Kia Optima Hybrid 2017 Owner's Manual page 520

WINTER DRIVING
Severe weather conditions in the winter
result in greater wear and other prob‐
lems. To minimize the problems of win‐
ter driving, you should follow these
suggestions:
❈ Snow tires and tire chains for the
national language (Icelandic, Bul‐
garian) see Chapter 11, Appendix.
Snowy or icy conditions
To drive your vehicle in deep snow, it
may be necessary to use snow tires or
to install tire chains on your tires. If
snow tires are needed, it is necessary
to select tires equivalent in size and
type of the original equipment tires.
Failure to do so may adversely affect
the safety and handling of your vehicle.
Furthermore, speeding, rapid accelera‐
tion, sudden brake applications, and
sharp turns are potentially very haz‐
ardous practices.
During deceleration, use engine braking
to the fullest extent. Sudden brake ap‐
plications on snowy or icy roads may
cause skids to occur. You need to keep
sufficient distance between the vehicle
in operation in front and your vehicle.
Also, apply the brake gently. It should
be noted that installing tire chains on
the tire will provide a greater driving
force, but will not prevent side skids.
NOTICE
Tire chains are not legal in all coun‐
tries. Check the country laws before
fitting tire chains.
Snow tires
If you mount snow tires on your vehi‐
cle, make sure they are 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. Keep
in mind that the traction provided by
snow tires on dry roads may not be as
high as your vehicle's original equip‐
ment tires. You should drive cautiously
even when the roads are clear. Check
with the tire dealer for maximum
speed recommendations.
Do not install studded tires without
first checking local, state and municipal
regulations for possible restrictions
against their use.
WARNING
n Snow tire size
Snow tires should be equivalent in
size and type to the vehicle's stand‐
ard tires. Otherwise, the safety and
handling of your vehicle may be ad‐
versely affected.
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