Kia Optima Hybrid 2017 Owner's Manual page 601

Maintenance
(Continued)
bearing life, braking and stopping
abilities, handling characteristics,
ground clearance, body-to-tire
clearance, snow chain clearance,
speedometer and odometer calibra‐
tion, headlight aim and bumper
height.
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. Slow down
whenever there is rain, snow or ice on
the road to reduce the possibility of
losing control of the vehicle.
Tire maintenance
In addition to proper inflation, correct
wheel alignment helps to decrease tire
wear. If you find a tire is worn uneven‐
ly, 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.
9-48
Tire sidewall labeling
1
5,6
2
1
OJF085008L
This information identifies and de‐
scribes 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 re‐
call.
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 in‐
formation when selecting replacement
tires for your vehicle. The following ex‐
plains what the letters and numbers in
7
the tire size designation mean.
Example tire size designation:
4
(These numbers are provided as an ex‐
ample only; your tire size designator
could vary depending on your vehicle.)
3
P235/55R19 108T
P - Applicable vehicle type (tires
marked with the prefix P''
are intended for use on pas‐
senger vehicles or light
trucks; however, not all tires
have this marking).
235 - Tire width in millimeters.
55 - Aspect ratio. The tire's sec‐
tion height as a percentage
of its width.
R - Tire construction code (Ra‐
dial).
19 - Rim diameter in inches.
108 - Load Index, a numerical
code associated with the
maximum load the tire can
carry.
T - Speed Rating Symbol. See
the speed rating chart in