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2011 Sonata Tire Problems

99 messages,  Last post on May 02, 2013 at 9:58 PM

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What is this discussion about? Hyundai Sonata, Sedan

Messages Page 7 of 11

#56 of 99 Re: 2011 Sonata - Severe Tire Cuping [dennis_h] by dennis_h

Sep 13, 2012 (9:27 am)

Replying to: dennis_h (Sep 05, 2012 9:54 am)
Hyundai Case # 4992124
 
Well, I got my answer from the Hyundai District Parts Service Manager (DPSM) today. He said they were going to do NOTHING! I called back to Hyundai Customer Service and spoke with Bert. He said there was nothing much more they could do because the DPSM's word is pretty much final. He said he would try to research further, but in other words, "don't hold my breath".
 
  So, here is where we stand... There appears to be a known problem with the Hyundai Sonata alignment based on posts throughout the internet) which causes the tires to wear uneven and cup on the inside. Hyundai did not make any provision to adjust the camber in the alignment. Their answer to date is "We are not going to do anything to help you out with the problem".
  Their Solution (so far to date): Go buy another set of tires for about $600.00, drive around for another 20k miles and when they start cupping and making all kinds of noise again, just go buy another set!
   Stay tuned boys and girls... this is not over yet.

#57 of 99 Tire noise by double_d2

Sep 28, 2012 (8:28 am)

Purchased this new 2011 sonata from local dealer. The care was great till about 10k, when road noise could be heard from the rear of the care. I first thought it was a rear wheel bearing, but finally found out it was the tires. Dealer told me to rotate the tires. After rotating the tires this loud noise moved to the front. This proved that the tires were going bad at 10k. They recommended a wheel alignment which cost $149 which was not covered under warranty. I said this is BS.
The service rep told me to drive the car till the next oil change and see if the noise would stop after the alignment (to wear tires down to normal). After 6k more the noise was unbearable. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME AFTER OWNING NUMEROUS CARS 15 TO BE EXACT, THAT I HAD TO REPLACE TIRES THIS SOON!!!! After reading these complaints, I think there is a definite problem. This is my first Hyundai and will sure be my last!!!!!

#58 of 99 Tire Noise by dennis_h

Sep 28, 2012 (10:42 am)

Well, after Hyundai refused to do anything with my Sonata, the Firestone dealer where I purchased my lifetime wheel alignment, balance, & rotation, offered me a really good deal on a new set of tires. I purchased the Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus tires. I then went back to the Hyundai dealership with the alignment results (had the alignment checked after new tires installed) and had them verify that everything was within specifications even though the caster on the left front is negative 5.1 degrees and there is no adjustments that can be made.
 
   I am totally dissatisfied with Hyundai's handling of this situation. They refuse to assist me in any way. I went out of my way to purchase a Hyundai Sonata and I have to say that because they chose not to work with me, this will probably be the last Hyundai I purchase. Sounds like they are following the same path as the American car manufactures went down in the 80's and 90s.

#59 of 99 Re: 2011 Sonata - Severe Tire Cuping [dennis_h] by abdob

Sep 29, 2012 (9:28 pm)

Replying to: dennis_h (Aug 31, 2012 12:42 pm)
Pleasr let me know.im in the same situation

#60 of 99 Tires by ryster

Oct 01, 2012 (3:49 pm)

The camber bolt kit for the 2011+ Sonata is a $14 part. It is amazing to me that Hyundai would allow $14 to come between them and customer satisfaction. The other goodwill option would be to ask the customer to pay the $14, and then Hyundai covers all of the labor to install the camber kit. Most people would not blink an eye to pay the $14 if it meant the tires would last 45,000 miles instead of 30,000.
 
Potential suspension issues aside, Hyundai needs to choose a better OEM tire. The Kumho and Hankook tires they are currently using are garbage. My 2011 Sonata went 31,200 miles on the OEM Kumhos. A co-worker has 30,000 miles on his 2011 Sonata, and the original Kumhos are to the wear bars.
 
My 2003 Dodge Durango went 48,000 miles on the original Goodyears. My 2006 Chevy Impala went 24,000 miles on its original Goodyears. Another co-worker has 55,000 miles on his 2008 Ford Escape and is still on the original Michelins. My father has 45,000 miles on his 2010 Ford Escape and is still on the original Michelins.
 
I went with Michelin Primacy MXV4s on my Sonata. I have 2,000 miles on them now and they are a marked improvement over the original Kumhos. They work best at 35-36psi. Trying to run them at the Hyundai recommended 33psi results in less than optimal ride and handling. You wouldn't think that 2-3psi would make much of a difference, but it really does. If the Michelins only last 30,000 miles on the Sonata, the next set I buy will be cheap Nexen CP672s. No more premium tires on the Sonata if it turns out they do not last any longer than cheaper tires. I am hoping to see 45,000-50,000 miles out of the Michelins.

#61 of 99 Re: Tires [ryster] by LASHAWN

Oct 04, 2012 (2:57 pm)

Replying to: ryster (Oct 01, 2012 3:49 pm)
I got 63k miles out of my stock Michelin's on my 2006 Sonata. Have about 40k on the second set now.

