tires Hyundai Sonata

Maintenance42
7Tire sidewall labeling
This information identifies and
describes the fundamental charac-
teristics of the tire and also provides
the tire identification number (TIN)
for safety standard certification. The
TIN can be used to identify the tire in
case of a recall.1. Manufacturer or brand nameManufacturer or Brand name is
shown.
2. Tire size designation A tire’s sidewall is marked with a tire
size designation. You will need this
information when selecting replace-
ment tires for your car. The following
explains what the letters and num-
bers in the tire size designation
mean.
Example tire size designation:
(These numbers are provided as an
example only; your tire size designa-
tor could vary depending on your
vehicle.)
P205/65R16 94H
P - Applicable vehicle type (tires
marked with the prefix “P’’ are
intended for use on passenger
cars or light trucks; however, not
all tires have this marking).
205 - Tire width in millimeters.
65 - Aspect ratio. The tire’s section height as a percentage of its
width.
R - Tire construction code (Radial).
16 - Rim diameter in inches. 94 - Load Index, a numerical code
associated with the maximum
load the tire can carry.
H - Speed Rating Symbol. See the speed rating chart in this section
for additional information.
Wheel size designation Wheels are also marked with impor-
tant information that you need if you
ever have to replace one. The follow-
ing explains what the letters and
numbers in the wheel size designa-
tion mean.
Example wheel size designation:
6.5JX16
6.5 - Rim width in inches.
J - Rim contour designation.
16 - Rim diameter in inches.

I030B04JM
1
1
2
34
5,6
7

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743
Maintenance
Tire speed ratings The chart below lists many of the dif-
ferent speed ratings currently being
used for passenger car tires. The
speed rating is part of the tire size
designation on the sidewall of the
tire. This symbol corresponds to that
tire's designed maximum safe oper-
ating speed.
3. Checking tire life (TIN : TireIdentification Number) Any tires that are over 6 years old,
based on the manufacturing date,
(including the spare tire) should be
replaced by new ones. You can find
the manufacturing date on the tire
sidewall (possibly on the inside of the
wheel), displaying the DOT Code.
The DOT Code is a series of num-
bers on a tire consisting of numbers
and English letters. The manufactur-
ing date is designated by the last four
digits (characters) of the DOT code.
DOT : XXXX XXXX OOOO
The front part of the DOT means a
plant code number, tire size and
tread pattern and the last four num-
bers indicate week and year manu-
factured.
For example:
DOT XXXX XXXX 1609 represents
that the tire was produced in the 16th
week of 2009.
4. Tire ply composition and materialThe number of layers or plies of rub-
ber-coated fabric in the tire. Tire
manufacturers also must indicate the
materials in the tire, which include
steel, nylon, polyester, and others.
The letter "R" means radial ply con-
struction; the letter "D" means diago-
nal or bias ply construction; and the
letter "B" means belted-bias ply con-
struction.
S 112 mph (180 km/h)
T 118 mph (190 km/h)
H 130 mph (210 km/h) V 149 mph (240 km/h)Z Above 149 mph (240 km/h)
Maximum Speed
Speed
Rating
Symbol
WARNING - Tire age
Tires degrade over time, even
when they are not being used.
Regardless of the remaining
tread, it is recommended that
tires generally be replaced after
six (6) years of normal service.
Heat caused by hot climates or
frequent high loading condi-
tions can accelerate the aging
process. Failure to follow this
warning can result in sudden
tire failure, which could lead to
a loss of control and an acci-
dent involving serious injury or
death.

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Maintenance44
75. Maximum permissible inflation
pressureThis number is the greatest amount
of air pressure that should be put in
the tire. Do not exceed the maximum
permissible inflation pressure. Refer
to the Tire and Loading Information
label for recommended inflation
pressure.6. Maximum load ratingThis number indicates the maximum
load in kilograms and pounds that
can be carried by the tire. When
replacing the tires on the vehicle,
always use a tire that has the same
load rating as the factory installed
tire.
7. Uniform tire quality grading Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between tread shoulder and maxi-
mum section width.
For example: TREAD wear 200
TRACTION AA
TEMPERATURE ATread wearThe tread wear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified govern-
ment test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one-and-a-
half times (1½) as well on the gov-
ernment course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions
of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
These grades are molded on the
side-walls of passenger vehicle tires.
The tires available as standard or
optional equipment on your vehicle
may vary with respect to grade.
Traction - AA, A, B & C The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B and C. Those
grades represent the tire’s ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on spec-
ified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked
C may have poor traction perform-
ance.
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on straight-
ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include accelera-
tion, cornering, hydroplaning,
or peak traction characteristics.

