Kia Sportage 2022 Winter Driving 

The 2022 Kia Sportage offers a variety of features and capabilities intended to improve your winter driving experience, enabling you to confidently navigate the challenges of winter driving. With its optional all-wheel drive (AWD) system, the Sportage guarantees stability and control on slick terrain while providing enhanced traction on snow and ice. You are kept comfortable in cold weather by extra features like heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated side mirrors. The Sportage puts safety first in icy situations thanks to its cutting-edge safety technologies, which include anti-lock brakes and selectable winter driving modes. The 2022 Kia Sportage is ready to help you take on the difficulties of the winter season with ease and peace of mind, whether you’re driving on snow-covered roads or going on an adventure.

2023 KIA SPORTAGE Specs, Price, Features and Mileage (Brochure)

Winter driving

Severe weather conditions in the winter result in greater wear and other problems. To minimize the problems of winter driving, you should follow these suggestions:

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 acceleration, sudden brake applications, and sharp turns are potentially very hazardous practices. During deceleration, use engine braking to the fullest extent. Sudden brake applications on snowy or icy roads may cause skids to occur. You need to keep sufficient distance between the vehicle in operation in front of 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. Tire chains are not legal in all states. Check state laws before fitting tire chains.

Snow tires
If you mount snow tires on your vehicle, 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 equipment 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 – Snow tire size
Snow tires should be equivalent in size and type to the vehicle’s standard tires. Otherwise, the safety and handling of your vehicle may be adversely affected.

Tire chains Since the sidewalls of radial tires are thinner, they can be damaged by mounting some types of snow chains on them. Therefore, the use of snow tires is recommended instead of snow chains. Do not mount tire chains on vehicles equipped with aluminum wheels; snow chains may cause damage to the wheels. If snow chains must be used, use wire-type chains with a thickness of less than 0.59 in (15mm). Damage to your vehicle caused by improper snow chain use is not covered by your vehicle manufacturer’s warranty.

When using tire chains, attach them to the drive wheels as follows.
2WD: Front wheels
4WD: All four wheels
If a full set of chains is not available for a 4WD vehicle, chains may be installed on the front wheels only.

CAUTION
Snow chains Make sure the snow chains are the correct size and type for your tires. Incorrect snow chains can cause damage to the vehicle body and suspension and may not be covered by your vehicle manufacturer’s warranty. The snow chain connecting hooks may be damaged from contacting vehicle components causing the snow chains to come loose from the tire. Make sure the snow chains are SAE class “S” certified. Always check chain installation for proper mounting after driving approximately 0.3 to 0.6 miles (0.5 to 1 km) to ensure safe mounting. Retighten or remount the chains if they are loose.

Chain installation
When installing chains, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and mount them as tightly as you can. Drive slowly with chains installed. If you hear the chains contacting the body or chassis, stop and tighten them. If they still make contact, slow down until it stops. Remove the chains as soon as you begin driving on cleared roads. When mounting snow chains, park the vehicle on level ground away from traffic. Turn on the vehicle Hazard Warning flashers and place a triangular emergency warning device behind the vehicle if available. Always place the vehicle in P (Park), apply the parking brake, and turn off the engine before installing snow chains.

• The use of chains may adversely affect vehicle handling.
• Do not exceed 20 mph (30 km/h) or the chain manufacturer’s recommended speed limit, whichever is lower.
• Drive carefully and avoid bumps, holes, sharp turns, and other road hazards, which may cause the vehicle to bounce.
• Avoid sharp turns or locked-wheel braking.

CAUTION – Snow chains
Chains that are the wrong size or improperly installed can damage your vehicle’s brake lines, suspension, body, and wheels. Stop driving and retighten the chains any time you hear them hitting the vehicle.

Use high-quality ethylene glycol coolant
Your vehicle is delivered with high-quality ethylene glycol coolant in the cooling system. It is the only type of coolant that should be used because it helps prevent corrosion in the cooling system, lubricates the water pump, and prevents freezing. Be sure to replace or replenish your coolant in accordance with the maintenance schedule in Chapter 7. Before winter, have your coolant tested to ensure that its freezing point is sufficient for the temperatures anticipated during the winter.

Check battery and cables
Winter puts additional burdens on the battery system. Visually inspect the battery and cables as described in Chapter 7. The level of charge in your battery can be checked by an authorized Kia dealer or a service station.

Change to “winter weight” oil if necessary
In some climates, it is recommended that a lower viscosity “winter weight” oil be used during cold weather. See Chapter 9 for recommendations. If you aren’t sure what weight oil you should use, consult an authorized Kia dealer.

Check spark plugs and ignition system
Inspect your spark plugs as described in Chapter 7 and replace them if necessary. Also check all ignition wiring and components to be sure they are not cracked, worn or damaged in any way.

To keep locks from freezing
To keep the locks from freezing, squirt an approved deicer fluid or glycerin into the key opening. If a lock is covered with ice, squirt it with an approved de-icing fluid to remove the ice. If the lock is frozen internally, you may be able to thaw it out by using a heated key. Handle the heated key with care to avoid injury.

Use approved window washer anti-freeze in the system
To keep the water in the window washer system from freezing, add an approved window washer anti-freeze solution in accordance with the instructions on the container. Window washer anti-freeze is available from an authorized Kia dealer and most auto parts outlets. Do not use engine coolant or other types of anti-freeze as these may damage the paint finish.

Don’t let your parking brake freeze
Under some conditions, your parking brake can freeze in the engaged position. This is most likely to happen when there is an accumulation of snow or ice around or near the rear brakes or if the brakes are wet. If there is a risk the parking brake may freeze, apply it only temporarily while you put the gear shift lever in P (Park, Automatic Transmission) and block the rear wheels so the vehicle cannot roll. Then release the parking brake.

Don’t let ice and snow accumulate underneath
Under some conditions, snow and ice can build up under the fenders and interfere with the steering. When driving in severe winter conditions where this may happen, you should periodically check underneath the vehicle to be sure the movement of the front wheels and the steering components are not obstructed.

Carry emergency equipment
Depending on the severity of the weather, you should carry appropriate emergency equipment. Some of the items you may want to carry include tow straps or chains, flashlights, emergency flares, sand, shovel, jumper cables, window scraper, gloves, ground cloth, coveralls, blanket, etc.

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