Tires: Tire Cupping, tire cupping, bmw 3 series

Question
Hi Barry, after hearing rumbling noises for a while - and several other issues, I took my BMW 3 series in to see what the problem was. I was told a number of things needed to be done, alignment, control arm bushing replaced, etc. and was also told my tires showed some "cupping" and needed to be rotated. I had everything fixed; however, I still hear that rumbling noise. I'm wondering, if the tires were rotated, would I still hear the noise until they wear themselves back out or should I just simply replace the tires - they don't show any tread wear at all.  Thanks, John.

Answer
John,

If the tires were "cupped", then moving them to a different position doesn't do anything other than move the noise.  However, some wheel positions are insensitive to this and it's possible that one might not hear (or feel) it.  But it is also possible that the noise will continue in the new position.

So we can't completely eliminate the tire as the source.  The only way to be sure is to replace the tires.

But that might be expensive.  My suggestion is to leave it alone and see if it changes.  Getting worse would point to some other problem.  Getting better would point to a new wear pattern being developed.