HELP! Cupped tires on 2002 A4

[TEX TERRY, II]

From: Jeff Holeman <jholeman at indy.rr.com>
(snip)
I purchased a 2002 A4 in April and by July (6200 miles) the front right
tire was cupped so bad we thought a wheel bearing was going out. The dealer
found the car to be out of alignment, re-aligned it, balanced & rotated the
tires. The noise was still too great with this tire so we placed the spare
on in place of the cupped tire (now on right rear) & trying to get Audi to
buy us a new tire.
Meanwhile we've put another 2k miles on the car and the other 3 tires have
cupped badly as well. These are Michelin Pilots with only 8k miles. I find
it hard to believe that the car could cause this, but have not found anyone
having problems with Michelin tires on a new care with this few miles.
(snip)

When a shock absorber (damper) becomes faulty, then the tire is allowed to
bounce off, and then back on, the road many times due to the spring
reaction, after a bump starts the spring movement.  As the tire is coming
down, and making contact with the road surface again, rubber is burned away
from the small section that makes contact with the road surface.  Repeated
tire bouncing will create the cup marks.  This is the quickest normal sign
of faulty shocks.  Have the shocks replaced.  The shock is suppose to
absorb the rebound action of the spring, and minimize it.  Push down three
times on each corner of the bumpers, let go, and count the times that the
bumper bounces, before coming to a stop.  Compare all four corners.  Now go
find another similiar car and test it.  You should see that your car is
bouncing many more times than the car with good shocks.

Tex Terry, II
83 5kt sedan (non-quattro)
Franklin, PA  USA