5-29
Driving your vehicle
5
Using All Wheel Drive (AWD)
The All Wheel Drive (AWD) System
delivers engine power to front and
rear wheels for maximum traction.
AWD is useful when extra traction is
required, such as when driving on
slippery, muddy, wet, or snow-cov-
ered roads.
If the system determines there is a
need for four wheel drive, the
engine's driving power is distributed
to all four wheels automatically.
✽ ✽
NOTICE
• Do not drive in water if the level is
higher than the bottom of the vehi-
cle.
• Shorten your scheduled mainte-
nance interval if you drive in off-
road conditions such as sand, mud
or water (see "Maintenance Under
Severe Usage Conditions" in chap-
ter 7).
• Make sure that an AWD vehicle is
towed by flatbed tow truck.
A AL
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To reduce the risk of SERIOUS
INJURY or DEATH:
Do not drive in conditions that
exceed the vehicles intended
design such as challenging
off-road conditions.
Avoid high speeds when cor-
nering or turning.
Do not make quick steering
wheel movements, such as
sharp lane changes or fast,
sharp turns.
The risk of a rollover is great-
ly increased if you lose con-
trol of your vehicle at highway
speeds.
Loss of control often occurs if
two or more wheels drop off
the roadway and the driver
over steers to reenter the
roadway.
(Continued)
(Continued)
In the event your vehicle
leaves the roadway, do not
steer sharply. Instead, slow
down before pulling back into
the travel lanes.
Always drive safely and use
caution when driving an AWD
vehicle.
WARNING
If the AWD warning light ( )
stays on the instrument cluster,
your vehicle may have a mal-
function with the AWD system.
When the AWD warning light
( ) illuminates have your
vehicle checked by an author-
ized retailer of Genesis Branded
products as soon as possible.
WARNING
5-51
Driving your vehicle
Vehicle Stability Management
(VSM) (if equipped)
The Vehicle Stability Management
(VSM) is a function of the Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) system. It
helps ensure the vehicle stays stable
when accelerating or braking sud-
denly on wet, slippery and rough
roads where traction over the four
tires can suddenly become uneven.
VSM operation
VSM ON condition
The VSM operates when:
The Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) is on.
Vehicle speed is approximately
above 9 mph (15 km/h) on curve
roads.
Vehicle speed is approximately
above 12 mph (20 km/h) when the
vehicle is braking on rough roads.
When operating
When you apply your brakes under
conditions which may activate the
ESC, you may hear sounds from the
brakes, or feel a corresponding sen-
sation in the brake pedal. This is nor-
mal and it means your VSM is active.
✽ ✽
NOTICE
The VSM does not operate when:
• Driving on a banked road such as
gradient or incline
• Driving rearward.
• ESC OFF indicator light is on.
• EPS (Electric Power Steering)
warning light ( ) is on or blinks.
5Take the following precautions
when using the Vehicle Stability
Management (VSM):
ALWAYS check the speed and
the distance to the vehicle
ahead. The VSM is not a sub-
stitute for safe driving prac-
tices.
Never drive too fast for the
road conditions. The VSM sys-
tem will not prevent acci-
dents. Excessive speed in bad
weather, slippery and uneven
roads can result in severe
accidents.
WARNING
Driving with wheels and tires
with different sizes may cause
the ESC system to malfunction.
Before replacing tires, make
sure all four tires and wheels
are the original size. Never drive
the vehicle with different sized
tires and wheels than what is
recommended.
CAUTION
If ESC indicator light ( ) or
EPS warning light ( ) stays on
or blinks, your vehicle may have
a malfunction with the VSM sys-
tem. When the warning light illu-
minates we recommend that the
vehicle be checked by an
authorized retailer of Genesis
Branded products as soon as
possible.
WARNING
5-113
Driving your vehicle
5
If you mount snow tires on your vehi-
cle, make sure to use the same infla-
tion pressure as the original tires.
However, if you mount 245/40R19
size tire on the rear, the tire inflation
pressure should maintain 35psi.
