It seems to be that front tire cupping is related to braking. I'm a touring rider and usually ride at a relaxed pace with minimal hard braking. I got just about 11,000 miles on the original Michelin Macadams with NO visible cupping on the front tire. The rear had a well worn flat spot that did affect cornering feel, but it wasn't too bad.
I really noticed a quieter ride with new Metzeler ME880 tires front and rear and they should be well suited to touring even though they're a lower speed rating than the originals.