I acquired a 09 S a few weeks ago and have been playing with it ,oil change, vacuum pump some driving lights and today some mud flaps. Since I was doing the flaps I figured I'd check the brakes and rotate the tires. Also it seemed like there was a rear wheel bearing groan. Bearings seemed fine no rumbling or play. So I installed front flaps( rears another day) put the tire back on back to front and front to back. Well...I just took it out for a drive just now it sounds like I have a front wheel bearing noise. Tire are pretty new ( Conti Extreme DWS) Well it should be warm tomorrow so I can look into this further....Tire /rim problem ..IDK .

 

How new is pretty new for the tires? A poor alignment, especially in the rear will cause severe cupping on the inner edge of the tire rather quickly. We've seen it as early as one or two oil changes without the tires being rotated.

 

+1 on tires. I worked as a mechanic for over 10 years and I swear a bad wheel bearing and cupped tread sounds virtually identical. The only difference is a wheel bearing groan will often change as you swerve left and right and a tire groan doesn't change much.

 

If there is any cupping I can not see it ...tires look pretty smooth and no irregular wear seems to be present. ..Maybe I'll jack up front end a tad on stands and put some speed on them to see what goes on.

I worked as a mechanic for 20 years and never encountered "cupping" on the brand I worked on ...only cupping I personally had was a 1953 Jeep ****** I owned it had a severe death wobble.