549
Driving your vehicle
ESC OFF usage
When driving
ESC should be turned on for dailydriving whenever possible.
To turn ESC off while driving, press the ESC OFF button while driving
on a flat road surface.
✽✽ NOTICE
When operating the vehicle on a dynamometer, ensure that the
ESC is turned off (ESC OFF light
illuminated). If the ESP is left on,
it may prevent the vehicle speed
from increasing, and result in false
diagnosis.
Turning the ESC off does not affect ABS or brake system opera-
tion. CAUTION
Driving with varying tire or
wheel sizes may cause the ESCsystem to malfunction. When replacing tires, make sure theyare the same size as your origi-nal tires.
WARNING
The Electronic Stability Control
is only a driving aid; use pre-
cautions for safe driving by
slowing down on curved,
snowy, or icy roads. Drive slow-
ly and don’t attempt to acceler-
ate whenever the ESC indicator
light is blinking, or when the
road surface is slippery.
WARNING
Never press the ESC OFF but- ton while ESC is operating (ESC
indicator light blinks). If ESC is turned off while ESC is
operating, the vehicle may slip
out of control.
551
Driving your vehicle
Malfunction indicator
The VSM can be deactivated even if
you don’t cancel the VSM operation
by pressing the ESC OFF button. Itindicates that a malfunction has
been detected somewhere in the
EPS (Electronic Power Steering)
system or VSM system. If the ESC
indicator light ( ) or EPS warning
light remains on, we recommend that
you contact an authorized Kia dealer.
✽✽NOTICE
The VSM is designed to function above approximately 15 km/h (9
mph) on curves.
The VSM is designed to function above approximately 30 km/h (18
mph) when a vehicle is braking on
a split-mu road. The split-mu road
is made of surfaces which have dif-
ferent friction forces.
Hill-start assist control (HAC) (if equipped)
A vehicle has the tendency to slip
back on a steep hill when it starts to
go after stopping. The Hill-start
Assist Control (HAC) prevents the
vehicle from slipping back by operat-
ing the brakes automatically for
about 2 seconds. The brakes are
released when the accelerator pedalis depressed or after about 2 sec-
onds.WARNING
The Vehicle Stability Management system is not a
substitute for safe driving
practices but a supplemen-
tary function only. It is theresponsibility of the driver to
always check the speed and
the distance to the vehicle
ahead. Always hold the steer-
ing wheel firmly while driving.
Your vehicle is designed to activate according to the dri-
ver’s intention, even with the
VSM installed. Always follow
all the normal precautions for
driving at safe speeds for the
conditions – including driving
in inclement weather and on a
slippery road.
Driving with varying tire or wheel sizes may cause theVSM system to malfunction.
When replacing tires, make
sure they are the same size as
your original tires.
WARNING
The HAC is activated only for
about 2 seconds, so when the
vehicle is starting off alwaysdepress the accelerator pedal.
5101
Driving your vehicle
Severe weather conditions in the
winter result in greater wear and
other problems. To minimize the
problems of winter driving, you
should follow these suggestions:Snowy or Icy conditions
To drive your vehicle in deep snow, it
may be necessary to use snow tires
or to install tire chains on your tires.
If snow tires are needed, it is neces-
sary 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
vehicle. Furthermore, speeding,
rapid acceleration, sudden brake
applications, and sharp turns are
potentially very hazardous practices.
During deceleration, use engine
braking to the fullest extent. Sudden
brake applications on snowy or icy
roads may cause skids to occur. You
need to keep sufficient distance
between the vehicle in operation in
front and your vehicle. Also, apply
the brake gently. It should be notedthat installing tire chains on the tire
will provide a greater driving force,
but will not prevent side skids.
✽✽
NOTICE
Tire chains are not legal in all coun-
tries. Check the country laws before
fitting tire chains.
Snow tires
If you mount snow tires on your vehi-
cle, 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 provid-
ed by snow tires on dry roads may
not be as high as your vehicle's orig-
inal equipment tires. You should drive
cautiously even when the roads are
clear. Check with the tire dealer for
maximum speed recommendations.
