2023 HYUNDAI ELANTRA tires

Driving Your Vehicle6-48
ESC OFF usage
When Driving
The ESC OFF mode should only be used
brie
fly to help free the vehicle if stuck in
snow by temporarily stopping operation
of the ESC to maintain wheel torque.
To turn ESC off while driving, press the
ESC OFF button while driving on a flat
road surface.
NOTICE
To prevent damage to the transmission:

[ Do not allow wheel(s) of one axle to
spin excessively while the ESC, ABS,
and parking brake warning lights
are displayed. The repairs would not
be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Reduce engine power and do not
spin the wheel(s) excessively while
these lights are displayed.

[ When operating the vehicle on
a dynamometer, make sure the
ESC is turned off (ESC OFF light
illuminated).
Information
Turning the ESC off does not affect ABS
or standard brake system operation.
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 suddenly on wet, slippery and
rough roads where traction over the four
tires can suddenly become uneven.
WARNING
Take 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 substitute for safe
driving practices.

[ Never drive too fast for the road
conditions. The VSM system will not
prevent accidents. Excessive speed
in bad weather, slippery and uneven
roads can result in severe accidents.
VSM operation
VSM ON condition
The VSM operates when:

[The Electr

onic 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 ma
y activate the ESC,
you may hear sounds from the brakes,
or feel a corresponding sensation in the
brake pedal. This is normal 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.

06
6-49
WARNING
If ESC indicator light () or EPS
warning light () stays on or blinks,
your vehicle may have a malfunction
with the VSM system. When the
warning light illuminates, have your
vehicle checked by an authorized
HYUNDAI dealer as soon as possible.
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 same size. Never drive the vehicle
with different sized tires and wheels
installed.
Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC)
(if equipped)
The Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC)
helps prevent the vehicle from rolling
backwards when starting a vehicle from
a stop on a hill. The system operates the
brakes automatically for approximately
2 seconds and releases the brake after 2
seconds or when the accelerator pedal is
depressed.
WARNING
Always be ready to depress the
accelerator pedal when starting off on
a incline. The HAC activates only for
approximately 2 seconds.
NOTICE

[ The HAC does not operate when
the shift button is in P (Park) or N
(Neutral)

[ The HAC activates even though the
ESC (Electronic Stability Control) is
off but does not activate when the
ESC has malfunctioned.
Good Braking Practices
WARNING
Whenever leaving the vehicle or
parking, always come to a complete
stop and continue to depress the brake
pedal. Move the shift button into P
(Park) position, then apply the parking
brake, and place the ignition switch in
the LOCK/OFF position.
Vehicles parked with the parking brake
not applied or not fully engaged may
roll inadvertently and may cause injury
to the driver and others. ALWAYS apply
the parking brake before exiting the
vehicle.
Wet brakes can be dangerous! The
brakes may get wet if the vehicle is
driven through standing water or if it
is washed. Your vehicle will not stop as
quickly if the brakes are wet. Wet brakes
may cause the vehicle to pull to one side.
To dry the brakes, apply the brakes
lightly until the braking action returns to
normal, taking care to keep the vehicle
under control at all times. If the braking
action does not return to normal, stop
as soon as it is safe to do so and call
an authorized HYUNDAI dealer for
assistance.
DO NOT drive with your foot resting on
the brake pedal. Even light, but constant
pedal pressure can result in the brakes
overheating, brake wear, and possibly
even brake failure.
If a tire goes flat while you are driving,
apply the brakes gently and keep the
vehicle pointed straight ahead while you
slow down. When you are moving slowly
enough for it to be safe to do so, pull off
the road and stop in a safe location.
Keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal
when the vehicle is stopped to prevent
the vehicle from rolling forward.

Driving Your Vehicle6-58
Hazardous Driving Conditions
When hazardous driving elements
are encountered such as water, snow,
ice, mud and sand, take the below
suggestions:

[ Drive cautiously and keep a longer
braking distance.

[ Avoid abrupt braking or steering.

[ When your vehicle is stuck in
snow, mud, or sand, use second
gear. Accelerate slowly to avoid
unnecessary wheel spin.

