1.) driving at highway speeds 2.) valve stem cut, leading to deflation of tire. Has nearly caused me to have a wreck on the interstate. 3.) I had to have upward to 12 tires fixed or replaced on the front end of my car during 1 year. About a year ago the tire company told me to take off my hub caps (original to the car) to see if it helped. Since that time I have had no more flats.

- St. Charles , MO, USA

2003 Hyundai Sonata had to flat tires due to the wheel covers rotating and cutting or piercing the valve stems.

- Centerville, OH, USA

Hubcaps on 2003 Sonata slide around pinching valve stems. This was first noticed when I replaced tires from Michelin to bf goodrich. Tires are proper size.this problem of the hubcaps shifting happens daily as I have to remove hubcaps and straighten. Have now removed hubcaps permanently for safety reasons. Have had one blow-out due to stem being twisted. Number of failures below are estimated but the hubcaps until recently were out of position daily. Date of blow-out below is estimated someone around the middle of August.

- Orlando, FL, USA

I have a 2003 Hyundai Sonata. A problem has developed recently in which my hubcaps are rotating on the wheel and cutting the tire stems thus resulting in both of my front tire going flat at once. I reported this thru the Hyundai complaint hotline. They thought I was nuts. I did a google search and found other Sonata owners with similiar problem. They also reported this to the Hyundai complaint hotline with similar unsatisfactory results. I believe this is a safety problem. The last occuarance that this happened was in heavy traffic on interstate 75 in Ohio. After a "hard brake" both front hubcaps rotated and cut both hubcaps at once resulting in a dual flats in heavy traffic.

- Yellow Springs, OH, USA

The wheel covers on my 2003 Hyundai Sonata are moving on the rims of my tires causing the tire valve stems to flatten and eventually wear through causing sudden tire failure. I have had two (2) sudden tire valve failures since purchasing four new uniroyal tiger paw 205/65R15 tires from B.J.'s wholesale club on May 7. 2005. The tires I bought were the exact size specified for my car in the B'J's tire catalog and my owner's manual. The Hyundai dealer tried putting on new wheel covers but that didn't help. Later they said that the tires were sticking out too far over the rims, causing them to be in contact with the wheel cover, which caused the wheel covers to move and flatten the valve stems. They acknowledged that the tires were the right size but said they were somehow different from the tires that came with the car. There is nothing in the Hyundai owner's manual which specifies any particular tire or brand of tire, or which states that certain tires cannot be used. The only specification is the size, which is 205/65R15, exactly what I purchased. The problem is ongoing. At the dealer's suggestion, I am driving without the wheel covers. Even if I buy another set of tires, how do I know they won't cause the same problem? Hyundai admitted that they are aware of the this problem but would not take responsibility.

- Troy, NY, USA

Something is cutting the stem and the tire around the stem area. Twice the dealer replaced the tire and they are unable to locate the cause. The problem is still recurring. The dealer has passed this information over to the manufacturer. The consumer indicated tha the hub cap cut the tire and valve stem. Here has been 3 stems cut all on the front tires.

- Parker, PA, USA

In Apr 04 I purchased new tires for my 2003 Hyundai Sonata. Inside of thirty days, I had the right front tire go flat while driving on a major highway. I was able to get to the shoulder to change the flat. I went back to national tire & battery (ntb) where I had purchased the tires. They could not find an obvious cause for the tire failure. They replaced the tire, and three days later, the tire went flat again while travelling on the highway. I expirenced two more flat tires on the same wheel within the next two weeks, and then a few days later the left tire went flat. It was determined that the valve stem was being cut by the hubcap. Ntb suggested that I go back to the dealership and have them investigate the situation. I went to pohanka in fredericksburg, va and the service technician said that the hubcap was making contact with the tire when there should be a small gap separating the two. The suggestion from the dealership was to change the tire or replace the rim. I went back to ntb, and they conferred with bf goodrich, the manufacturer of the tire, and they suggested that I go back to the stock tire that was on the car. I had also filed a claim with Hyundai, and their suggestion was the same. My problem with all of this, is first, I selected a tire that was the proper size for my car (bf goodrich traction T/a 205/65R15). Nowhere had it been indicated by Hyundai or bfgoodrich that the selected tire was not suitable for my vehicle. Secondly, my life and the life of others became endangered by this problem. Thirdly, I am being forced to make tire selection, because neither Hyundai, nor bf goodrich have provided limiting information on the tires that will properly function with my car. This is serious and needs immediated attention by someone, before there is loss of life or serious injury to someone because Hyundai's hubcap for the Sonata is not compatible with the tire size that it has indicated within the owner's manual and the label on the car.

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA