changed the shocks and the right front was going bad. Oil was leaking from the shock. Again I am disappointed that only 18k miles on the truck and the shocks went bad. I replaced all the shocks with Bilstein. I had these on my f250 and they lasted 100k miles. There is a huge difference in compression, when you compare both Fox and Bilstein. It takes virtually no effort to compress the Fox where as the Bilstein I need to bear down on.

 

[NOLA_Gladiator]

This sucks to need shocks already at that mileage.
Out of curiosity how often do you rotate?
I do agree if it’s only one side and not both that more then likely worn parts though.

I am not a believer in rotating tires. It can potentially hide alignment issues. If you get your alignment dialed in properly you will have very little issues. I sold tires professionally and trust me I wanted you to rotate all 4 tires. That way they all wore out at the same time!

 

[Birds83]

I am not a believer in rotating tires. It can potentially hide alignment issues. If you get your alignment dialed in properly you will have very little issues. I sold tires professionally and trust me I wanted you to rotate all 4 tires. That way they all wore out at the same time!

??????? to each is his own I guess bud.

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