Automotive Forums

My 07 Camry LE tires are cupping at 11,000 miles.  I brought it to the dealership, the told me that it's normal and that I "Have To" rotate the tires every 10,000 miles.  I suspecting that it's my strut is causing it.  I check my strut, 3 out of 4 have oily film.  The dealer told me that the oily film is normal.  They will not replace the strut or tires.  Have anyone experience these issue before?  If you have, please advise me how to get it fix or what I have to do to get it fix.  

"Cupping" is a term that is used to describe some types of tire wear that are caused by misalignment.  In either case (strut or misalignment), insufficient inflation pressure and insufficient rotation aggravate the situation.  

I'm not sure of this, but I'll bet your owners manual says to rotate in the 5,000 to 8,000 miles range - which means the dealer is off the hook.

First I suggest you rotate your tires, then get an alignment.  I think you ought to avoid the dealer since you obviously have a poor working relationship with him.  

I work at a Chevy/Toyota dealership, and I see a lot of vehicles with tires that are totally worn out at 25000 miles because they have not been rotated enough. Suggested alignment angles are not typically 0 degrees, meaning that even if your alignment is perfect, your tires will wear unevenly if they are not rotated. You cannot over rotate your tires. Toyota would suggest you rotate your tires every oil change, which toyota recommends to be every 5000 miles. Also, the oily film on your struts is normal, it is called weepage and will not effect the performance of your struts. The dealership cannot replace the weeping struts because every part that is replaced under warranty, has to be returned to Toyota for inspection and then if it is approved, the dealership gets reinbursed for the cost of the part and the labor.

I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but i see it every day. the good thing is that you only have 11000 miles on the tires, so with proper rotation, they will straighten out. Oh, and dont drop the dealership just because of their limitations set by the manufacturer, dealership service is better... you get what you pay for. Just the same as everything else.  

I too have had the same problem with the Bridgestone tires on my 2007 Camry.  I got a blasé attitude from the dealer, a run around from Toyota and a CYA response from a Firestone tire dealer.

Really, the reason that I joined this forum is that the message needs to get out about Toyota.  I feel certain that Toyota could care less about their customers and they really care less that you or I or any owner gets ripped off for hundreds of dollars.  Toyota has turned out to be a big and rich corporation just like the phone company of old.  I'm sure that Toyota knows of the problems with Bridgestone tires and Toyota is merely dumping on its customers.

When it comes to purchasing a new vehicle in the future I think that a person would be crazy to consider purchasing from Toyota.  It's time for people to consider other manufacturers.  

I have had an exactly same problem with you guys
They call it as "Feathering" on the tire. It was developed under 5000 miles. Right now it is 16000 on the vehicle.
I have searched a lot for this issue. It is normally caused by misalignment or bad shock or strut.
I had to keep bring it back to the both Toyota and Bridgestone. They have imputed the responsibility to each other.
I have done four times alignment at all different Toyota dealer shop. The funny thing is that whenever I did, alignment was off. Finally, they have found TSB for "Shock" and applied it and alignment was redone.
the tire condition is getting better but I still have that.
Actually I have followed Lemon-law and got the compensation for that.
Guys, There is [bold]TSB for front Shock or a Spring, whatever they call it.  

Here's a follow up to my previous post regarding worn tires.

I took the car to another dealer for the 20K servicing.  I told the service rep about the bad tires on the car and the failure by the original dealer on PSI and rotation.  

Guess what?  The service rep at the second dealership tells me that they won't rotate the tires on the car unless you tell them to.  They've got to be kidding.  I told the rep that I requested normal servicing at each service period and pointed out that the owners manual calls for tire rotation at each servicing.  

I also said if that were the case then why did the original dealer decide to rotate my tires at 15K when I didn't tell them too.  I noted that they didn't rotate the tires at the other service intervals when they should have.  

The rep tells me that it was probably part of the service package and that each dealership has their own package of what they do as a standard servicing.  

I was absolutely flabbergasted.  I'm wondering why the manufacturer would go to the trouble to print a manual that says rotate the tires every 5000 miles but have dealerships ignore the standard.  If the dealerships aren't rotating tires as they should then what else are they not servicing?

I agree with you.  Clearly the tire dealer, dealership and Toyota are imputing one another and screwing the public.

I'm planning on replacing the tires soon so does anyone have any advice on which tires to purchase??  

I also am looking for information on what tires are recommended.  I definately am not going to get another set of bridgestones.