What to Do in an Emergency

Tire Replacement

~7min read

1. Park on a level surface and firmly apply the parking brake.

2. Place the shift lever in P (Park) for vehicles with a dual clutch transmission/Intelligent Variable Transmission, or in R (Reverse) for vehicles with a manual transmission.

3. Activate the hazard warning flasher.

4. Remove the wheel nut wrench, jack, and spare tire from the vehicle.

5. Chock the front and rear wheel diagonally opposite the jacking position.

WARNING - Jack Position

To reduce the possibility of injury, be sure to use only the jack provided with the vehicle in the correct jacking position; never use any other part of the vehicle to support the jack.

CAUTION - Tire Change

  • To prevent the vehicle from moving during a tire change, always fully apply the parking brake and always chock the wheel diagonally opposite the wheel being changed.
  • We recommend that the vehicle's wheels be chocked and that no one remain in the vehicle while it is being jacked up.

6. Loosen the wheel nuts counterclockwise one turn each, but do not remove the nuts until the tire has been raised off the ground.

7. Place the jack at the front (1) or rear (2) jacking position closest to the tire being changed. Place the jack at the specified locations under the frame. The jacking positions are plates welded to the frame with two protrusions and a raised point to align with the jack.

8. Insert the wheel nut wrench into the jack and turn it clockwise, raising the vehicle until the tire clears the ground. This dimension is approximately 30 mm (1 in.).

Before removing the wheel nuts, make sure the vehicle is stable and there is no chance of movement or slipping.

9. Loosen the wheel nuts and remove them by hand. Remove the wheel from the studs and place it flat so it cannot roll away. To install the spare wheel, lift it onto the hub, align the holes with the studs and slide the wheel onto them. If this is difficult, raise the wheel slightly and align the upper hole in the wheel with the upper stud. Rock the wheel back and forth until it slides over the other studs.

Wheels may have sharp edges. Handle them carefully to avoid possible serious injury. Before installing the wheel, make sure there is nothing on the hub or wheel (such as dirt, resin, gravel, etc.) that would prevent the wheel from seating flat against the hub.

CAUTION - Wheel Installation

Make sure the wheel makes good contact with the hub when installed. If the contact mounting surface between the wheel and hub is not correct, the wheel nuts may loosen and the wheel may come off. Loss of a wheel may result in loss of vehicle control.

10. To install the wheel, hold it by the studs, place the wheel nuts on the studs and tighten them snug by hand. Rock the tire to make sure it is fully seated, then tighten the nuts by hand as far as possible again.

11. Insert the wrench into the jack and lower the vehicle to the ground by turning the wheel nut wrench counterclockwise.

Position the wrench as shown in the illustration and tighten the wheel nuts. Make sure the socket is fully engaged over the nut. Do not stand on the wrench handle or use an extension tube over the wrench handle. Move around the wheel, tightening each nut in the numerical sequence shown in the illustration, until all are tight. Double-check each nut for tightness. After replacing the wheel, have an authorized Kia dealer tighten the wheel nuts to the correct torque as soon as possible.

Wheel nut tightening torque: 11~13 kgf·m (79~94 lbf·ft)

If you have a tire pressure gauge, remove the valve cap and check the air pressure. If the pressure is lower than recommended, drive slowly to the nearest service station and inflate to the correct pressure. If it is too high, release air until it is correct. Always reinstall the valve cap after checking or adjusting tire pressure. If the cap is not reinstalled, dirt and debris may enter the valve and air may leak from the tire. If you lose the valve cap, purchase a new one and install it as soon as possible.

After changing the wheel, always secure the flat tire in its place and return the jack and tools to their proper storage locations.

WARNING - Reusing Wheel Nuts

Make sure that when rotating the wheel, the removed nuts are reinstalled, or if replaced, that the nuts have metric threads and the same seat configuration is used. Your vehicle has metric threads on the wheel studs and nuts. Installing a non-metric thread nut on a metric stud will not properly secure the wheel to the hub and will damage the stud, so it must be replaced.

Note that most aftermarket nuts do not have metric threads. Be extremely careful when checking the thread type before installing aftermarket nuts or wheels. If in doubt, consult an authorized Kia dealer.

WARNING - Wheel Studs

If the studs are damaged, they may lose their ability to hold the wheel. This may result in loss of the wheel and a collision, which could cause serious injury.

To prevent the jack, wheel nut wrench, and spare tire from rattling while driving, store them properly.

Check the tire inflation pressure as soon as possible after installing the spare tire. Adjust it to the specified pressure if necessary. Refer to the "Tires and Wheels" section in Chapter 8.

Important - Using the Compact Spare Tire

Your vehicle is equipped with a compact spare tire. This compact spare tire takes up less space than a standard size tire. This tire is smaller than a regular tire and is intended for temporary use only.

  • You must drive carefully when using the compact spare tire. The compact spare tire should be replaced with a suitable regular tire and wheel as soon as possible.
  • Operating this vehicle with more than one compact spare tire in use at the same time is not recommended.

WARNING - Spare Tire

The compact spare tire is designed for temporary use only in emergencies. Do not drive your vehicle on this compact spare at speeds over 80 km/h. The original tire should be repaired or replaced as soon as possible to avoid failure of the spare tire, which could result in injury or death.

The compact spare tire must be inflated to 420 kPa (60 psi).

✽ NOTICE

Check the tire inflation pressure after installing the spare tire. Adjust it to the specified pressure if necessary.

When using the compact spare tire, observe the following precautions:

  • Under no circumstances should you exceed a speed of 80 km/h; higher speeds may damage the tire.
  • Make sure you drive slowly enough for road conditions to avoid all hazards. Any road hazard, such as a pothole or debris, may seriously damage the compact spare tire.
  • Any continued road use of this tire may cause tire failure, loss of vehicle control, and possibly personal injury.
  • Do not exceed the maximum load capacity or load capacity indicated on the sidewall of the compact spare tire.
  • Avoid driving over obstacles. The diameter of the compact spare tire is smaller than that of a regular tire and reduces ground clearance by approximately 25 mm (1 in.), which may result in damage to the vehicle.
  • Do not drive this vehicle through an automatic car wash with the compact spare tire installed.
  • Do not use the compact spare tire on any other vehicle, because this tire was designed specifically for your vehicle.
  • The compact spare tire has a shorter tread life than a conventional tire. Inspect the compact spare tire regularly and replace worn compact spare tires with the same size and design, installed on the same wheel.
  • The compact spare tire must not be used on any other wheels. Also, do not use standard tires, winter tires, wheel covers, or decorative rings with the compact spare tire. If such use is attempted, damage to these items or other vehicle components may occur.
  • Do not use more than one compact spare tire at a time.
  • Do not tow a trailer while the compact spare tire is installed.

Test yourself

A quick Kia Forte BD quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.