What It Is. Tire cupping -- aka scalloping -- is a kind of tire wear consisting of regular divots or scoops carved out of the tire's tread.Depending on the location of the cupping, you may feel it as a vibration that increases with vehicle speed before you start seeing scoops of flat spots appear on the tire.iddle of the Tread. Scalloping can happen along the center of the tire's tread, or along one side. If it occurs down the middle of the tread, the cause usually goes back to the tire or suspension on that wheel regularly bouncing as it goes down the road.