Kia Cars Tyre Pressure : Front and Back

The tyres your car comes fitted with don’t get enough credit. All the promises about the car’s performance, handling, comfort and mileage wouldn’t be possible without the right tyres. Worse, all these parameters are significantly affected if you underinflate or overinflate the tyres by even 0.5 psi of pressure. Do you own a Kia and want to know the proper tyre pressure for your car? Check out the model-wise details below:

1. Kia Carnival tyre pressure

The all-new Kia Carnival in India has two trims equipped with 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, the same as the previous generation model. A space-saver spare tyre is also offered; this is a proper space-saver unit with a recommended pressure of 60 psi. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the recommended tyre pressures for the Carnival:

2. Kia Sonet tyre pressure

Depending on the variant, the Kia Sonet is offered with either 15-inch or 16-inch wheels. There are two recommended tyre pressures for the Sonet; a ‘normal’ load is calculated as two adults plus luggage, while the ‘maximum’ load is five occupants plus luggage. All variants get a 15-inch spare tyre with a low maximum speed rating of 80 kmph. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the recommended tyre pressures for the Sonet:

3. Kia Carens tyre pressure

The Kia Carens, being an MPV, has different recommended tyre pressures for the front and rear tyres. Depending on the load, there are two recommended tyre pressures. The spare tyre is not placed inside the car's boot, but under it. The Carens’ Premium trim powered by the naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine gets smaller wheels and tyres than the other variants. Check out the detailed breakdown below:

4. Kia Seltos tyre pressure

The Kia Seltos offers three different tyre options. The Seltos is available with 16 inch, 17 inch and 18 inch wheels, but all have the same recommended tyre pressure. Here’s a detailed breakdown: 

5. Kia EV6 tyre pressure

The Kia EV6 is not offered with a spare tyre for weight-saving and space-maximising reasons. A tyre sealant system is offered, but this can only plug small punctures; the EV6 has a claimed range of 708 km per charge. This may prompt some to take the electric car out for longer drives – but the lack of a spare wheel can make the drive less enjoyable, especially with 19 inch wheels . Check out the detailed breakdown of the tyre details below:

Kia car tyre tips

These are some suggestions about tyres as mentioned in all Kia owner’s manuals:

• The recommended tyre pressures are to be checked when the tyres are ‘cold’, either before driving or after the car has been parked for at least two hours.
• You should only over inflate tyres when driving in high-altitude grades. The rule is to increase the pressure over the recommendation number by 1.5 psi for every kilometre gained in elevation.
• When it is time to replace the tyres, do not up-size them to larger tyres. Upsizing will negatively affect acceleration, braking, handling characteristics, and mileage.  
• Fitting upsized tyres could cause unnatural wear and tear or damage to the wheels, suspension and other drivetrain parts.

Why should you maintain correct tyre pressure?

• Performance - Quick acceleration and confident braking require the tyre to deliver the best grip possible. If the tyres are underinflated or over inflated, the crucial grip-enhancing tread patterns do not touch the ground properly, slowing acceleration and increasing braking distance.
• Handling - Going around corners safely relies on the best grip the tyres can provide. An underinflated tyre causes more rolling resistance, which reduces the steering reaction. Overinflated tyres reduce overall grip, which causes understeer; the car does not change direction as expected. 
• Water displacement - Tyres maintain grip on wet surfaces by displacing water through specially designed grooves on their treads. These grooves can get blocked if the tyre is underinflated and cannot channel the water away if it is overinflated. Both scenarios lead to aquaplaning, a complete loss of control of the car.
• Comfort - The tyres are part of your car’s suspension system and help isolate you from the road's imperfections. An underinflated tyre doesn’t have enough air to cushion the ride, so more bumps and undulations can be felt. On the other hand, overinflated tyres lead to exaggerated movements in the suspension; even the slightest bump can unsettle the ride and be a safety hazard.
• Mileage - Getting the most out of a tyre is a delicate balance between grip and resistance. Road tyres have treads designed to achieve this balance. Add more contact (by underinflating the tyres), and unnecessary resistance is added due to the sidewalls touching the ground - which means less mileage. Overinflated tyres tend to bounce more, introducing more load onto the engine and reducing fuel efficiency.
• Shorter life, more cost - Not maintaining the correct tyre pressure will reduce its longevity. Underinflation causes the sidewalls of a tyre to wear out more quickly while overinflating the tyres causes the tread at the centre to wear quickly. Underinflated tyres are more prone to punctures, while overinflated tyres can burst unexpectedly. 

Fuel and tyre replacement costs have been rising consistently over the years, and you should do everything to maximise the life of your car’s tyres. One of the simplest things to do is maintain the correct tyre pressure. 

FAQs

Q. Which Kia cars in India come with TPMS?

A tyre-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is offered as standard on all variants of all Kia cars sold in India.

Q. What pressures should my tyres be in my Kia Sonet?

The recommended tyre pressures for the Kia Sonet are: 

1) 33 psi, front and rear, under normal load (Two occupants and minimal luggage)

2) 36 psi, front and rear, when fully loaded

Q. What pressures should my tyres be in my Kia Seltos?

The recommended tyre pressures for the Kia Seltos is 35 psi for all four tyres, and all load capacities.

Q. Where can I find the recommended tyre pressures on my Kia car?

The tyre label with recommended tyre pressures can be found on the lower part of the centre B-pillar near the driver’s side door.