Kia Soul 2023, Manual, Page: 427 / 486

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Maintenance Tires and wheels
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 and C representing the tire's
resistance to the generation of heat and
its ability to dissipate heat when tested
under controlled conditions on a speci
-
fied 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
wheel than the minimum required by
law.
Tire terminology and definitions
Refer to the following for detailed defini
-
tions of the terms that are found in the
tire description.
Air Pressure The amount of air inside
the tire pressing outward on the tire. Air
pressure is expressed in pounds per
square inch (psi) or kilopascal (kPa).
Accessory Weight This means the com
-
bined weight of optional accessories.
Some examples of optional accessories
are automatic transmission, power seats,
and air conditioning.
Aspect Ratio The relationship of a tire's
height to its width.
Belt A rubber coated layer of cords that
is located between the plies and the
tread. Cords may be made from steel or
other reinforcing materials.
Bead The tire bead contains steel wires
wrapped by steel cords that hold the tire
onto the rim.
Bias Ply Tire A pneumatic tire in which
the plies are laid at alternate angles less
than 90 degrees to the centerline of the
tread.
Cold Tire Pressure The amount of air
pressure in a tire, measured in pounds
per square inch (psi) or kilopascals (kPa)
before a tire has built up heat from driv
-
ing.
Curb Weight This means the weight of
a motor vehicle with standard and
optional equipment including the maxi
-
mum capacity of fuel, oil and coolant,
but without passengers and cargo.
DOT Markings The DOT code includes
the Tire Identification Number (TIN), an
alphanumeric designator which can also
identify the tire manufacturer, produc
-
tion plant, brand and date of production.
GVWR Gross Vehicle Weight Rating