Do not install studded tires without first checking local, state and munic-ipal regulations for possible restric-tions against their use.
WINTER DRIVING
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 affect-ed.
OKH052096
Driving your vehicle
102
5
Tire chains
Since the sidewalls of radial tires are
thinner, they can be damaged by
mounting some types of snow chains
on them. Therefore, the use of snowtires is recommended instead of
snow chains. Do not mount tire
chains on vehicles equipped with
aluminum wheels; snow chains may
cause damage to the wheels. If snow
chains must be used, use the
AutoSock (fabric snow chain).
Damage to your vehicle caused by
improper snow chain use is not cov-
ered by your vehicle manufacturers
warranty.
Install the AutoSock (fabric snow
chain) only on the rear tires. Chain installation
When installing the AutoSock (fabric
snow chain), follow the manufactur-
er's instructions and mount them as
tightly as you can. Drive slowly with
the AutoSock (fabric snow chain)
installed. If you hear the AutoSock
(fabric snow chain) contacting the
body or chassis, stop and tighten
them. If they still make contact, slow
down until it stops. Remove the
AutoSock (fabric snow chain) as
soon as you begin driving on cleared
roads.
CAUTION
Make sure the AutoSock (fab-
ric snow chain) are the correctsize and type for your tires.Incorrect snow chains cancause damage to the vehicle body and suspension and maynot be covered by your vehiclemanufacturer warranty.
Always check the AutoSock (fabric snow chain) installa-tion for proper mounting afterdriving approximately 0.5 to 1km (0.3 to 0.6 miles) to ensuresafe mounting. Retighten or remount the AutoSock (fabricsnow chain) if they are loose.
OKH052098
WARNING
- Mounting chains
When mounting the AutoSock
(fabric snow chain), park the
vehicle on level ground away
from traffic. Turn on the vehicle
Hazard Warning flashers and
place a triangular emergency
warning device behind the vehi-
cle if available. Always place the
vehicle in P (Park), apply theparking brake and turn off the
engine before installing the
AutoSock (fabric snow chain).
5103
Driving your vehicle
Use high quality ethylene gly- col coolant
Your vehicle is delivered with high
quality ethylene glycol coolant in the
cooling system. It is the only type ofcoolant that should be used because
it helps prevent corrosion in the cool-
ing system, lubricates the water
pump and prevents freezing. Be sure
to replace or replenish your coolantin accordance with the maintenance
schedule in section 7. Before winter,
have your coolant tested to assure
that its freezing point is sufficient for
the temperatures anticipated during
the winter.
Check battery and cables
Winter puts additional burdens on
the battery system. Visually inspect
the battery and cables as described
in section 7. We recommend that the
level of charge in your battery be
checked by an authorized Kia dealer.Change to "winter weight" oil
if necessary In some climates it is recommended
that a lower viscosity "winter weight"
oil be used during cold weather. See
section 8 for recommendations. If
you aren't sure what weight oil you
should use, we recommend that you
consult an authorized Kia dealer.
Check spark plugs and igni- tion system
Inspect your spark plugs as
described in section 7 and replace
them if necessary. Also check all
ignition wiring and components to be
sure they are not cracked, worn or
damaged in any way.
CAUTION
The AutoSock (fabric snow
chain) that are the wrong sizeor improperly installed can damage your vehicle's brakelines, suspension, body andwheels.
Stop driving and retighten the AutoSock (fabric snow chain)any time you hear them hittingthe vehicle.
WARNING - Tire chains
The use of the AutoSock (fab- ric snow chain) may adversely
affect vehicle handling.
Do not exceed 30 km/h (20 mph) or the AutoSock (fabric
snow chain) manufacturer’srecommended 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.