[ Put sand, rock salt, tire chains or other
non-slip materials under the wheels to
provide additional traction while the
vehicle becomes stuck in ice, snow,
or mud.
WARNING
Downshifting with an intelligent
variable transmission while driving on
slippery surfaces can cause an accident.
The sudden change in tire speed could
cause the tires to skid. Be careful when
downshifting on slippery surfaces.
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 R (Reverse)
and a forward gear.
Try to avoid spinning the wheels, and do
not race the engine.
To prevent transmission wear, wait until
the wheels stop spinning before shifting
gears. Release the accelerator pedal
while shifting, and press lightly on the
accelerator pedal while the transmission
is in gear. Slowly spinning the wheels in
forward and reverse directions causes a
rocking motion that may free the vehicle.
WARNING
If the vehicle is stuck and excessive
wheel spin occurs, the temperature
of the tires can increase very quickly.
If the tires become damaged, a tire
blow out or tire explosion can occur.
This condition is dangerous - you and
others may be injured. Do not attempt
this procedure if people or objects are
anywhere near the vehicle.
If you attempt to free the vehicle, the
vehicle can overheat quickly, possibly
causing an engine compartment fire
or other damage. Try to avoid spinning
the wheels as much as possible to
prevent overheating of either the tires
or the engine. DO NOT allow the vehicle
to spin the wheels above 35 mph (56
km/h).
Information
The ESC system must be turned OFF
before rocking the vehicle.
NOTICE
If you are still stuck after rocking the
vehicle a few times, have the vehicle
pulled out by a tow vehicle to avoid
engine overheating, possible damage to
the transmission, and tire damage. See
"Towing" in chapter 7.
63(&,$/'5,9,1*&21',7,216

06
6-59
Smooth Cornering
Avoid braking or gear changing in
corners, especially when roads are wet.
Ideally, corners should always be taken
under gentle acceleration.
Driving at Night
Night driving presents more hazards than
driving in the daylight. 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 headlights
of oncoming vehicles. You could be
temporarily blinded, and it will take
several seconds for your eyes to
readjust to the darkness.
Driving in the Rain
Rain and wet roads can make driving
dangerous. Here are a few things to
consider when driving in the rain or on
slick pavement:

[Slow down and allow extra following
distance. A heavy rainfall makes
it harder to see and increases the
distance needed to stop your vehicle.

[ Turn OFF your Cruise Control.

[ Replace your windshield wiper blades
when they show signs of streaking or
missing areas on the windshield.

[ Tires should be properly maintained
with at least 2/32nds of an inch of
tread depth. If your tires do not have
enough tread, making a quick stop on
wet pavement can cause a skid and
possibly lead to an accident. See "Tire
Tread" in chapter 8.

[ Turn on your headlights to make it
easier for others to see you.

[ Driving too fast through large puddles
can affect your brakes. If you must go
through puddles, try to drive through
them slowly.

[ If you believe your brakes may be wet,
apply them lightly while driving until
normal braking operation returns.
Hydroplaning
If the road is wet enough and you are
going fast enough, your vehicle may
have little or no contact with the road
surface and actually ride on the water.
The best advice is SLOW DOWN when
the road is wet.
The risk of hydroplaning increases as
the depth of tire tread decreases, refer
to "Tire Tread" in chapter 8.

Driving Your Vehicle6-60
Driving in Flooded Areas
Avoid driving through flooded areas
unless you are sure the water is no
higher than the bottom of the wheel hub.
Drive through any water slowly. Allow
adequate stopping distance because
brake performance may be reduced.
After driving through water, dry the
brakes by gently applying them several
times while the vehicle is moving slowly.
Highway Driving
Tires
Adjust the tire inflation, as specified.
Under-inflation may overheat or damage
the tires.
Do not install worn-out or damaged tires,
which may reduce traction or adversely
affect vehicle handling. This could lead
to sudden tire failure that may cause
loss of vehicle control resulting in an
accident.
Information
Never over-inflate your tires above the
maximum inflation pressure, as specified
on your tires.
Fuel, engine coolant and engine oil
Driving at higher speeds on the highway
consumes more fuel and is less efficient
than driving at a slower, more moderate
speed. Maintain a moderate speed in
order to conserve fuel when driving on
the highway.
Be sure to check both the engine coolant
level and the engine oil before driving.
Drive belt
A loose or damaged drive belt may
overheat the engine.

