2005 KIA Rio tires

4-19 Disc Brake Wear Indicators
Your vehicle has front disc brakes.
When your front brake pads are worn and it’s time for
new pads, you will hear a high-pitched warning sound
from your front brakes. You may hear this sound inter-
mittently or constantly.Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when you first apply, or lightly apply, the
brakes. This is normal and does not indicate a problem
with your brakes.
Rear Drum BrakesYour rear drum brakes don’t have wear indicators.
Have the rear brake linings inspected if you hear a rear
brake rubbing noise. Also, have your rear brakes
inspected each time you change or rotate your tires and
when you have the front brakes replaced.
WARNING - Brake Wear
This brake-wear warning sound means your
vehicle needs service. If you ignore this audible
warning, you will eventually lose braking per-
formance, which could lead to a serious acci-
dent.✽
NOTICE
To avoid costly brake repairs, do not continue to
drive with worn brake pads.
CAUTION
Always replace brake linings or front pads as
complete front or rear axle sets.
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Operating Precautions for Catalytic ConvertersYour vehicle is equipped with a catalytic converter
emission control device.
Therefore, the following precautions must be observed:
 Use only UNLEADED FUEL.
 Do not park the vehicle over or near flammable
objects, such as dry grass, paper, leaves, etc. Under
certain conditions, they could be ignited by a hot
exhaust system.
 Do not operate the vehicle when there are signs of
engine malfunction, such as misfire or a noticeable
loss of performance.
 Do not misuse or abuse the engine. Examples of
misuse are coasting with the ignition off and
descending steep grades in gear with the ignition
off.
 Do not operate the engine at high idle speed for
extended periods (5 minutes or more). Do not modify or tamper with any part of the engine
or emission control system. All inspections and
adjustments must be made by a qualified technician.
Failure to observe the above precautions could result in
damage to the catalytic converter and to your vehicle
and could void your warranties.
Before DrivingBefore entering vehicle:
 Be sure that all windows, outside mirror(s), and
outside lights are clean.
 Check the condition of the tires.
 Check under the vehicle for any sign of leaks.
 Be sure there are no obstacles behind you if you
intend to back up.
Driving Tips5-4
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Suggestions for Economical
OperationYour vehicle’s fuel economy is mainly dependent on
your style of driving, how you drive, where you drive
and when you drive.
Each of these factors has an effect on how many miles
(kilometers) you can get from a gallon (liter) of fuel.
To operate your vehicle as economically as possible,
use the following driving suggestions to help save
money in both fuel and repairs:
 Avoid lengthy warm-up idling. Once the engine
is running smoothly, begin driving. Remember,
though, that on cold days, engine warm-up may take
a little longer.
 Save fuel by accelerating slowly after stopping.
 Keep the engine in tune and follow the
recommended periodic maintenance schedule.
This will increase the life of all parts and lower your
operating costs.
 Do not use the air conditioner unnecessarily.
 Slow down when driving on rough roads. For longer tire life and better fuel economy, always
keep the tires inflated to the recommended
pressures.
 Maintain a safe distance from other vehicles to
avoid sudden stops. This will reduce wear on brake
linings and pads and save fuel because extra fuel is
required to accelerate back to driving speed.
 Do not carry unnecessary weight in the vehicle.
 Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving. This can cause needless wear, possible
damage to the brakes, and poor fuel economy.
 Improper wheel alignment causes the tires to roll
at excessive angles, which results in faster tire wear.
It takes more power to overcome this improper
alignment, which wastes fuel.
 Open windows at high speeds can reduce fuel
economy.
 Crosswinds and headwinds reduce fuel economy. To
help offset some of this loss, slow down when
driving in these conditions.Driving Tips5-6
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Driving Tips5-8Rocking the Vehicle
If it is necessary to rock the vehicle to free it from
snow, sand, or mud, move the shift lever of an
automatic transaxle from D (Drive) to R (Reverse) in a
repeat pattern while depressing the accelerator gently.
With a manual transaxle, move the shift lever back and
forth from 1 (First) to R (Reverse).
Do not race the engine. If you are still stuck after a
couple minutes of rocking, have the vehicle pulled out
by a tow vehicle to avoid engine overheating and
possible damage to the transaxle.
✽
NOTICE
Prolonged rocking may cause engine overheating,
transaxle damage or failure, and tire damage.
WARNING - Spinning Tires
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,
explode and injure bystanders.
 When starting from a stop in snow, mud, or sand,
use second gear and accelerate slowly to avoid
spinning the front wheels. Low gear may be used, if
necessary.
 Use sand, rock salt, tire chains, or other non-slip
material under the front wheels to provide traction
when stalled on ice, snow, or mud.
