What causes cupping o r scalloped tire wear on my Elantra?

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What causes cupping o r scalloped tire wear on my Elantra?

My 2015 Hyundai Elantra has a strange pattern on the tires—sort of like high and low spots along the edge, which I’ve heard is called cupping. What causes this type of uneven wear, and how can I fix o r prevent it?

Gari Specialist asked on 11 Jul 2025 13:39:35 pm

1 Answer

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Gari Master - on 11 Jul 2025 13:49:35 pm

Cupping also called scalloping appears as uneven dips across the tire tread and is usually caused by suspension problems o r imbalanced tires.

In the Hyundai Elantra, common causes include:

Worn shocks o r struts, leading to tire bounce

Out-of-balance wheels

Loose suspension o r steering components

How to fix it:

Replace worn suspension parts struts typically need replacement around 70,000–100,000 miles

Balance the tires

Ensure proper tire rotation

If left untreated, cupped tires can become noisy, unsafe, and wear out much faster.