06
6-61
The severe weather conditions of winter
quickly wear out tires and cause other
problems. To minimize winter driving
problems, you should take the following
suggestions:
Snow or Icy Conditions
You need to keep sufficient distance
between your vehicle and the vehicle in
front of you.
Apply the brakes gently. 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 the
vehicle to skid.
To drive your vehicle in deep snow, it
may be necessary to use snow tires or to
install tire chains on your tires.
Always carry emergency equipment.
Some of the items you may want to carry
include tire chains, tow straps or chains,
a flashlight, emergency flares, sand, a
shovel, jumper cables, a window scraper,
gloves, ground cloth, coveralls, a blanket,
etc.
Snow tires
WARNING
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 affected.
If you mount snow tires on your vehicle,
make sure to use 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. The traction
provided by snow tires on dry roads
may not be as high as your vehicle's
original equipment tires. Check with
the tire dealer for maximum speed
recommendations.
Information
Do not install studded tires without
first checking local, state and municipal
regulations for possible restrictions against
their use.
Tire chains
Since the sidewalls of radial tires are
thinner than other types of tires, they
may be damaged by mounting some
types of tire chains on them. Therefore
the use of snow tires is preferred over the
use of tire chains.
If the road and weather conditions
require the use of tire chains, be sure to
use tire chains that have been properly
selected for the size of tire on your
HYUNDAI vehicle.
Be sure to follow the guidelines and
installation instructions provided from
the tire chain manufacturer.
Damage to your vehicle caused by
improper tire chain use is not covered by
your vehicle manufacturer’s warranty.
WARNING
The use of tire chains may adversely
affect vehicle handling:

[Drive less than 20 mph (30 km/h)
or the chain manufacturer'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.
CAUTION
If your vehicle has 235/40R18 size tires,
do not use tire chain; they can damage
your vehicle (wheel, suspension and
body).
WINTER DRIVING

Driving Your Vehicle6-62
Information

[ Install tire chains on both left and right
front tires. It should be noted that
installing tire chains on the tires will
provide a greater driving force, but will
not prevent side skids.

[ Do not install studded tires without
first checking local, state and municipal
regulations for possible restrictions
against their use.
Chain installation
When installing tire chains, follow the
manuf
acturer’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 tire chains as soon as you begin
driving on cleared roads.
When mounting snow chains, park the
vehicle on level ground away from traffic.
Turn on the vehicle Hazard Warning
Flasher and place a triangular emergency
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 snow
chains.
NOTICE
When using tire chains:

[ Wrong size chains or improperly
installed chains can damage your
vehicle's brake lines, suspension,
body and wheels.

[ Use SAE "S" class or wire chains.

[ 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 driving 0.3~0.6 miles
(0.5~1.0 km).

[ Do not use tire chains on vehicles
equipped with aluminum wheels. If
unavoidable, use a wire type chain.

[ Use wire chains less than 0.59 inch
(15mm) wide to prevent damage to
the chain’s connection.
Winter Precautions
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 cooling
system, lubricates the water pump and
prevents freezing. Be sure to replace or
replenish your coolant in accordance
with the maintenance schedule in
chapter 8. Before winter, have your
coolant tested to assure that its freezing
point is sufficient for the temperatures
anticipated during the winter.
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 chapter 8
for recommendations. If you aren't sure
what weight oil you should use, consult
an authorized HYUNDAI dealer.

Driving Your Vehicle6-68
Certification label
OBH059070
The certification label is located on the
driver’s door sill at the center pillar and
shows the maximum allowable weight of
the fully loaded vehicle. This is called the
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The
GVWR includes the weight of the vehicle,
all occupants, fuel and cargo.
This label also tells you the maximum
weight that can be supported by the
front and rear axles, called Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR).
The total weight of the vehicle, including
all occupants, accessories, cargo, and
trailer tongue load must not exceed the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or
the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
To find out the actual loads on your front
and rear axles, you need to go to a weigh
station and weigh your vehicle. Be sure
to spread out your load equally on both
sides of the centerline.
WARNING
Overloading

[ Never exceed the GVWR for your
vehicle, the GAWR for either the front
or rear axle and vehicle capacity
weight. Exceeding these ratings
can affect your vehicle’s handling
and braking ability, and cause an
accident.

[ Do not overload your vehicle.
Overloading your vehicle can cause
heat buildup in your vehicle’s tires
and possible tire failure, increased
stopping distances and poor vehicle
handling-all of which may result in a
crash.
NOTICE
Overloading your vehicle may cause
damage. Repairs would not be covered
by your warranty. Do not overload your
vehicle.
WARNING
If you carry items inside your vehicle
(for example, suitcases, tools, packages,
or anything else), they are moving as
fast as the vehicle. If you have to stop
or turn quickly, or if there is a crash, the
items will keep going and can cause
an injury if they strike the driver or a
passenger.

[Put items in the cargo area of your
vehicle. Try to spread the weight
evenly.

[ Do not stack items like suitcases
inside the vehicle above the tops of
the seats.

[ Do not leave an unsecured child
restraint in your vehicle.

[ When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it.