2006 KIA Sorento tires

When 4WD is selected with the trans-
fer shift knob, the vehicle will switch
to 4WD operation after a few sec-
onds.
To avoid shift shock, when the vehicle
is stopped and you make a transfer
case shift using the transfer shift
know, wait until the corresponding
indicator light in the instrument clus-
ter illuminates before driving.Knob position
This is used to set different positions.
2HI(Rear-wheel drive)
This mode is used, when driving on
normal roads and highway.
4HI(High-range 4-wheel drive)
This mode is used, when driving off-
roads, wet or snow covered roads
with normal speed.
The 4WD indicator light ( ) will be
turned on to remind you that you are
in the 4HI mode.DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE4-24
✽ ✽
NOTICE Do not select four wheel drive on
flat and normal roads.
 Four-wheel driving on flat roads
for a long period causes poor fuel
economy and noise and it also
causes tires to wear faster.
 Four-wheel driving on flat and
normal roads can result in a
severe binding and chattering
condition when turning the steer-
ing wheel.
 Four-wheel driving on flat roads
for a long period can also cause
the differential oil temperature to
increase, resulting in damage to
parts in the power train.
✽ ✽
NOTICEWhen the vehicle shifts into 4WD
mode, a slight mechanical sound
and vibration may be felt and does
not indicate a problem with the sys-
tem.
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For Safe Four-Wheel Drive
Operation
Your vehicle allows you to drive in
on-road and off-road conditions.
However, do not try to drive in deep
standing water, mud, or over steep
hills.
When you are driving up or down
hills, drive as close to straight up
and down the hills as possible. Use
extreme caution in going up or
down steep hills, since you can flip
your vehicle over depending on the
grade, terrain and water/mud con-
ditions.DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE4-26
WARNING
- Four-Wheel
Driving
The conditions on-road or off-
road that demand four-wheel
drive mean all functions of your
vehicle are exposed to more
extreme stress than under high-
way conditions. Slow down,
look ahead, and be ready for
sudden changes in the compo-
sition and traction of the sur-
face under your tires. If you
have any doubt about the safety
of the conditions you are fac-
ing, stop and consider the best
way to proceed. Do not exceed
the ability of yourself or your
vehicle to operate safely.
WARNING
- Steep Hills
Driving across the contour of
steep hills can be extremely
dangerous. This danger can
come from slight changes in the
hill angle which can destabilize
the vehicle. Even if the vehicle
is maintaining stability under
power, it can lose that stability if
the vehicle stops its forward
motion. Your vehicle may roll
over without warning and with-
out time for you to correct a
mistake that could cause seri-
ous injury or death.
HILL1/HILL2 Approach Hill Straight
Up/DownDo not Approach at
Angle
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Do not drive in water if the level is
higher than the bottom of the wheel
hubs.
Check your brake condition once
you are out of mud or water. Press
the brake pedal several times as
you move slowly until you feel nor-
mal braking forces return.
Shorten your scheduled mainte-
nance interval if you drive off-road in
conditions such as sand, mud or
water (see “Scheduled Maintenance’’
in the Index). Always wash your car
thoroughly.
The full time four wheel drive vehi-
cle cannot be towed by an ordinari-
ly tow truck. Make sure that the
vehicle is towed with its four wheels
raised off the ground.Since the driving torque is always
applied to the 4 wheels the perform-
ance of the 4WD vehicle is greatly
affected by the condition of the tires.
Be sure to equip them with all four
tires with same size and type.DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE4-28
CAUTION
While the full-time 4WD vehicle
is being raised on a jack, never
start the engine or cause the
tires to rotate.
There is the danger that rotating
tires touching the ground could
cause the vehicle to go off the
jack and to jump forward.
If one of the front or rear wheels
begins to spin in mud, snow,
etc. the vehicle can sometimes
be driven out by depressing the
accelerator pedal further; how-
ever avoid running the engine
continuously at high rpm
because doing so could dam-
age the 4WD system.
WARNING
-Driving Through Water
If you are driving too fast in
water, the water spray can get
into the engine compartment
and wet the ignition system,
causing your vehicle to sudden-
ly stop. If this happens and your
vehicle is in a tilted position,
your vehicle may roll over.
WARNING
Your vehicle is equipped with
tires designed to provide for safe
ride and handling capability. Do
not use a size and type of tire
and wheel that is different from
the one that is originally
installed on your vehicle. It can
affect the safety and perform-
ance of your vehicle, which
could lead to handling failure or
rollover and serious injury.
When replacing the tires, be
sure to equip all four tires with
the tire and wheel of the same
size, type, tread, brand and
load-carrying capacity. If you
nevertheless decide to equip
your vehicle with any tire/wheel
combination not recommended
by Kia for off road driving, you
should not use these tires for
highway driving.
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TIPS ON DRIVING YOUR
VEHICLEBefore 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.
Necessary Inspections
Fluid levels, such as engine oil,
engine coolant, brake/clutch fluid,
and washer fluid should be checked
on a regular basis, with the exact
interval depending on the fluid.
Further details are provided in the
“Maintenance” section.Before Starting
 Close and lock all doors.
 Position the seat so that all controls
are easily reached.
 Adjust the inside and outside
rearview mirrors.
 Be sure that all lights work.
 Check all gauges.
 Check the operation of warning
lights when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position.
 Release the parking brake and
make sure the brake warning light
goes out.
For safe operation, be sure you are
familiar with your vehicle and its
equipment.
