Most 4WD do not regularly drive the front wheels. Tire cupping is often a function of tire design. I can also be caused by an alignment issue, worn suspension, or more commonly, defective shock absorber. Agressive tires are more prone due to the compression/decompression of the tread as it impacts and leaves the road. It can also happen to rib or highway type tires.

Dennis

----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Miller <mwmiller@CWNET.COM>
Date: Friday, July 22, 2005 11:40 am
Subject: Re: 4 wheel drive tires

> I checked the inflation with a pretty good gauge, and I check pretty
> regularly so I don't think that's it.
>
> The tire shop guy did say it was the tread design. More open
> channels around
> the circumference of the tire are for the road and the chunky
> blocks [like
> the ones I have] are for off road mostly. But he said the geometry
> of the
> wheel suspension is different on driven vs. non driven tires so
> that chunky
> tread doesn't cup on driven wheels.
>
> Thanks for the idea.
>
> Mike
>
> On 7/22/05 4:40 AM, "Christopher Gronski" <gronski@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > If the tires were alligned and balanced they still could have been
> > improperly inflated, thta is what I think has happened.
> >
> > I have never heard of 4 wheel drive tires (except of course a more
> > aggressive tread for off road, but I do not think that is what you
> > mean here. I moved my 215/65-15 Michelin Agilis 51 tires from my
> 1980> 2WD to my 1986 4WD and have had no issue.
> >
> > Chris
> >
> > On 7/22/05, Mike Miller <mwmiller@cwnet.com> wrote:
> >> Vanettes,
> >>
> >> Today I had my tires checked as they were making lots of noise.
> Tire shop
> >> said they were cupped [which I knew] because they were 4 wheel
> drive tires
> >> and the front axles on the van aren't driven and cupping is the
> result of
> >> that.
> >>
> >> I never heard of 4 wheel drive tires but he was right the ones
> in back were
> >> fine, my alignment was right and the tires were in balance.
> >>
> >> Anyone heard of this before?
> >>
> >> Mike
> >>
> >
> >
>