Mount snow tires on all four wheels
to balance your vehicle's handling in
all weather conditions. The traction
provided by snow tires on dry road
may not be as high as your vehicle's
original equipment tires. Check with
the tire dealer for maximum speed
recommendations.
✽ ✽
NOTICE
Do not install studded tires without
first checking local, state and munic-
ipal regulations for possible restric-
tions against their use.
Tire chains
Since the sidewalls on some radial
tires are thinner than other types of
tires, they may be damaged by
mounting certain types of tire chains
on them. Therefore, the use of snow
tires is recommended instead of tire
chains. Do not mount tire chains on
vehicles equipped with aluminum
wheels; if unavoidable use
AutoSock
®(fabric snow chain).
Install the tire chain after reviewing
the instructions provided with the tire
chains. Damage to your vehicle
caused by improper tire chain use is
not covered by your vehicle manu-
facturer’s warranty.AutoSock
®is a Registered trade-
mark of AutoSock.The use of AutoSock
®(fabric
snow chain) may adversely
affect vehicle handling:
Drive less than 20 mph (30
km/h) or the chain manufac-
turer'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.
WARNING
ODH053135
5-114
Driving your vehicle
✽ ✽
NOTICE
• Install AutoSock®(fabric snow
chain or equivalent product) on
the rear tires for 2WD vehicles or
on all four tires for AWD vehicles.
It should be noted that installing
AutoSock
®(fabric snow chain) on
the tires will provide a greater
driving force, but will not prevent
side skids.
• Do not install studded tires with-
out first checking local, state and
municipal regulations for possible
restrictions against their use.
Chain Installation
When installing AutoSock®(fabric
snow chain or equivalent product),
follow the manufacturer's instructions
and mount them as tightly possible.
Drive slowly (less than 20 mph (30
km/h)) with chains installed. If you
hear the chains contacting the body
or chassis, stop and tighten them. If
they still make contact, slow down
until the noise stops. Remove the
AutoSock
®(fabric snow chain or
equivalent product) as soon as you
begin driving on cleared roads.When mounting AutoSock
®(fabric
snow chain or equivalent product),
park the vehicle on level ground
away from traffic.
Turn on the vehicle Hazard Warning
Flasher and place a triangular emer-
gency warning device behind the
vehicle (if available).
Always place the vehicle in P (Park),
apply the parking brake and turn off
the engine before installing tire
chains.AutoSock®is a Registered trade-
mark of AutoSock.
Winter precaution
Use high quality ethylene glycol
coolant
Your vehicle is delivered with high
quality ethylene glycol coolant in the
cooling system. It is the only type of
coolant 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 coolant
in 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. The level of charge in your
battery can be checked by an author-
ized retailer of Genesis Branded
products or a service station. When using AutoSock
®(fabric
snow chain):
Wrong size chains or improp-
erly installed chains can dam-
age your vehicle's brake lines,
suspension, body and wheels.
If you hear noise caused by
chains contacting the body,
retighten the chain to prevent
contact with the vehicle body.
To prevent body damage,
retighten the chains after driv-
ing 0.3~0.6 miles (0.5~1.0 km).
CAUTION
7-56
Maintenance
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 dividing by 2.
Vehicle Placard
A label permanently attached to a
vehicle showing the original equip-
ment tire size and recommended
inflation pressure.
All season tires
Genesis Branded Vehicle specifies
all season tires on some models to
provide good performance for use all
year round, including snowy and icy
road conditions. 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
Genesis Branded Vehicle specifies
summer tires on some models to
provide superior performance on dry
roads. Summer tire performance 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, Genesis Branded Vehicle
recommends 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 4 psi (28 kPa)
more air pressure than the pressure
recommended for the standard tires
on the tire label on the driver's side of
the center pillar, or up to the maxi-
mum pressure shown on the tire
sidewall, whichever is less. Do not
drive faster than 75 mph (120 km/h)
when your vehicle is equipped with
snow tires.