WARNING - Downshifting
Downshifting into first gear with a manual
transaxle or into low with an automatic
transaxle while driving on slippery surfaces
can cause an accident. The sudden change in
tire speed could cause the tires to skid. Be
careful when downshifting on slippery
surfaces.
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5-9 Driving at Night
Because night driving presents many more hazards
than driving in the daylight, here are some important
tips to remember:
 Slow down and keep more distance between you
and other vehicles as it may be more difficult to see
at night, especially in rural areas where there may
not be any street lights.
 Adjust your mirrors to reduce the glare from other
driver’s headlights.
 Keep your headlights clean and properly aimed.
Dirty or misaimed headlights will make it much
more difficult to see at night.
 Avoid staring directly at the headlights of oncoming
vehicles. You could be temporarily blinded and it
will take several seconds for your eyes to readjust to
the darkness.
Driving in the RainRain and wet roads can make driving dangerous,
especially if you’re not prepared for the slick
pavement. Here are a few things to consider when
driving in the rain:
 Be sure your windshield wipers are in good
condition.
 A heavy rainfall will make it harder to see and will
increase the distance needed to stop your vehicle, so
slow down.
 If your tires aren’t in good condition, making a
quick stop on wet pavement can cause a skid and
possibly lead to an accident. Be sure your tires and
windshield wipers are in good shape.
 Turn on your headlights to make it easier for others
to see you.
 Driving too fast through large puddles can affect
your brakes. If you must go through puddles, try to
drive through them slowly.
 If you believe you may have gotten your brakes wet,
apply them lightly while driving until normal
braking operation returns.
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Driving Tips5-10
Snow Tires
When snow tires are used, select the size and
construction specified on the Tire Pressure Label. It is
strongly recommended that snow tires be used on all
four wheels, or poor handling may result. Snow tires
should not be operated at speeds exceeding 75 mph
(120 km/h).
These tires should be inflated 4 psi (28 kPa,
0.3 kg/cm
2) above the recommended pressures shown
on the Tire Specification/Pressure Label, but inflation
should never exceed the maximum cold-tire pressure
shown on the tire sidewalls.
Do not install studded tires without first checking
local, provincial and municipal regulations for
possible restrictions against their use.
WARNING - Snow Tire Size
Snow tires should be equivalent in size and
type to the vehicle’s standard tires. Otherwise,
the safety and handling of your vehicle may be
adversely affected.
Winter Driving We recommend that you carry emergency
equipment. Some things you might include are tire
chains, a window scraper, windshield de-icer, a bag
of sand or salt, flares, a small shovel and jumper
cables.
 Make sure you have sufficient ethylene glycol
coolant in the radiator.
 Check the battery condition and cables. Cold
temperatures reduce the capacity of any battery, so it
must be in top shape to provide enough winter
starting power.
 Make sure the engine oil viscosity is suitable for
cold weather.
 Check the ignition system for loose connections and
damage.
 Use antifreeze-formulated windshield washer fluid
and make sure you have sufficient fluid for your
trip. (Do not use engine coolant antifreeze.)
 Do not use the parking brake if it might freeze. This
is most likely to happen after driving in slushy or
wet conditions and temperatures drop into the
freezing range. When parking, shift to P (Park) with
automatic transaxle, or to 1 (First) or R (Reverse)
with a manual transaxle and block the rear wheels.
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5-11
Tire Chains
Tire Chain Selection
Regulations regarding the use of tire chains vary
according to location or type of road, so always check
them before installing chains.
Use only SAE Class “S’’ tire chains. Chains must be
the proper size for the vehicle, as recommended by the
chain manufacturer.
Chain Installation
When installing chains on your tires, carefully follow
the instructions of the chain manufacturer.
The chain bands will scratch the wheel covers.
Remove the covers before installing the chains.
WARNING - Tire Chains
 The use of chains may adversely affect
vehicle handling.
 Do not exceed 50 km/h (30 mph) or the
chain manufacturer’s recommended speed
limit, whichever is lower.
 Drive carefully and avoid bumps, holes,
sharp turns and other road hazards, which
may cause the vehicle to bounce.
 Avoid sharp turns or locked-wheel braking.
 Do not attempt to use a tire chain on the
temporary spare tire because it may impair
vehicle handling and result in damage to the
vehicle and the tire.
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Trailer TowingWe do not recommend using this vehicle for trailer
towing.
Driving Tips5-12Install the chains on the front tires as tightly as
possible. The use of chains on the rear tires is not
recommended. Retighten the chains after driving
0.5-1.0 km (1/4-1/2 mile).Driving in Flooded AreasAvoid driving through flooded areas unless you are
sure the water is no higher than the bottom of the
wheel rims. Drive through any water slowly. Allow
adequate stopping distance because brake performance
may be affected.
After driving through water, dry the brakes by gently
applying them several times while the vehicle is
moving slowly.
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