9-26
Maintenance
Tire Replacement
Tread wear indicatorTread wear indicator
OHI078080
If the tire is worn evenly, a tread
wear indicator will appear as a solid
band across the tread. This shows
there is less than 1/16 in. (1.6 mm) of
tread left on the tire. Replace the tire
when this happens.
Do not wait for the band to appear
across the entire tread before
replacing the tire.
WARNING
To reduce the risk of DEATH or
SERIOUS INJURY:
[ Replace tires that are worn, show
uneven wear, or are damaged.
Worn tires can cause loss of
braking effectiveness, steering
control, and traction.
[ Always replace tires with the
same size as each tire that was
originally supplied with this
vehicle. Using tires and wheels
other than the recommended
sizes could cause unusual
handling characteristics, poor
vehicle control, or negatively
affect your vehicle’s Anti-Lock
Brake System (ABS) resulting in a
serious accident.[ When replacing tires (or wheels),
it is recommended to replace
the two front or two rear tires (or
wheels) as a pair. Replacing just
one tire can seriously affect your
vehicle’s handling.
[ Tires degrade over time, even
when they are not being used.
Regardless of the remaining
tread, Genesis Branded Vehicle
recommends that tires be
replaced after six (6) years of
normal service.
[ Heat caused by hot climates or
frequent high loading conditions
can accelerate the aging process.
Failure to follow this warning
may cause sudden tire failure,
which could lead to a loss of
vehicle control resulting in an
accident.
Compact spare tire (if equipped)
replacement
A compact spare tire has a shorter
tread life than a regular size tire.
Replace it when you can see the
tread wear indicator bars on the tire.
The replacement compact spare tire
should be the same size and design
tire as the one provided with your
new vehicle and should be mounted
on the same compact spare tire
wheel. The compact spare tire is
not designed to be mounted on a
regular size wheel, and the compact
spare tire wheel is not designed for
mounting a regular size tire.
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09
WARNING
The original tire should be repaired
or replaced as soon as possible
to avoid failure of the spare (if
equipped) and loss of vehicle
control resulting in an accident. The
compact spare tire (if equipped)
is for emergency use only. Do not
operate your vehicle over 50 mph
(80 km/h) when using the compact
spare tire.
Wheel Replacement
When replacing the metal wheels
for any reason, make sure the new
wheels are equivalent to the original
factory units in diameter, rim width
and offset.
Tire Traction
Tire traction can be reduced if you
drive on worn tires, tires that are
improperly inflated or on slippery
road surfaces. Tires should be
replaced when tread wear indicators
appear. To reduce the possibility of
losing control, slow down whenever
there is rain, snow or ice on the road.
Tire Maintenance
In addition to proper inflation,
correct wheel alignment helps to
decrease tire wear. If you find a tire
is worn unevenly, have your dealer
check the wheel alignment.
When you have new tires installed,
make sure they are balanced. This
will increase vehicle ride comfort
and tire life. Additionally, a tire
should always be rebalanced if it is
removed from the wheel.
Tire Sidewall Labeling
This information identifies and
describes the fundamental
characteristics of the tire and also
provides the tire identification
number (TIN) for safety standard
certification. The TIN can be used to
identify the tire in case of a recall.
OJX1099053
1. Manufacturer or brand name
Manufacturer or brand name is
shown.
2. Tire size designation
A tire’s sidewall is marked with a
tire size designation. You will need
this information when selecting
replacement tires for your car.
The following explains what the
letters and numbers in the tire size
designation mean
.
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09
4. Genesis exclusive tire
Genesis Branded Vehicle
recommends that tires designed
specifically for Genesis vehicles
be used. You may find the marking
“GOE” (Genesis Original Equipment)
embossed on the tire sidewall.
5. Tire ply composition and material
The number of layers or plies of
rubber-coated fabric in the tire. Tire
manufacturers also must indicate the
materials in the tire, which include
steel, nylon, polyester, and others.
The letter “R” means radial ply
construction; the letter “D“ means
diagonal or bias ply construction;
and the letter “B” means belted-bias
ply construction.
6. Maximum permissible inflation
pressure
This number is the greatest amount
of air pressure that should be put in
the tire. Do not exceed the maximum
permissible inflation pressure. Refer
to the Tire and Loading Information
label for recommended inflation
pressure.
7. Maximum load rating
This number indicates the maximum
load in kilograms and pounds that
can be carried by the tire. When
replacing the tires on the vehicle,
always use a tire that has the same
load rating as the factory installed
tire.
8. Uniform tire quality grading
Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between tread shoulder and
maximum section width.
For example:
TREADWEAR 200
TRACTION AA
TEMPERATURE A
Tr e a d w e a r
The tread wear grade is a
comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one-and-a-half times (1½) as
well on the government 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.
These grades are molded on the
sidewalls of passenger vehicle tires.
The tires available as standard or
optional equipment on your vehicle
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 tire’s ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces
of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction
performance.
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Maintenance
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on straight ahead
braking traction tests, and does not
include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
Temperature - A, B & C
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B and C representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation
of heat and its ability to dissipate
heat when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire to
degenerate and reduce tire life,
and excessive temperature can
lead to sudden tire failure. Grades
B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test
wheel than the minimum required
by law.
WARNING
The temperature grade for this
tire is established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed,
under-inflation, over-inflation, or
excessive loading, either separately
or in combination, can cause heat
build-up and possible sudden
tire failure. This may cause loss
of vehicle control resulting in an
accident.
Tire Terminology and Definitions
Air pressure
The amount of air inside the tire
pressing outward on the tire. Air
pressure is expressed in pounds per
square inch (psi) or kilopascal (kPa).
Accessory weight
This means the combined weight
of optional accessories. Some
examples of optional accessories
are automatic transmission, power
seats, and air conditioning.
Aspect ratio
The relationship of a tire’s height to
its width.
Belt
A rubber coated layer of cords that
is located between the plies and the
tread. Cords may be made from steel
or other reinforcing materials.
Bead
The tire bead contains steel wires
wrapped by steel cords that hold the
tire onto the rim.
9-34
Maintenance
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;
otherwise, 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
maximum 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.
Radial-Ply Tires
Radial-ply tires provide improved
tread life, road hazard resistance
and smoother high speed ride. The
radial-ply tires used on this vehicle
are of belted construction, and are
selected to complement the ride
and handling characteristics of
your vehicle. Radial-ply tires have
the same load carrying capacity,
as bias-ply or bias belted tires of
the same size, and use the same
recommended inflation pressure.
Mixing of radial-ply tires with
bias-ply or bias belted tires is not
recommended. Any combinations of
radial-ply and bias-ply or bias belted
tires when used on the same vehicle
will seriously deteriorate vehicle
handling. The best rule to follow
is: Identical pairs of radial-ply tires
should always be used as a set for
the front tires and a set for the rear
tires.
Longer wearing tires can be more
susceptible to irregular tread wear.
It is very important to follow the tire
rotation interval in this chapter to
achieve the tread life potential of
these tires. Cuts and punctures in
radial-ply tires are repairable only in
the tread area, because of sidewall
flexing. Consult your tire dealer for
radial-ply tire repairs.
WARNING
Do not mix bias ply and radial ply
tires under any circumstances.
This may cause unusual handling
characteristics that may cause loss
of vehicle control resulting in an
accident.