2003 Hyundai elantra 10000 miles I head tire wall separation for no apparent reason I call hankook tire h426, the company refuses. To look at the tire. Thank good nobody was injured, I have the tire with me for inspection. I call al labador hankook tire representative at 1-800 426-8252. *tr
2013 Hyundai Elantra tires problems
severe 52 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $150 · see tires across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
52
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$150
1crash
1fire
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 52 tires complaints filed for the 2013 Hyundai Elantra, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 10 model years of Hyundai Elantra we track for tires problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 52.
Owners have filed 52 tires complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2013 Elantra has widespread, well-documented tire problems across multiple OEM brands (Hankook, Nexen, Continental, Kumho). Expect bubbles, blowouts, and premature wear as early as 6,700 miles; 17-inch factory wheels appear particularly problematic. The lack of a spare tire and malfunctioning repair kit compound the risk, leaving you stranded with no safe backup option.
The 2013 Elantra's factory tires are a consistent source of failure across 52 documented complaints involving multiple brands: Hankook Optimo H426, Nexen CP671, Continental ContiProContact, Kumho, Falken, and Primewell. Sidewall bubbles appear as early as 9,983 miles, often without any road impact. Owners report complete blowouts at highway speeds starting at 543 miles; one owner's daughter crashed after a blowout at 6,700 miles. Premature wear is common—one set reached the wear bars at 29,791 miles despite being rated for 50,000. Tread separation and cracking appear within the first year.
Rapid, unexplained air loss plagues many owners, with tire pressure dropping from normal to 9–22 PSI repeatedly. The tire-pressure monitor lights up sporadically even when pressures are within spec. One owner's wife was injured and knocked to the ground when a tire exploded while using the factory repair kit (the 2013 comes with no spare).
The 17-inch low-profile factory wheels appear to be a particular weak point—online forums document clusters of failures specific to that configuration. Hyundai defers all claims to tire manufacturers; Continental, Hankook, and Nexen deny coverage citing "road hazards" or lack of physical damage, leaving owners out-of-pocket for replacements, rims, alignments, and towing. No recalls or technical service bulletins address these systemic failures.
Same Hyundai Elantra tires reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Sidewall bubbles and bulges
Owners report bubble or bulge formations on tire sidewalls, occurring on both factory-original and replacement tires. Bubbles range from quarter-sized to golf-ball-sized and appear without evidence of potholes or road hazards. Multiple owners report discovering bubbles during routine inspection or after minor bumps.
When: Reported from 9,983 miles to 30,000 miles; one case at 14,536 miles; frequently within first year of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Visible bubble or bulge on sidewall, typically on front tires; No prior impact or road hazard reported; Bulge can expand over time
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replacement required; costs cited range from $180 to multiple replacements totaling $1,600+ when rims also damaged; some covered 50% by Continental; Hankook and Nexen typically deny warranty coverage claiming road hazard
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai defers to tire manufacturer; Continental covered 50% of replacement in some cases; Hankook and Nexen deny coverage; no recalls or TSBs mentioned
Rapid tire pressure loss and flat tires
Owners report tires losing air pressure repeatedly without visible punctures or road hazards, or experiencing sudden blowouts while driving. Some owners experience multiple flats on the same vehicle within months, with pressure dropping from normal to critically low (9-22 PSI) without explanation.
When: Reported from 726 miles to 90,000 miles; one pattern shows repeated losses at 12/17/2012, 12/29/2012, 1/8/2013, 1/21/2013
Symptoms owners cite: Tire pressure warning light illumination; Sudden loss of air pressure without visible puncture; Multiple instances on same vehicle; Tire pressure readings 9-22 PSI when alert occurs; Complete blowout while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement tires; tire repair kits sometimes used; one incident required flatbed tow over 25 miles; costs cited include $1,600 for 4 tires plus alignment and strut work
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer attributed one case to weather; Hyundai offered no compensation; Nexen denied warranty coverage for road hazards
Premature tread wear and separation
Factory-supplied tires wear prematurely, reaching wear bars well before manufacturer mileage ratings. Owners also report thread separation, cracks in tread, and flaking tread material despite normal driving and regular rotations/alignments.
