2015 KIA Optima Traction

755
Maintenance
7. Uniform tire quality grading
Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between tread shoulder and maxi-
mum section width.
For example:
TREADWEAR 440
TRACTION A
TEMPERATURE A
Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified govern-
ment test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one-and-a-
half times (1½) as well on the gov-
ernment course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions
of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.Tires degrade over time, even when
they are not being used. Regardless
of the remaining tread, we recom-
mend that tires be replaced after
approximately six (6) years of nor-
mal service. Heat caused by hot cli-
mates or frequent high loading con-
ditions can accelerate the aging
process.
These grades are molded on the
side-walls of passenger vehicle tires.
The tires available as standard or
optional equipment on your vehicles
may vary with respect to grade.
Traction - AA, A, B & C
The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B and C. Those
grades represent the tires ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on spec-
ified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked
C may have poor traction perform-
ance.
The traction grade assigned to this
tire is based on straight-ahead brak-
ing traction tests, and does not
include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction char-
acteristics.

757
Maintenance
Intended Outboard Sidewall: The
side of an asymmetrical tire, that
must always face outward when
mounted on a vehicle.
Kilopascal (kPa): The metric unit for
air pressure.
Load Index: An assigned number
ranging from 1 to 279 that corre-
sponds to the load carrying capacity
of a tire.
Maximum Inflation Pressure: The
maximum air pressure to which a
cold tire may be inflated. The maxi-
mum air pressure is molded onto the
sidewall.
Maximum Load Rating : The load
rating for a tire at the maximum per-
missible inflation pressure for that
tire.
Maximum Loaded Vehicle Weight:
The sum of curb weight; accessory
weight; vehicle capacity weight; and
production options weight.
Normal Occupant Weight: The
number of occupants a vehicle is
designed to seat multiplied by 68 kg
(150 pounds). Occupant Distribution
: Designated
seating positions.
Outward Facing Sidewall: The side
of a asymmetrical tire that has a par-
ticular side that faces outward when
mounted on a vehicle. The outward
facing sidewall bears white lettering
or bears manufacturer, brand, and/or
model name molding that is higher or
deeper than the same moldings on
the inner facing sidewall.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire : A tire
used on passenger cars and some
light duty trucks and multipurpose
vehicles.
Recommended Inflation Pressure :
Vehicle manufacturer's recommend-
ed tire inflation pressure and shown
on the tire placard.
Radial Ply Tire : A pneumatic tire in
which the ply cords that extend to the
beads are laid at 90 degrees to the
centerline of the tread.
Rim: A metal support for a tire and
upon which the tire beads are seat-
ed.
Sidewall: The portion of a tire
between the tread and the bead. Speed Rating: An alphanumeric
code assigned to a tire indicating the
maximum speed at which a tire can
operate.
Traction: The friction between the
tire and the road surface. The
amount of grip provided.
Tread: The portion of a tire that
comes into contact with the road.
Treadwear Indicators: Narrow
bands, sometimes called "wear
bars," that show across the tread of a
tire when only 2/32 inch of tread
remains.
UTQGS: Uniform Tire Quality
Grading Standards, a tire information
system that provides consumers with
ratings for a tire's traction, tempera-
ture and treadwear. Ratings are
determined by tire manufacturers
using government testing proce-
dures. The ratings are molded into
the sidewall of the tire.
Vehicle Capacity Weight
: The num-
ber of designated seating positions
multiplied by 68 kg (150 lbs.) plus the
rated cargo and luggage load.

Maintenance
58
7
Vehicle Maximum Load on the
Tire: Load on an individual tire due to
curb and accessory weight plus
maximum occupant and cargo
weight.
Vehicle Normal Load on the Tire:
Load on an individual tire that is
determined by distributing to each
axle its share of the curb weight,
accessory weight, and normal occu-
pant weight and driving by 2.
Vehicle Placard: A label permanent-
ly attached to a vehicle showing the
original equipment tire size and rec-
ommended inflation pressure.All season tires
Kia specifies all season tires on
some models to provide good per-
formance for use all year round,
including snowy and icy road condi-
tions. All season tires are identified
by ALL SEASON and/or M+S (Mud
and Snow) on the tire sidewall. Snow
tires have better snow traction than
all season tires and may be more
appropriate in some areas.
Summer tires
Kia specifies summer tires on some
models to provide superior perform-
ance on dry roads. Summer tire per-
formance is substantially reduced in
snow and ice. Summer tires do not
have the tire traction rating M+S
(Mud and Snow) on the tire side wall.
If you plan to operate your vehicle in
snowy or icy conditions, Kia recom-
mends the use of snow tires or all
season tires on all four wheels.
Snow tires
If you equip your car with snow tires,
they should be the same size and
have the same load capacity as the
original tires. Snow tires should be
installed on all four wheels; other-
wise, poor handling may result.
Snow tires should carry 28 kPa (4
psi) more air pressure than the pres-
sure recommended for the standard
tires on the tire label on the driver's
side of the center pillar, or up to the
maximum pressure shown on the tire
sidewall, whichever is less.
Do not drive faster than 120 km/h (75
mph) when your vehicle is equipped
with snow tires.

Index
8I
Tire traction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-52
Wheel alignment and tire balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-50
Wheel replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-52
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. 6-23 Emergency towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-24
Removable towing hook (front) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-24
Towing service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-23
Trip computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-79 Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-80
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-79
Trip A/B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-82\
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . 4-22 Closing the trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-23
Emergency trunk lid release cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-23
Emergency trunk safety release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-24
Opening the trunk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-22
Vehicle break-in process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Vehicle certification label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
Vehicle identification number (VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
Vehicle load limit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-58 Certification label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-61
Tire and loading information label. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-58
Vehicle weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-63 Warning and indicator lights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-84
Indicator Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-90
Warning lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-84
Washer fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-35 Checking the washer fluid level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-35
Welcome system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-98 Escort welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-98
Interior light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-98
Welcome light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-98
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
4-25 Power window lock button. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-29
Power windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-26
Windshield defrosting and defogging. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-133 Automatic climate control system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-134
Defogging logic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-135
Manual climate control system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-133
Winter driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-55 Carry emergency equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-57
Change to "winter weight" oil if necessary . . . . . . . 5-56
Check battery and cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-56
Check spark plugs and ignition system . . . . . . . . . . 5-56
Don't let ice and snow accumulate underneath . . . . 5-57
Don't let your parking brake freeze . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-57
Snowy or Icy conditions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-55
To keep locks from freezing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-56
Use approved window washer anti-freeze in system . . 5-56
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