Tire Care
Your new Kia needs regular fluid level checks and engine car, but without a good set of tires your Kia won’t perform to the best of its ability. Take care of your tires. Bad or unchecked tires can effect fuel efficiency, cause a skid and possibly lead to an accident. Always be sure your Kia’s tires are in good condition by following these helpful tips and recommendations:
- Check the condition of the tires before entering your Kia.
- Avoid using worn or damaged tires which may result in reduced traction or tire failure. Never exceed the maximum tire inflation pressure shown on the tires.
- Be sure that the wheels are aligned correctly. Improper alignment can result from hitting curbs or driving too fast over irregular surfaces. Poor alignment causes faster tire wear and may also result in other problems as well as greater fuel consumption.
- Keep them inflated to the recommended pressure. Incorrect inflation, either too much or too little, results in unnecessary tire wear. Check the tire pressures at least once a month.
- Avoid braking or gear changing in corners, especially when roads are wet. Ideally, corners should always be taken under gentle acceleration. If you follow these suggestions, tire wear will be held to a minimum.
- Do not spin the wheels, especially at speeds more than 56 km/h (35 mph). Spinning the wheels at high speeds when the vehicle is stationary could cause a tire to overheat which could result in tire damage (we know this might be a bit tougher to follow for those Kia drivers who enjoy reenacting those fast and furious scenes).
- Always check the tire tread before driving your vehicle. Worn-out tires can result in loss of vehicle control. Worn-out tires should be replaced as soon as possible.
Under/Over Inflated Tires
Always check the tires for proper inflation before driving. Underinflated or overinflated tires can cause poor handling, loss of vehicle control, and sudden tire failure can lead to accidents.
Dangers of Low Tire Pressure
Significantly low tire pressure can make your Kia unstable and can contribute to loss of vehicle control and increased braking distances. Continued driving or low-pressure tires will cause your Kia’s tires to overheat and fail. One way of preventing this from occurring is checking the low tire pressure warning light.
Low Tire Pressure Warning Light
This warning light illuminates:
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- Once you set the ignition switch or Engine Start/Stop Button to the ON position.
– It illuminates for approximately 3 seconds and then goes off.
- When one or more of your tires are significantly under-inflated (The location of the underinflated tires are displayed on the LCD display). For more details, refer to “Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)” if equipped. This warning light remains on after blinking for approximately 60 seconds or repeats blinking and off at the intervals of approximately 3 seconds:
- When there is a malfunction with the TPMS. In this case, have your vehicle inspected by a Kia certified technician at Ferguson Kia as soon as possible. The TPMS cannot alert you to severe and sudden tire damage caused by external factors.
- If you notice any vehicle instability, immediately take your foot off the accelerator pedal, apply the brakes gradually with light force, and slowly move to a safe position off the road.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS)
As an added safety feature, your Kia might be equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale when one or more of your tires is significantly under-inflated. Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illuminates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to the proper pressure.
Proper Tire Size
When replacing tires and wheels, make sure they are the same size as the original tires and wheels installed. Driving with varying tire or wheel sizes may cause the ESC system (Electronic Stability Control System) to malfunction. The ESC system can only assist you in maintaining control under certain circumstances. The label located on the driver’s door sill gives the original tire size. If you’re still unsure of the proper tire size refer to your Kia owner manual, or contact a Kia service advisor at Ferguson Kia to know what size of tires is recommended for your specific Kia model.
Over loading
Do not overload your Kia. Overloading your vehicle can cause heat buildup in your vehicle’s tires and possible tire failure, increased stopping distances and poor vehicle handling–all of which may result in a crash.
Snowy or Icy conditions
To drive your vehicle in deep snow, it may be necessary to use snow tires on your tires. If snow tires are needed, it is necessary to select tires equivalent in size and type of the original equipment tires. Failure to do so may adversely affect the safety and handling of your car. Furthermore, speeding, rapid acceleration, sudden brake applications, and sharp turns are potentially very hazardous practices.
Snow Tires
If you mount snow tires on your vehicle, make sure they are radial tires of the same size and load range as the original tires. Mount snow tires on all four wheels to balance your vehicle’s handling in all weather conditions. Keep in mind that the traction provided by snow tires on dry roads may not be as high as your vehicle’s original equipment tires. You should drive cautiously even when the roads are clear. Do not install studded tires without first checking local, state and municipal regulations for possible restrictions against their use.
Driving With a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat while you are driving, apply the brakes gently and keep your Kia pointed straight ahead while you slow down. When you are moving slowly enough for it to be safe to do so, pull off the road and stop in a safe place.
If a tire goes flat while you are driving:
- Take your foot off the accelerator pedal and let the vehicle slow down while driving straight ahead. Do not apply the brakes immediately or attempt to pull off the road as this may cause a loss of control. When the vehicle has slowed down to such a speed that it is safe to do so, brake carefully and pull off the road. Drive off the road as far as possible and park on a firm level ground. If you are on a divided highway, do not park in the median area between the two traffic lanes.
- When you’ve brought your Kia to a complete stop, turn on your emergency hazard flashers, set the parking brake and put the transaxle in P (automatic transaxle).
- Have all passengers get out of the vehicle. Be sure they all get out on the side of the vehicle that is away from traffic.
If your Kia is equipped with a spare tire follow your owner’s manual for proper instructions on changing your tire. Otherwise call for help.