DRIVING TIPS
5-5
WARNING- Driving Under the
Influence of Alcohol or
Drugs
Drinking and driving is danger-
ous. Drunk driving is the num-
ber one contributor to the high-
way death toll each year. Even
a small amount of alcohol will
affect your reflexes, percep-
tions and judgement.
You are much more likely to
have a serious accident if you
drink and drive.
If you are drinking or taking
drugs, don’t drive. Do not ride
with a driver who has been
drinking or taking drugs.
Choose a designated driver or
call a cab.
Driving while under the influ-
ence of drugs is as dangerous
or more dangerous than driving
drunk.
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SUGGESTIONS FOR
ECONOMICAL OPERATIONYour vehicle’s fuel economy depends
mainly on your style of driving, where
you drive and when you drive.
Each of these factors affects how
many miles (kilometers) you can get
from a gallon (liter) of fuel. To operate
your vehicle as economically as pos-
sible, use the following driving sug-
gestions to help save money in both
fuel and repairs:
 Avoid lengthy warm-up idling. Once
the engine is running smoothly,
begin driving. Remember, engine
warm-up may take a little longer on
cold days.
 Save fuel by accelerating slowly
after stopping.
 Keep the engine in tune and follow
the recommended periodic mainte-
nance 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 pres-
sures.
 Maintain a safe distance from other
vehicles to avoid sudden stops.
This will reduce wear on brake lin-
ings and pads. Driving in such a
way will also 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 results
in faster tire wear and lower fuel
economy.
 Open windows at high speeds can
reduce fuel economy.
 Fuel economy is less in crosswinds
and headwinds. To help offset
some of this loss, slow down when
driving in these conditions.
Keeping a vehicle in good operating
condition is important both for econo-
my and safety. Therefore, have an
authorized Kia dealer perform sched-
uled inspections and maintenance.DRIVING TIPS5-6
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SPECIAL DRIVING
CONDITIONSHazardous Driving Conditions
When hazardous driving conditions
are encountered such as water,
snow, ice, mud, sand, or similar haz-
ards, follow these suggestions:
 Drive cautiously and allow extra
distance for braking.
 Avoid sudden movements in brak-
ing or steering.
 When braking in the four-wheel
drive mode (if equipped), pump the
brake pedal with a light up-and-
down motion until the vehicle is
stopped. If stalled in snow, mud, or sand, use
second gear or shift the transfer
case (if equipped) into four-wheel
drive. Accelerate slowly to avoid
spinning the drive wheels.
 Use sand, rock salt, tire chains, or
other non-slip material under the
drive wheels to provide traction
when stalled in ice, snow, or mud.
(If equipped, refer to “Using Four-
Wheel Drive.’’)DRIVING TIPS5-8✽ ✽
NOTICEDo not pump the brake pedal on
ABS equipped vehicle.
WARNING
- Downshifting
On slippery surfaces, down-
shifting can cause an accident.
The sudden change in tire
speed could cause the tires to
skid. Be careful when down-
shifting on slippery surfaces.
Try to drive slowly enough so
you won’t have to make any
sudden changes in gear or vehi-
cle speed.
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Rocking the Vehicle
If it is necessary to rock the vehicle to
free it from snow, sand, or mud, first
turn the steering wheel right and left
to clear the area around your front
wheels. Then, shift back and forth
between 1 (First) and R (Reverse) in
vehicles equipped with a manual
transmission or R (Reverse) and any
forward gear in vehicles equipped
with an automatic transmission. Do
not race the engine, and spin the
wheels as little as possible. If you are
still stuck after a few tries, have the
vehicle pulled out by a tow vehicle to
avoid engine overheating and possi-
ble damage to the transmission,
transfer case (if equipped), or differ-
ential.Driving at Night
Because night driving presents many
more hazards than driving in the day-
light, 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 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 improperly
aimed headlights will make it much
more difficult to see at night.
 Avoid staring directly at the head-
lights of oncoming vehicles. You
could be temporarily blinded, and it
will take several seconds for your
eyes to readjust to the darkness.
DRIVING TIPS
5-9
✽ ✽
NOTICEProlonged rocking may cause
engine over-heating, transmission
or transfer case (if equipped) dam-
age or failure, and tire damage.
WARNING- Spinning Tires
Do not spin the wheels, espe-
cially at speeds more than 35
mph (56 km/h). Spinning the
wheels at high speeds when the
vehicle is stationary could
cause a tire to overheat,
explode and injure bystanders.
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Driving in the Rain
Rain 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:
 A heavy rainfall will make it harder
to see and will increase the dis-
tance needed to stop your vehicle,
so slow down.
 Keep your windshield wiping equip-
ment in good shape. Replace your
windshield wiper blades when they
show signs of streaking or missing
areas on the windshield.
 If your tires are not in good condi-
tion, making a quick stop on wet
pavement can cause a skid and
possibly lead to an accident. Be
sure your tires are in good shape. Turn on your headlights to make it
easier for others to see you.
 Driving too fast through large pud-
dles can affect your brakes. If you
must go through puddles, try to
drive through them slowly.
 If you believe your brakes may have
become wet, apply them lightly
while driving until normal braking
operation returns.Winter Driving
 We recommend that you carry
emergency equipment, including
tire chains, a window scraper, wind-
shield de-icer, a bag of sand or salt,
flares, a small shovel and jumper
cables.
 Make sure you have sufficient eth-
ylene-glycol coolant in the radiator.
 Check the battery condition and
cables. Cold temperatures reduce
the capacity of any battery, so it
must be in excellent condition 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.DRIVING TIPS5-10
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