Wheel Cover/hubcaps problems of the 2002 Hyundai Sonata

Factory installed hub caps turn on wheels with acceleration and braking, causing pressure on tire valve stems. This leads to piercing of tire valve stem and rapid deflation of tire. Hub caps have jagged edges on hub cap where contact is made with tire valve stem. There is no mechanism to prevent the hub caps from moving.

Goodrich control plus tires caused problems with 2002 Hyundai Sonata. This problem has been present since the first day of ownership. With 25 miles on the tires, a flat tire was present. The tire dealer informed the consumer that the valve stem had been cut and needed to be replaced. Two days later another flat tire was present. The left front tire each time. It was recommended to change from a "t" series rated to tire to an "h" rated tire. Soon after placing the "h" rated tire, and using a shorter valve stem, the hub caps continued to rotate on the rim, caused by the tire flexing against the hub cap.

2002 Hyundai Sonata experienced a flat tire due to a leaky valve. Two days after the tires were replaced the driver's side front tire went flat due to a leaky stem valve. The vehicle was taken back to the tire dealer and the tire was remounted with a new stem valve. Three days later the same tire was flat again and a few days later the front passenger's side tire was flat also. After inspecting the wheels the consumer observed that the tire bulge was causing the wheel cover to spin. The cover would spin until the stem valve was pressed against the edge of the access hole in the wheel cover. Eventually the wheel cover would cut into the stem valve and cause a flat tire. It was later determined that the hub caps had been installed incorrectly. After removing all four hub caps the vehicle had no more flat tires.