Kia Picanto: Tyres and Wheels / Wheel Alignment and Tyre Balance. Tyre Replacement

Wheel Alignment and Tyre Balance

The Kia Picanto’s wheels are carefully aligned and balanced at the factory to support long tyre life and good overall performance.

Further alignment work is not usually needed. However, if you notice unusual tyre wear or the vehicle consistently pulls to one side, the wheel alignment may need to be checked and corrected.

If the vehicle vibrates while travelling on a smooth road, the wheels may need to be rebalanced.

Caution

Incorrect wheel weights can damage aluminium wheels. Use only approved wheel weights.

Tyre Replacement

When a tyre wears evenly, its tread-wear indicator (A) becomes visible as a solid band across the tread. This indicates that less than 1.6 mm (1/16 in.) of tread remains, and the tyre must be replaced.

Do not wait until the indicator forms a continuous band across the full tread before replacing the tyre. Arrange replacement as soon as the wear indicator appears.

Note

When replacing tyres, Kia recommends choosing the same type that was originally supplied with the vehicle. Using a different type may affect the Kia Picanto’s driving performance.

Caution

After replacing tyres, check and tighten the wheel nuts again after driving about 50 km (31 miles), then recheck them after approximately 1,000 km (620 miles). If the steering wheel shakes or the vehicle vibrates while driving, a tyre may be out of balance. Have the wheels balanced. If the vibration continues, contact a qualified workshop. Kia recommends an authorised Kia dealer or service partner.

Warning

Replacing tyres

To reduce the risk of serious or fatal injury in an accident caused by tyre failure or loss of vehicle control, follow these precautions:

• Replace tyres that are worn, unevenly worn or damaged. Worn tyres can reduce braking effectiveness, steering control and traction.

• Do not drive with tyres that are underinflated or overinflated. Incorrect pressure can cause uneven wear and tyre failure.

• Never mix radial-ply and bias-ply tyres on the same vehicle. If changing from radial-ply to bias-ply tyres, replace all tyres, including the spare.

• Replacing all four tyres at the same time is best. If this is not possible or necessary, replace the two front tyres or the two rear tyres as a pair.

  Replacing only one tyre can seriously affect the vehicle’s handling.

• Tyres or wheels that differ from the recommended sizes may cause unusual handling and reduce vehicle control, potentially resulting in a serious accident.

• Wheels that do not meet Kia’s specifications may not fit correctly. This can damage the vehicle or lead to unusual handling and reduced control.

• The ABS compares the rotational speeds of the wheels, and tyre size affects those speeds. When replacing tyres, use the same size as originally supplied and make sure all four tyres match. Different tyre sizes can cause the ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) and ESC (Electronic Stability Control) to operate irregularly.

Compact spare tyre replacement, if equipped

A compact spare tyre has a shorter service life than a regular-size tyre. Replace it when its tread-wear indicator bars become visible. The replacement compact spare must match the size and design of the spare supplied with the new vehicle and must be fitted to the same compact spare wheel. A compact spare tyre is not designed to fit a regular-size wheel, and the compact spare wheel is not designed to carry a regular-size tyre.