#62 of 99 Re: Tires [LASHAWN] by crankeee

Oct 06, 2012 (7:51 am)

Replying to: LASHAWN (Oct 04, 2012 2:57 pm)
I wonder if the 2006 allowed for camber adjustment? The 2011 redesign may have been the first model that eliminated the camber adjustment capability on the Sonata. Our 2012 GLS had an alignment at 2400 miles and the tech fine tuned the Toe in on the fronts. They moved the fronts to back to see if the adjustment effected the unworn backs on the front. Now at 8000 miles and all four seem to be much better and flattening out. dealer swore by Kuhmos but in the past Hyundai used Michelin OEM's and had much more customer satisfaction. some things are better off without the cost accountants!

#63 of 99 Re: Tires [crankeee] by nirthernohio

Oct 17, 2012 (9:44 am)

Replying to: crankeee (Oct 06, 2012 7:51 am)
I've had this same problem. Our 2011 Sonata began having loud noise , like one is taking-off on an airport runway, around 18,000 miles. It soon became so deafening, my daughter would literally get headaches from long trips in the car, I took it in to our dealership around 20,000 to diagnose / fix the loud noise. They showed me it had uneven tire wear and cupping on the inside and did an alignment. As I drove off, I noticed the sound was actually worse! They said that's to be expected and there was nothing they could do for sound.
 
I then got on the Hyundai forums and was surprised to see how many others were having the exact same problem, with loud tire noise starting around 20,000. At first the consensus on the forums was that its due to the poor OEM tires Hyundai puts on their Sonatas.
 
But after reading Dennis' post there (and here above), its now apparent the problem is due to the camber being out of spec, as installed at the factory. A negative camber will cause one's tires to wear unevenly on the inside and cause cupping.
 
So, luck of the draw if one gets a Sonata with an out of spec / negative camber. And since Hyundai didn't put the $14 adjustable bolt on their Sonatas, the camber can't be adjusted (unless one adds the $200 - $300 kit). Thus, no matter how good of tires I put on the Sonata, the defective camber alignment will keep causing my tires to wear unevenly and be noisy.
 
I contacted my local dealership and sent a detailed e-mail with links to their Hyundai forums of others with this similar problem and even included Dennis's post describing his camber case on file. Here's the reply I received: "
        I addressed your tire noise concerns with my Hyundai factory rep. He explained to me that the soft tire compound that Hyundai chose to install on the Sonata was to enhance the comfort of the ride.
 
As the owner of the vehicle, you are the only person that can start a case# in reference to your tire wear concerns. You can contact Hyundai customer service at 800-633-5151.
 
Thank you,
Elyria Hyundai Service Dept
 
They didn't even address the camber issue!!!. If the camber is out of spec, namely if its set at a negative camber, even the best of tires will still wear unevenly and cup inside. It really has nothing to do with the " soft tire compound that Hyundai chose to install on the Sonata ... to enhance the comfort of the ride" Until the camber is corrected, no matter how many alignments, tire rotations, etc... it will continue to cause uneven tire wear and cupping and just keep eating up new tires every 20- 25,000 miles or so!
 
I am going to start a case with Hyundai America, as Dennis suggested, and hope others will too. If enough of us complain, maybe Hyundai will finally address and correct this major camber issue. (and cover the cost for the camber kit and replacement tires).
 
Annoyed 2011 Sonata owner in North central Ohio

#64 of 99 Negative camber on 2011-2012 Sonata by crankeee

Oct 17, 2012 (5:56 pm)

The camber issue keeps coming up since the engineers decided to eliminate the camber adjusting capabilty (bolt type) on the YF model Sonata. Our 2012 GLS, as posted earlier required an alignment adjustment at 2400 miles due to feathering on the outside ribs, with no pulling, of the front mounted Kuhmos. The tech adjusted the toe-in on the fronts since this can be the cause of feathering or cupping. some experts may differentiate the two conditions. The tech adjusted the LF toe-out to the specification in-range number that also changed the total toe. The camber was at -.6 degrees that is within the YF spec. and was not changed . Caster was within spec range. The tech made an informed judgement call on adusting the toe-in since the outer rib (only) was feathering which can be caused by crabbing or dragging rather than the tires running straight. Now at 8300 miles and the tires on the front (backs until 2400) appear to be wearing flat across the tread - if feathering it is very minor at this point. The backs (fronts until 2400 miles) are flattening out and due to be rotated. Sorry for all the words, but the conclusion has to be, if the alignment is truly out of the spec range for your vehicle when it is new, the manufacturer should correct the problem with whatever is required. Leaving off the Camber adjustment capability was an engineering decision, possibly with input from the cost accountants. In the event that Camber adjustment is needed, on a new vehicle that was accident free, then the manufacturer needs to bite the bullet- in one customers humble opinion. Damaged front ends and older worn cars are a much tougher call due to all the variables.

#65 of 99 Re: Negative camber on 2011-2012 Sonata [crankeee] by dennis_h

Oct 19, 2012 (6:08 am)

Replying to: crankeee (Oct 17, 2012 5:56 pm)
Well; after fighting with Hyundai for weeks on this and getting emails stating there is nothing they can do, I purchased a new set of Bridgestone tires. Firestone gave me a nice break on these $700 set of tires only because I had my vehicle aligned there with their lifetime alignment package and they felt my pain.
  As soon as I got the tires put on and re-aligned again, I took the vehicle down to the Hyundai dealership and had them check the alignment report which showed the -5 degree caster out of adjustment and there was no way to adjust. I had Hyundai print me a service ticket stating they confirm that my vehicle is within Hyundai alignment specifications. I assured them that if these tires start to cup or wear uneven, I will seek to file a class action law suit.
  I suggest that anyone who has this issue go to SAFECAR.GOV and enter a complaint.

Messages Page 7 of 11

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