Kia Niro Owner's Manual page 398

Driving your vehicle
Tire chains
Since the sidewalls of radial tires are
thinner, they can be damaged by
mounting some types of snow chains
on them. Therefore, the use of snow
tires is recommended instead of
snow chains. Do not mount tire
chains on vehicles equipped with
aluminum wheels; snow chains may
cause damage to the wheels. If snow
chains must be used, use wire-type
chains with a thickness of less than
12mm (0.47in). Damage to your vehi-
cle caused by improper snow chain
use is not covered by your vehicle
manufacturers warranty.
6 96
When using tire chains, install tire
chains only on the front tires.
CAUTION
• Make sure the snow chains are
the correct size and type for
your tires. Incorrect snow
chains can cause damage to
the vehicle body and suspen-
sion and may not be covered
by your vehicle manufacturer
warranty. Also, the snow chain
connecting hooks may be dam-
ODE056062
aged from contacting vehicle
components causing the snow
chains to come loose from the
tire. Make sure the snow chains
are SAE class "S" certified.
• Always check chain installa-
tion for proper mounting after
driving approximately 0.5 to 1
km (0.3 to 0.6 miles) to ensure
safe mounting. Retighten or
remount the chains if they are
loose.
• If your vehicle has 18 inch
tires, do not use tire chains.
They can damage your vehicle
(wheel, suspension and body).
Chain installation
When installing chains, follow the
manufacturer's instructions
mount them as tightly as you can.
Drive slowly 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 it stops. Remove the
chains as soon as you begin driving
on cleared roads.
WARNING
- Mounting
chains
When mounting snow chains,
park the vehicle on level ground
away from traffic. Turn on the
vehicle Hazard Warning flashers
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 snow chains.
and