Effective June 2, 2008, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 110 (FMVSS 110) established a threshold for correcting load carrying capacity information indicated on tire placards when vehicle weight has been increased before retail sale. This limit is the lesser of 1.5% of GVWR or 100 pounds. If the total added weight exceeds the lesser of the limit, a label must be added to the driver-side B-pillar within 25mm (1 inch) of the original tire placard.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Hyundai Elantra tires problems
moderate Owners of the 2011 Hyundai Elantra have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the tires at roughly $150 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See tires across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$150
| Model year | tires complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 Elantra | 4 |
| 2009 Elantra | 6 |
| 2010 Elantra | 6 |
| 2011 Elantra (this page) | 12 |
| 2012 Elantra | 15 |
| 2013 Elantra | 52 |
| 2014 Elantra | 3 |
| 2015 Elantra | 3 |
What stands out
Among the 10 model years of Hyundai Elantra in our records for tires problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering tires on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin provides tire vibration service procedures, including how to optimize vehicle vibration performance. For all wheel/tire balance claims, the âTire Balance Data Sheetâ must be fully completed including imbalance and Road Force Variation (RFV) data. The Data Sheet can be found at the end of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information on tire maintenance best practices and procedures for dealers and customers to maximize tire life and performance.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report widespread tire defects across 2011 Elantra models. Multiple owners found sidewall bubbles or bulges in factory Continental ContiPro Contact and Goodyear Assurance tires (215/45R17 size) as early as 3,000 miles—both front and rear tires affected. One owner replaced two tires within six months of purchase; another discovered bulges at 24,000 miles. A third owner experienced dual blowouts within days, with inspection confirming cracked sidewalls.
Accelerated wear is another pattern: owners report getting only 25,000 miles per tire set instead of the 40,000–50,000 miles typical of tires on other vehicles. One owner went through three complete tire sets by 78,000 miles, purchasing from different brands and retailers, suggesting the problem isn't brand-specific but rather vehicle-related.
Owners also cite the low-profile tire design combined with the vehicle's stiff front suspension as a dangerous pairing—two cracked rims and three sidewall bulges occurred over one owner's first three years of ownership from routine road hazards like potholes. Additionally, all 2011 Elantras shipped without a spare tire, jack, or lug wrench, despite owner manuals containing installation instructions. A recall (20V-393) attempted to address this with a tire mobility kit, but owners report the kit parts were unavailable and some vehicles lacked the necessary compressor.
Same Hyundai Elantra tires reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Sidewall bulges and bubbles
Continental ContiPro Contact and other factory tires developing bubbles or bulges in the sidewalls, typically on low-profile 215/45R17 tires. Occurs very early in vehicle life and with low mileage. Owners report this defect appearing as early as 3,000 miles and recurring across multiple tires on the same vehicle.
When: 3,000–24,000 miles; as early as 6 months of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Visible bubbles or bulges on sidewalls; Recurring defect across multiple tires on same vehicle; Risk of sidewall failure and blowout
Repairs/costs cited: Requires full tire replacement; owners replaced two or more tires with bulge defects. Costs estimated around $2,500 for a full set replacement plus installation.
Sidewall cracks and blowouts
Factory tires (Goodyear Assurance, Continental ContiPro Contact) developing cracked sidewalls leading to blowouts. Both rear and front tires affected. One incident involved sidewall blowout at 7,000 miles; another involved cracked sidewalls discovered after dual blowouts (driver rear and passenger rear) within days of each other.
When: 7,000 miles; unspecified mileage for cracked sidewall incidents
Symptoms owners cite: Sidewall cracks detected upon inspection; Blowout while driving (60 mph reported); Multiple tire failures in short succession
Repairs/costs cited: Full tire replacement required. Goodyear Assurance tires (DOT PJ63JU11711) explicitly mentioned in one incident.
Accelerated tire wear
Factory 17-inch tires wearing out significantly faster than comparable tires on other vehicles. Owners report third tire replacement by 78,000 miles, achieving only 25,000 miles per set instead of the 40,000–50,000 miles typical of other vehicles.
When: ~25,000 miles per set; third set needed by 78,000 vehicle miles
Symptoms owners cite: Premature tread wear across multiple tire sets; Pattern consistent across three different tire brands; Sidewall blowout after accelerated wear pattern
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple tire replacements required (three sets by 78,000 miles); owners purchased from different manufacturers and retailers.
Low-profile tire and suspension incompatibility
Low-profile tires combined with the vehicle's stiff front suspension create vulnerability to road hazards. Owners report two cracked rims and three sidewall bulges resulting in two blowouts and one near-blowout over a three-year period. Vehicle cannot handle rough roads or potholes.
When: Multiple incidents over 2012–2015 (approximately 3–4 years of ownership)
Symptoms owners cite: Cracked rims from road impacts; Sidewall bulges triggered by suspension and tire interaction; Blowouts from minor road hazards (potholes, rough surfaces); Loss of vehicle control risk
Repairs/costs cited: Rim replacement and tire replacement required for repair; underlying issue is design interaction between low-profile tires and stiff suspension.
Missing spare tire and repair kit
2011 Elantra models sold without spare tire, jack, or lug wrench. Owner manuals contained instructions for installing a spare, but no spare was provided. A tire mobility kit was referenced in some complaints but was either unavailable or non-functional (compressor missing). Safety recall 20V-393 attempted to address this via a mobility kit, but parts availability and proper equipment were problems.
When: At point of sale; discovered immediately or when first flat occurred
Symptoms owners cite: No spare tire in vehicle despite manual instructions; No jack or lug wrench provided; Stranded when tire failure occurs on road trip; Dealer nondisclosure or misdisclosure; Recall parts unavailable when customers attempted repair
Repairs/costs cited: Owners required to purchase spare tires separately. Recall parts (mobility kit, compressor) were unavailable or incomplete.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Safety Recall 20V-393 (tire mobility kit). Hyundai advised they could potentially offer an instructional spare tire kit in the future. Recall parts unavailable; vehicles not equipped with compressor required for mobility kit.
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had tires trouble with your 2011 Hyundai Elantra?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the tires problem on the 2011 Hyundai Elantra?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $150 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the tires typically fail?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, tires issues most often appear around 31,840 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $150 for tires repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to tires?
No active recalls currently cover tires issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Hyundai/Elantra.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.