When: Reported down to wear bars at 29,791 miles on tires rated 50,000 miles; tread wear visible at 6,728 miles and 19,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Visible wear to wear bars or extreme wear; Thread separation visible; Horizontal and vertical cracks in tread; Tread flaking or flaking off; Vibration at highway speed
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replacement required; one owner paid $1,600+ for new tires plus alignment and suspension work; manufacturers refuse to honor tread-life warranty
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai and Continental refuse to honor tread-life warranty; Continental states buyer must have purchased tire separately to claim warranty; no TSBs or recalls mentioned
Tire sidewall failure and blowouts
Sidewalls fail catastrophically, causing complete blowout or tire wall collapse inward. Failures occur at highway speeds with no reported impact or road hazard, sometimes immediately after encountering minor bumps or potholes.
When: Reported at 543 miles, 6,700 miles, 11,000 miles, 22,000 miles, 39,000 miles on tires, and up to 90,000 vehicle miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden severe vibration while driving; Tire wall collapses inward; Complete blowout at highway speed; Loss of vehicle control; Wire visible protruding from tire
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replacement mandatory; rim damage common (bent rims requiring separate repair); one owner spent $1,600 total for tires and rims; towing often required when no spare available
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers deny responsibility; Hyundai offers no assistance; Hankook and Nexen deny warranty coverage and refuse to examine failed tires; no recalls or TSBs cited
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) malfunction
TPMS warning light illuminates sporadically or repeatedly even when tire pressures are within normal range and no punctures are found. Light may come on and disappear without resolving, making it difficult for owners to determine if a real problem exists.
When: Reported at 21,781 miles and multiple early instances; one vehicle held at dealer 90 days for diagnosis
Symptoms owners cite: TPMS warning light illuminates and disappears intermittently; Tire pressures checked and found normal or within spec; No visible tire damage or punctures found; Light continues despite repeated air additions
Repairs/costs cited: One owner cited $220 for sensor replacement and TMPS re-registration; dealer held vehicle 90 days without resolving issue; tire pressure monitoring continues to malfunction
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer and Hyundai engineer unable to diagnose; vehicle not repaired after 90-day hold; issue persists; one dealership suggested nitrogen addition which did not resolve problem
Lack of spare tire—tire repair kit inadequacy and safety risk
2013 Elantra comes equipped with a tire repair kit instead of a spare tire. Owners report the air pump does not work reliably, and the repair kit failed catastrophically in one case, causing a tire to explode during use. The repair kit is insufficient for unrepairable damage, leaving drivers stranded without alternatives in remote areas or when cell service is unavailable.
When: Safety issue present from delivery; one explosion incident reported during emergency repair attempt
Symptoms owners cite: Air pump fails to function or does not hold air; No spare tire available as backup; Repair kit insufficient for major tire damage; No cell service in remote areas prevents road service contact; Tire explosion during repair kit use
Repairs/costs cited: One incident: tire exploded during repair kit inflation to 32 PSI, injuring owner's wife (skinned knees, headache); tow required over 25 miles to nearest tire shop; wheel well plastic liner shattered
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai provided repair kit as standard equipment; no compensation offered after explosion and injury; Hyundai cites corporate policy for repair-kit-only design
Factory tire brand and size incompatibility issues
Multiple owners report that factory-equipped tires, particularly 17-inch low-profile options, appear poorly matched to the Elantra platform. Online forums document widespread bubble, blowout, and failure patterns specific to 17-inch wheels on this model. Some owners were told by salespeople tires were not low-profile when they are; dealers and manufacturers provide no technical explanation for the failures.
When: Reported across all model years in the complaint set; pattern is consistent across multiple tire brands and sizes
Symptoms owners cite: Bubbles and blowouts occur disproportionately on 17-inch factory tires; Low-profile 17-inch tires specified as OEM but sometimes misrepresented as standard-profile; Pattern documented in online owner forums and discussion boards; Failures occur on multiple tire brands (Hankook, Nexen, Continental, Kumho, Falken, Primewell)
Repairs/costs cited: Owners switching to different tire models or sizes report improved reliability; some owners report Hyundai replacing 17-inch tires with same problematic model under road-hazard warranty, then refusing future replacements citing 'low-profile' designation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or technical service bulletins addressing tire/wheel compatibility; Hyundai defers to tire manufacturers; no engineering investigation mentioned
Synthesized from 52 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had tires trouble with your 2013 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 2013 Hyundai Elantra?
It's a meaningful issue. 52 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $150.
At what mileage does the tires typically fail?
Across the 41 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most tires failures cluster between 7,000 and 29,000 miles, with the median around 12,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 7,000; a quarter make it past 29,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
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/2013/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.