winter tires Hyundai Matrix 2007 Owner's Manual

2 DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
20WINTER DRIVING
C160A01A-AAT The more severe weather conditions of winter result in greater wear and other problems. To minimize the prob- lems of winter driving, you should fol-low these suggestions: C160B01A-GAT Snowy or Icy Conditions To drive your vehicle in deep snow, it may be necessary to use snow tires orto install tire chains on your tires. If snow tires are needed, it is necessary to select tires equivalent in size andtype to the original equipment tires. Failure to do so may adversely affect the safety and handling of your car.Speeding, rapid acceleration, sudden brake applications, and sharp turns are potentially very hazardous prac-tices. During deceleration, use engine braking to the fullest extent. Sudden brake applications on snowy or icyroads may cause skids to occur. You need to keep sufficient distance be- tween the vehicle in front and yourvehicle. Also, apply the brake gently. It should be noted that installing tire chains on the tire will provide a greaterdriving force, but will not prevent side skids. NOTE: Tire chains are not legal in all prov- inces. Check province laws before fitting tire chains.C160C01A-AAT Use High Quality Ethylene Glycol Coolant Your Hyundai is delivered with high quality ethylene glycol coolant in thecooling system. It is the only type of coolant that should be used because it helps prevent corrosion in the coolingsystem, lubricates the water pump and prevents freezing. Be sure to replace or replenish your coolant in accor-dance with the maintenance schedule in Section 5. Before winter, have your coolant tested to assure that its freez-ing point is sufficient for the tempera- tures anticipated during the winter.

2 DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
22
C180A01A-AAT USE OF LIGHTS Check your lights regularly for correct operation and always keep them clean.When driving during the day in condi- tions of poor visibility, it is helpful to drive with headlights on low beam.This enables you to be seen as well as to see.
C160J01A-AAT Don't Let Ice and Snow Accumulate Underneath Under some conditions, snow and ice can build up under the fenders andinterfere with the steering. When driv- ing in severe winter conditions where this may happen, you should periodi-cally check underneath the car to be sure the movement of the front wheels and the steering components is notobstructed. C160K01A-AAT Carry Emergency Equipment Depending on the severity of the weather where you drive your car, you should carry appropriate emergency equipment. Some of the items youmay want to carry include tire chains, tow straps or chains, flashlight, emer- gency flares, sand, a shovel, jumpercables, a window scraper, gloves, ground cloth, coveralls, a blanket, etc. C170A01A-AAT HIGHER SPEED MOTORING Pre-Trip Inspections 1. Tires: Adjust the tire inflation pressures to specification. Low tire inflation pres- sures will result in overheating andpossible failure of the tires. Avoid using worn or damaged tires which may result in reduced traction ortire failure. NOTE: Never exceed the maximum tire infla- tion pressure shown on the tires. 2. Fuel, engine coolant and en- gine oil: High speed travel consumes more fuel than urban motoring. Do not forget tocheck both engine coolant and engine oil. 3. Drive belt: A loose or damaged drive belt may result in overheating of the engine.

44CORROSION PREVENTION AND APPEARANCE CARE
4WASHING AND WAXING
E030A01A-AAT Washing Your Hyundai Never wash your car when the surface is hot from being in the sun. Alwayswash your car in the shade. Wash your car frequently. Dirt is abra- sive and can scratch the paint if it is not removed. Air pollution or acid rain may damage the paint and trim throughchemical action if pollutants are al- lowed to remain in contact with the surface. If you live near the ocean or inan area where road salts or dust con- trol chemicals are used, you should pay particular attention to the under-side of the car. Start by rinsing the car to remove dust and loose dirt. In win- ter, or if you have driven through mudor muddy water, be sure to thoroughly clean the underside as well. Use a hard direct stream of water to removeaccumulated mud or corrosive materi- als. Use a good quality car-washing solution and follow the manufacturer'sdirections on the package. These are available at your Hyundai dealer or auto parts outlet. Don't use strong house-hold detergents, gasoline, strong sol- vents or abrasive cleaning powders asthese may damage the finish.Use a clean sponge or cloth, rinse it frequently and don't damage the finish by rubbing too hard. For stubborn spots,dampen them frequently and remove them a little at a time. To clean whitewall tires, use a stiffbrush or soapy steel-wool scouring pad. To clean plastic wheel covers, use aclean sponge or soft cloth and water. To clean cast aluminum alloy wheels, use a mild soap or neutral detergent. Do not use abrasive cleaners. Protect the bare-metal surfaces by cleaning,polishing and waxing. Because alumi- num is subject to corrosion, be sure to give aluminum alloy wheels specialattention in winter. If you drive on salted roads, clean the wheels thor- oughly afterwards. After washing, be sure to rinse thor- oughly. If soapy water dries on thefinish, streaking will result. When the weather is warm and the
humidity low, you may find it necessary to rinse each section immediately afterwashing to avoid streaking. After rinsing, dry the car using a damp chamois or soft, absorbent cloth. The reason for drying the car is to remove water from the car so it will dry withoutwater spots. Don't rub, this can dam- age the finish. If you find any nicks or scratches in the paint, use touch-up paint to cover them to prevent corrosion. To protectthe paintwork of the car against corro- sion, you must clean your Hyundai (at least once a month). Give special at-tention to the removal of salt, mud and other substances on the underside of the splashboards of the car. Makesure that the outlets and the underside of the doors are open. Paint damage can be caused by small accumulationof tar, industrial precipitation, tree resin, insects and bird droppings, when not removed immediately. If water alone isnot strong enough to remove the accu- mulated dirt, use a mild car washing solution.