Thread: Tyres scalloping (cupping) Causes?

Originally Posted by White110

Thanks MLD. i've read on the web that MTs can be prone to scalloping but nothing about ATs like mine. I'm sort of hoping it's not the tyres at fault because the Toyos have been good. But for how much they cost I couldn't take the risk again if i was only going to get 44000 km out of them from fairly light use. If the mechanic finds anything when he has a look in a week and a half's time I'll post an update.

15 years ago an AT tyre was marginally more aggressive than some hwy focused LT tyres. The current crop of ATs look like my first set of BFG MTs. Point being, carcass construction, tread pattern etc of an AT these days will have characteristics of an MT with all the usual short comings we forgive on road for better traction off road. won't help your problem. Still think its worth borrowing a set of tyres from a mate to do an elimination test. can't hurt and you get to drink beer while swapping the tyres over. As for tyre wear. I am an advocate for BFG. one set i had were fubar in less than 50,000 kms of not so harsh driving. All other BFGs i've clocked +70,000 kms and most of that was beating on them most weekends in low range and the sandstone around sydney. sometimes you get Friday before a long weekend QC

Originally Posted by MLD

15 years ago an AT tyre was marginally more aggressive than some hwy focused LT tyres. The current crop of ATs look like my first set of BFG MTs. Point being, carcass construction, tread pattern etc of an AT these days will have characteristics of an MT with all the usual short comings we forgive on road for better traction off road. won't help your problem. Still think its worth borrowing a set of tyres from a mate to do an elimination test. can't hurt and you get to drink beer while swapping the tyres over. As for tyre wear. I am an advocate for BFG. one set i had were fubar in less than 50,000 kms of not so harsh driving. All other BFGs i've clocked +70,000 kms and most of that was beating on them most weekends in low range and the sandstone around sydney. sometimes you get Friday before a long weekend QC

Thanks MLD. i thought about the tyres themselves being the problem but it would seem odd for all 5 tyres to be affected. I can understand a random tyre but 5? I take your point though about MTs or aggressive tread tyres being prone to scalloping. I hadn't thought about that because MTs are outside my orbit - I've never taken any notice of them. Regarding your suggestion of a tyre swapperoo, even if I had access to another set, with family responsibilities I don't really have the time. If the mechanic doesn't come up with any smoking guns next Tuesday i will get in touch with Toyo. The only possible cause I'm eliminating is wheel alignment because all the tyres seem evenly worn across the tread. Appreciate your interest. Cheers.

Just a suggestion. Pump them up a bit.
I have run XZL Michelins on defenders forever. (unfortunately running on my last set now)
An aggressive tread and exceptionally strong tyres, but to get them to wear evenly on bitumin they have to be pumped up. 60 psi or higher with loads.

The BFG KO2s on our LC200 were starting to get noisy and showed some scalloping at just over 80,000Km.
Still had 5mm of tread,the guy at Bob Jane,said that was pretty normal for that brand of tyre on a 200.
They were rotated every 10,000Km.

I have just had them replaced them with KO3s,its like driving a different car,nice and quiet.

Originally Posted by scarry

The BFG KO2s on our LC200 were starting to get noisy and showed some scalloping at just over 80,000Km.
Still had 5mm of tread,the guy at Bob Jane,said that was pretty normal for that brand of tyre on a 200.
They were rotated every 10,000Km.

I have just had them replaced them with KO3s,its like driving a different car,nice and quiet.

K02's pretty much always scallop and when they do they sound like an air raid siren.

They are infamous for it!

Originally Posted by alanw

Just a suggestion. Pump them up a bit.
I have run XZL Michelins on defenders forever. (unfortunately running on my last set now)
An aggressive tread and exceptionally strong tyres, but to get them to wear evenly on bitumin they have to be pumped up. 60 psi or higher with loads.

Thanks. When I first bought the Toyos 4.5 years ago I ran them for a little while at around 35 front, 40 rear and it was just a bit too choppy. For most of the time I 've been running it at around 32 front, 35 rear which was more comfortable. The tyres are showing pretty consistent tread depth and seem to have worn evenly except for the scalloping, which suggests to me the pressures I've been running are about right. Toyo now have a tyre pressure calculator on their web site but you need to know axle weights. I took an uneducated guess of 900 kg front and 1200 kg rear. For sealed road driving the Toyo site recommended pressures of 26 F and 33 R.