What should I know about tire and wheel replacement?

ANSWER : I owned a 2008 Sonata and currently own a 2015 Sonata Sport 2.0T Limited. With your generation as well as my 2015, the Sonata with the 2.0T engine has larger brakes so the 18 inch wheels make more room for them. Since yours is a 2.4 Limited, it only has the 18 inch wheels for appearance as all 2.4 ltr versions whether Base or Limited, have the same size brakes. I do not recommend a 215mm section width with the 18 inch wheels. The ride and handling will deteriorate badly. If you are sticking with the 18 inch wheels, then stick with the 225/45R18 tires. You can most certainly change down to the 215/55R17 tires AND wheels. Any 17 inch wheels listed for the Base, SE, GLS, etc will fit fine. The ride and handling will be different. It will ride a bit smoother as you are increasing the sidewall aspect ratio – 55 vs 45%. The will also be narrower – 215mm vs 225 mm. It may not grip as well in dry weather but you may notice a little better traction in wet and snowy conditions as there will be more weight concentrated on a narrower tread area. Your speedometer may be slightly off however. The average overall diameter of a 225/45R18 tire is 25.9 inches. So that makes for roughly 802 revolutions per mile. The 215/55R17 will have an average diameter of 26.3 inches and approximately 790 revolutions per mile. A slight difference that may only cause your speedometer to be off by 1-2 mph. On the up side, you may get a slight bump in miles per gallon. The taller tire will reduce engine rpms at highway speeds slightly. So if you are willing to reduce the wheels from 18 inch to 17 inch, then go ahead with the 215/55R17 tires. If you are keeping the 18 inch wheels, then stick with the 225/45R18 tires.

ANSWER : A clicking noise on turning is very characteristic of a failed outboard CV axle joint. Sometimes, in such a circumstance, you can see that the rubber outboard boot is actually torn and leaking grease. If you see that (look behind the wheel toward the axle end), the axle for sure will have to be serviced. If you change the axle, be sure to install a new rubber seal on the transmission output side so that you do not have transmission fluid leaks with the new axle (a common mistake is to overlook that seal; if an old, left-in-place seal leaks after the axle is put in the job has to be done all over again). Vibration without actual shaking of the steering wheel "might" be related to the axle issue. On the other hand, such vibration could also be due to a failed wheel bearing, especially with over 200,000 miles on the vehicle and if those are the original bearings. If you were to need both an axle and a wheel bearing at the same time, and on the same side, that’s actually not that bad because the steering knuckle that holds the wheel bearing has to come off anyway to replace the axle. But, backing up here, the very first thing to do is get the issue properly diagnosed so you spend the minimum possible. If you want to obtain a diagnostic, please request a vehicle CV/wheel bearing noise inspection and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

ANSWER : 205/55R17 may be too tall for your vehicle. A couple of good sources to check size compatibility for your vehicle would be tirerack.com or maybe discounttire.com. Sites like Tire Rack specialize in winter tire packages and is a good source for fitment options. I have personally used Bridgestone and Dunlop snow tires and would recommend either. However, it is highly recommended that winter tires be mounted at all 4 corners. Having different tires with different capabilities not only makes the vehicle unstable, it will effect systems like the anti-lock brakes and traction control. Winter tires perform much better than summer or all-season tires do in ice and snow conditions. Having two tires with good winter traction and two with poor traction will have the anti-lock brake system working overtime. Also, sticking with a smaller tire for winter use is advisable. For ice and snow driving, you want the opposite for summer driving. Wide, low profile tires improve warm, dry weather driving. Tall, narrow, tires provide better control on snow and ice. Consider keeping your stock 16 inch wheels for winter use with winter tires mounted on them and maybe a nice set of 17 inch wheels and tires for summer use. I’ve done that with nearly every vehicle I’ve owned whether front, rear, or all-wheel drive.

ANSWER : You are correct to think that the transfer case itself or the control module for it could be causing this issue. The only other possibility would be a wiring issue directly behind the switch preventing the four wheel drive high setting from working properly. I would enlist in the assistance of a qualified professional to check your four wheel drive circuit with a wiring diagram and digital multimeter to determine if the issue is electrical or mechanical. Once this has been done, the correct repair procedure can be identified.

ANSWER : Hello – perhaps the question should be "Do I have to replace the wheel hub/bearings if one or more studs are broken off?". And, the answer is "No, simply replaced the broken studs." That is – unless the hub or wheel bearings were damaged by whatever incident broke the studs. If it is necessary to replace the hub, you are better off buying a hub/bearing assembly – even if you have a choice (for most new cars, you don’t). Replacing a bearing within a hub requires heavy duty press tools to press the old bearing out and the new bearing in. you need experience, comfort level and specialized tools for this. I would recommend having a wheel hub/bearing assembly replacement done by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.

ANSWER : Your tires will need to be replaced multiple times during the life of your ownership. There’s no way around that, unless you just don’t drive the car. Your wheels should last the life of the car, though. With that being said, there may be an instance that requires you to replace the wheel (an auto accident, large debris in the road, etc.). Here’s what you should know:

Tires: Replace your tires as needed, or as recommended by your service professional. Always replace your tires with the same size that came on the car. You can find the size on the driver side door placard, as well.
Wheels: Your car is equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). This system uses a special sensor mounted inside each tire, attached to the wheel. Any replacement wheel must be rated for TPMS use.

ANSWER : Hi and thanks for contacting Your Mechanic. There are a couple ways to determine if the tires will fit on your vehicle. First look at the tires that are currently on the vehicle and see what the tire size is. If the tires size is the same, then yes the tires will work. If the tire size is different, then look at the first number and the last number. The first number determines how wide the tire is. The last number determines what size of rim the tires will mount to. Make sure that the last number is the same. The middle number is for the sidewall type and this determines how good the vehicle will handle and ride on roads in different road conditions. If you are not sure that the tires on the vehicle are the size that you need, then look at the door placard on the driver door or on the mounting area by the driver door on the cab and you will see the tire size required by manufacture. If that label is not present, then look in the owner’s manual for the tire size. If you need further assistance with determining the correct tire size for your vehicle, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

ANSWER : Anything is possible with enough engineering. The changes you are looking at would take major structural changes and would definitely not be an easy job. You could possibly consult a manufacturing engineer to get more details on how this could actually be carried out and whether it would be feasible.