Kia Soul 2022 Manual page 460

Maintenance
5. Maximum permissible inflation
pressure
This number is the greatest amount of
air pressure that should be put in the
tire. Do not exceed the maximum per-
missible inflation pressure. Refer to the
Tire and Loading Information label for
recommended inflation pressure.
6. Maximum load rating
This number indicates the maximum
load in kilograms and pounds that can
be carried by the tire. When replacing
the tires on the vehicle, always use a tire
that has the same load rating as the fac-
tory installed tire.
7. Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall between
tread shoulder and maximum section
width.
For example:
Treadwear 200
Traction AA
Temperature A
Tires degrade over time, even when they
are not being used. Regardless of the
remaining tread, we recommend that
tires be replaced after approximately six
(6) years of normal service. Heat caused
by hot climate or frequent high loading
conditions can accelerate the aging pro-
cess.
Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one-and-a-half times (1½) as well
8 24
on the government course as a tire
graded 100.
The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of
their use, however, and may depart sig-
nificantly from the norm due to varia-
tions in driving habits, service practices
and differences in road characteristics
and climate.
These grades are molded on the side-
walls of passenger vehicle tires. The tires
available as standard or optional equip-
ment on your vehicle may vary with
respect to grade.
Traction - AA, A, B & C
The traction grades, from highest to low-
est, are AA, A, B and C. Those grades
represent the tire's ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction per-
formance.
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking trac-
tion tests, and does not include accelera-
tion, cornering, hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.
Temperature -A & B
The temperature grades are A (the high-
est), B representing the tire's resistance
to the generation of heat and its ability
to dissipate heat when tested under con-
trolled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause
the material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and excessive tem-
perature can lead to sudden tire failure.
Grades B and A represent higher levels
of performance on the laboratory test
Tires and wheels