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Compact Spare Tire Replacement
A compact spare tire has a shorter tread life than a
regular size tire. Replace it when you can see the tread
wear indicator bars on the tire. The replacement
compact spare tire should be the same size and design
tire as the one provided with your new Kia and should
be mounted on the same compact spare tire wheel. The
compact spare tire is not designed to be mounted on
a regular size wheel, and the compact spare tire wheel
is not designed for mounting a regular size tire.
7-37
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
In addition to proper tire inflation, correct wheel
alignment helps to minmize tire wear. Your vehicle’s
alignment sh
ould be checked every 12 months
or
24,000 km (15,000 miles).
Your tires were properly balanced at the factory, but
they may need to be rebalanced before they wear out.
If you notice a consistent vibration when driving, have
your Kia Dealer inspect your tires. A tire should
always be rebalanced if it has been removed from the
wheel.
✻ ✻
NOTICE
Improper wheel weights can damage your
vehicle’s aluminum wheels. Use only approved
wheel weights.
AS2B07024
Tread wear
indicator bar
Indicator
location mark
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Maintenance7-38
Wheel Replacement
When replacing the metal wheels for any reason, make
sure the new wheels are equivalent to the original
factory units in diameter, rim width and offset.
✻ ✻
NOTICE
When replacing tires, never mix radial, bias-
belted, and bias-type tires. All four tires
should be of the same size, design and
construction. Use only the tire sizes listed on
the Tire Label attached to the passenger’s
door. Make sure that all tires and wheels are
the same size and have the same load-
carrying capacity. Use only tire and wheel
combinations recommended on the Tire
Label or by an Authorized Kia Dealer.
Failure to follow these precautions can
adversely affect the safety and handling of
your vehicle.
The use of any other tire size or type may
seriously affect ride, handling, ground
clearance, tire clearance, and speedometer
calibration.
(Continued)
(Continued)
Driving on worn-out tires is very hazardous
and will reduce braking effectiveness,
steering accuracy, and traction.
It is best to replace all four tires on your
vehicle at the same time. If that is not
possible, then replace the two front or two
rear tires as a pair. Replacing just one tire
can seriously affect vehicle handling.
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Tire Size Designation
A tire’s sidewall is marked with a tire size designation.
You will need this information when selecting
replacement tires for your car. The following explains
what the letters and numbers in the tire size
designation mean.
Example tire size designation: P175/70R13 82T
P– Applicable vehicle type (tires marked with the
prefix “P’’ are intended for use on passenger cars;
however, not all tires have this marking).
175– Tire width in millimeters.
65– Aspect Ratio. The tire’s section height as a
percentage of tire width.
7-39
R– Tire construction code (radial).
14– Rim diameter in inches.
81– Load Index; A numerical code associated with the
maximum load the tire can carry.
T– Speed Rating Symbol. See the speed rating chart
in this section for additional information.
Wheel Size Designation
Wheels are also marked with important information
that you need if you ever need to replace one. The
following explains what the letters and numbers in the
wheel size designation mean.
Example wheel size designation: 14 x 5.5J
14– Rim diameter in inches.
5.5– Rim width in inches.
J– Rim contour designation.
CAUTION
A wheel that is not the correct size may adversely
affect wheel and bearing life, braking and
stopping abilities, handling characteristics,
ground clearance, body-to-tire clearance, snow
chain clearance, speedometer calibration,
headlight aim and bumper height.
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Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the tire grading
system developed by the Canadian Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard (CMVSS) for grading tires by tread
wear, traction and temperature performance.
These temperature grades are molded on the sidewalls
of passenger vehicle tires. Tires available as standard
or optional equipment on Kia vehicles may vary with
respect to grade.
Maintenance7-40Tire Speed Ratings
The following chart below shows many of the different
speed ratings currently used for passenger car tires.
The speed rating symbol is part of the tire size
designation on the sidewall of the tire. This symbol
corresponds to that tire’s designed maximum safe
operating speed.
Speed Rating
Symbol
Maximum Speed
S
180 km/h (112 mph)
T
190 km/h (118 mph)
H
210 km/h (130 mph)
V
240 km/h (149 mph)
Z
Above 240 km/h (149 mph)
AN7B07024
Treadwear 340 Traction A
Temperature A
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Temperature – A, B and C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to generate heat and to
dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperatures can cause the material of the tire to
degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive
temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. Grade C
corresponds to a level of performance that all
passenger vehicle tires must meet under the Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades A and
B represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the maximum required by
law.
7-41
Tread Wear
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would wear one-and-a-half
times as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends upon the
actual conditions of their use. Variations in driving
habits, service practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate may significantly affect
performance.
Traction – A, B and C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B
and C, and they represent the tire’s ability to stop on
wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions
on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
WARNING -Tire Temperature
The temperature grade for a tire is established
for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat build-up and
possible sudden tire failure. This can cause loss
of vehicle control and death or personal injury.
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Maintenance7-42
1. Remove the headlight bulb cover by turning it
counterclockwise.
2. Disconnect the electrical connector from the bulb
assembly.
3. Unsnap the headlight bulb retaining wire by
depressing the end of it and pulling it upward.
4. Remove the bulb.
5. Install a new bulb by aligning the bulb with the
three(3) slots on the headlight assembly and snap the
headlight bulb retaining wire into position.
6. Connect the headlight bulb electrical connector.
7. Install the headlight bulb cover.
Bulb ReplacementHeadlight Bulb Replacement
WARNING - Halogen Bulbs
Wear eye protection when changing a bulb.
Allow the bulb to cool before handling it.
Halogen bulbs contain pressurized gas. If
broken, a halogen bulb will explode and will
produce flying pieces of glass.
Always handle halogen bulbs carefully to
avoid scratches and abrasion. If the bulbs
are lit, avoid contact with liquids. Never
touch the glass with bare hands. Residual oil
may cause the bulb to overheat and burst
when lit. A bulb should be operated only
when installed in the headlight assembly.
If a bulb becomes damaged or cracked,
replace it immediately and carefully dispose
it.
1B3106004B
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7-43 Front Turn Signal / Parking Light Bulb Replacement
1. Turn the parking light bulb socket counterclockwise
and remove it from the headlight assembly.
2. Remove the bulb from the socket by pulling it out.
3. Insert a new bulb in the socket.
4. Re-install the parking light bulb socket into the
headlight assembly and rotate it clockwise to lock
the socket in place.
1B3106006
Rear Combination Light Bulb Replacement1. Using a cross-tip screwdriver, remove the screws
and bolts attaching the rear combination light
assembly to the body.
2. Carefully remove the light assembly from the
vehicle.
1B3106007A
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5. Insert a new bulb in the socket, then push the bulb
in and rotate it one-quarter turn clockwise to lock
the bulb in place.
6. Re-install the bulb socket into the rear combination
light assembly and rotate it one-quarter turn
clockwise to lock the socket in place.
7. Carefully re-install the light assembly in the
vehicle.
Maintenance7-44
AS2B07033
3. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise and remove
it from the housing.
4. Push the bulb in, then rotate it one-quarter turn
counterclockwise and remove the bulb from the
socket.
1B3106007C
Turn signal bulbStop/tail light bulb
Backup light bulb
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