Kia Sportage: All wheel drive (AWD) / Reducing the risk of a rollover

This multi-purpose passenger vehicle is defined as a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). SUV’s have higher ground clearance and a narrower track to make them capable of performing in a wide variety of off-road applications. Specific design characteristics give them a higher center of gravity than ordinary vehicles. An advantage of the higher ground clearance is a better view of the road, which allows you to anticipate problems. They are not designed for cornering at the same speeds as conventional passenger vehicles, any more than low-slung sports vehicles are designed to perform satisfactorily in off-road conditions. There are steps that a driver can make to reduce the risk of a rollover.

If at all possible, avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers, do not load your roof rack with heavy cargo, and never modify your vehicle in any way.

WARNING - Replacement tires

Always use the size and type of tires recommended in the tire section of the manual. Installation of variant tires can affect the safety and performance of your vehicle.

WARNING - Jacked vehicle

While the full-time AWD vehicle is being raised on a jack, never start the engine or cause the tires to rotate.

There is the danger that rotating tires touching the ground could cause the vehicle to go off the jack and to jump forward.

• Full-time AWD vehicles must be tested on a special four wheel chassis dynamometer.

✽ NOTICE

Never engage the parking brake while performing these tests.

• A full-time AWD vehicle should not be tested on a FWD roll tester. If a FWD roll tester must be used, perform the following:

1. Check the tire pressures recommended for your vehicle.

2. Place the front wheels on the roll tester (1) for a speedometer test as shown in the illustration.

3. Release the parking brake.

4. Place the rear wheels on the temporary free roller (2) as shown in the illustration.

WARNING - Dynamometer testing

Keep away from the front of the vehicle while the vehicle is in gear on the dynamometer. This is very dangerous as the vehicle can jump forward and cause serious injury or death.

✽ NOTICE

When lifting up the vehicle, do not operate front and rear wheel separately. All four wheels should be operated.

✽ NOTICE

If you need to operate the front wheel and rear wheel when lifting up the vehicle, you should release the parking brake.