69
What to do in an emergency
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) (IF EQUIPPED)
(1) Low tire pressure telltale /
TPMS malfunction indicator
(2) Low tire pressure position telltale (Shown on the LCD display)
Each tire, including the spare (if pro-
vided), should be checked monthlywhen cold and inflated to the inflation
pressure recommended by the vehi-
cle manufacturer on the vehicle plac-ard or tire inflation pressure label. (If your vehicle has tires of a different
size than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation pres-
sure label, you should determine the
proper tire inflation pressure for
those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your
vehicle has been equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
that illuminates a low tire pressure
telltale when one or more of yourtires is significantly under-inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pres-
sure telltale illuminates, you should
stop and check your tires as soon as
possible, and inflate them to the
proper pressure. Driving on a signifi-cantly under-inflated tire causes the
tire to overheat and can lead to tire
failure. Under-inflation also reduces
fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and
may affect the vehicle’s handling and
stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a
substitute for proper tire mainte-
nance, and it is the driver’s responsi-bility to maintain correct tire pres-
sure, even if under-inflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumina-
tion of the TPMS low tire pressure
telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped
with a TPMS malfunction indicator toindicate when the system is not
operating properly. The TPMS mal-function indicator is combined with
the low tire pressure telltale. Whenthe system detects a malfunction,
the telltale will flash for approximate-
ly 1 minute and then remain continu-
ously illuminated. This sequence will
continue upon subsequent vehicle
start-ups as long as the malfunction
exists. When the TPMS malfunctionindicator remains illuminated after
blinking for approximately 1 minute,
the system may not be able to detect
or signal low tire pressure as intend-ed.
OKH062025
743
Maintenance
TIRES AND WHEELS
Tire care
For proper maintenance, safety, and
maximum fuel economy, you must
always maintain recommended tire
inflation pressures and stay within
the load limits and weight distribution
recommended for your vehicle. Recommended cold tire infla- tion pressures All tire pressures (including the
spare) should be checked when the
tires are cold. “Cold Tires” means the
vehicle has not been driven for at
least three hours or driven less than1.6 km (one mile).
Recommended pressures must be
maintained for the best ride, top vehi-
cle handling, and minimum tire wear.
For recommended inflation pressure,
refer to “Tire and wheels” in section 8. All specifications (sizes and pres-
sures) can be found on a label
attached to the vehicle.
WARNING
- Tire underin-
flation
Severe underinflation can lead
to severe heat build-up, causing
blowouts, tread separation andother tire failures that can result
in the loss of vehicle control
leading to severe injury or
death. This risk is much higher
on hot days and when driving
for long periods at high speeds.
OBH088004N
CAUTION
Underinflation also results in excessive wear, poor handlingand reduced fuel economy. Wheel deformation also ispossible. Keep your tire pres-sures at the proper levels.
If a tire frequently needs refill-ing, we recommend that thesystem be checked by anauthorized Kia dealer.
Overinflation produces a harsh ride, excessive wear atthe center of the tire tread, anda greater possibility of dam-age from road hazards.
Maintenance
46
7
Disc brake pads should be inspected
for wear whenever tires are rotated.
✽✽ NOTICE
Rotate radial tires that have an
asymmetric tread pattern only from
front to rear and not from right to
left.
Wheel alignment and tire bal- ance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced carefully at the
factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
In most cases, you will not need to
have your wheels aligned again.
However, if you notice unusual tire
wear or your vehicle pulling one way
or the other, the alignment may needto be reset.
If you notice your vehicle vibrating
when driving on a smooth road, your
wheels may need to be rebalanced.
S2BLA790
S2BLA790A
CBGQ0707A
Without a spare tire
With a full-size spare tire (if equipped) Directional tires (if equipped)
WARNING
Do not use the compact spare tire for tire rotation.
Do not mix bias ply and radial ply tires under any circum-
stances. This may cause
unusual handling characteris-tics that could result in death,
severe injury, or property
damage.
CAUTION
Improper wheel weights can
damage your vehicle's alu-minum wheels. Use onlyapproved wheel weights.