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745
Maintenance
Temperature -A, B & C The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B and C representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire to
degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C cor-
responds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must
meet under the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher
levels of performance on the labora-
tory test wheel than the minimum
required by law.Tire terminology and definitions
Air Pressure
: The amount of air
inside the tire pressing outward on
the tire. Air pressure is expressed in
pounds per square inch (psi) or kilo-
pascal (kPa).
Accessory Weight : This means the
combined weight of optional acces-
sories. Some examples of optional
accessories are, automatic
transaxle, power seats, and air con-
ditioning.
Aspect Ratio : The relationship of a
tire's height to its width.
Belt: A rubber coated layer of cords
that is located between the plies and
the tread. Cords may be made from
steel or other reinforcing materials.
Bead : The tire bead contains steel
wires wrapped by steel cords that
hold the tire onto the rim.
Bias Ply Tire : A pneumatic tire in
which the plies are laid at alternate
angles less than 90 degrees to the
centerline of the tread.
WARNING - Tire temperature
The temperature grade for this
tire is established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat
build-up and possible sudden
tire failure. This can cause loss
of vehicle control and serious
injury or death.

YF HMA 7.QXP 11/25/2009 1:48 PM Page 45

747
Maintenance
Speed Rating: An alphanumeric
code assigned to a tire indicating the
maximum speed at which a tire can
operate.
Traction : The friction between the
tire and the road surface. The
amount of grip provided.
Tr e a d : The portion of a tire that
comes into contact with the road.
Treadwear Indicators : Narrow
bands, sometimes called "wear
bars," that show across the tread of a
tire when only 2/32 inch of tread
remains.
UTQGS : Uniform Tire Quality
Grading Standards, a tire information
system that provides consumers with
ratings for a tire's traction, tempera-
ture and treadwear. Ratings are
determined by tire manufacturers
using government testing proce-
dures. The ratings are molded into
the sidewall of the tire.
Vehicle Capacity Weight : The num-
ber of designated seating positions
multiplied by 150 lbs. (68 kg) plus the
rated cargo and luggage load. Vehicle Maximum Load on the
Tire
: Load on an individual tire due to
curb and accessory weight plus
maximum occupant and cargo
weight.
Vehicle Normal Load on the Tire :
Load on an individual tire that is
determined by distributing to each
axle its share of the curb weight,
accessory weight, and normal occu-
pant weight and dviding by 2.
Vehicle Placard : A label permanent-
ly attached to a vehicle showing the
original equipment tire size and rec-
ommended inflation pressure.
All season tires
HYUNDAI specifies all season tires
on some models to provide good
performance for use all year round,
including snowy and icy road condi-
tions. All season tires are identified
by ALL SEASON and/or M+S (Mud
and Snow) on the tire sidewall. Snow
tires have better snow traction than
all season tires and may be more
appropriate in some areas. Summer tires
HYUNDAI specifies summer tires on
some models to provide superior
performance on dry roads. Summer
tire performance is substantially
reduced in snow and ice. Summer
tires do not have the tire traction rat-
ing M+S (Mud and Snow) on the tire
side wall. if you plan to operate your
vehicle in snowy or icy conditions.
HYUNDAI recommends the use of
snow tires or all season tires on all
four wheels.
Snow tires
If you equip your car with snow tires,
they should be the same size and
have the same load capacity as the
original tires. Snow tires should be
installed on all four wheels; other-
wise, poor handling may result.
Snow tires should carry 4 psi (28
kPa) more air pressure than the
pressure recommended for the stan-
dard tires on the tire label on the dri-
ver's side of the center pillar, or up to
the maximum pressure shown on the
tire sidewall, whichever is less.

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Maintenance48
7Do not drive faster than 75 mph (120
km/h) when your car is equipped with
snow tires.
Tire chains
Tire chains, if necessary, should be
installed on the front wheels.
Be sure that the chains are installed
in accordance with the manufactur-
er's instructions.
To minimize tire and chain wear, do
not continue to use tire chains when
they are no longer needed.
Radial-ply tiresRadial-ply tires provide improved
tread life, road hazard resistance and
smoother high speed ride. The radi-
al-ply tires used on this vehicle are of
belted construction, and are selected
to complement the ride and handling
characteristics of your vehicle.
Radial-ply tires have the same load
carrying capacity, as bias-ply or bias
belted tires of the same size, and use
the same recommended inflation
pressure. Mixing of radial-ply tires
with bias-ply or bias belted tires is
not recommended. Any combina-
tions of radial-ply and bias-ply or bias
belted tires when used on the same
vehicle will seriously deteriorate
vehicle handling. The best rule to fol-
low is: Identical radial-ply tires should
always be used as a set of four.
Longer wearing tires can be more
susceptible to irregular tread wear. It
is very important to follow the tire
rotation interval shown in this section
to achieve the tread life potential of
these tires. Cuts and punctures in
radial-ply tires are repairable only in
the tread area, because of sidewall
flexing. Consult your tire dealer for
radial-ply tire repairs.
WARNING
- Snow or ice
• When driving on roads cov- ered with snow or ice, drive at
less than 20 mph (30 km/h).
• Use the SAE “S” class or wire chains.
• If you hear noise caused by chains contacting the body,
retighten the chain to avoid
contact with the vehicle body.
• To prevent body damage, retighten the chains after driv-
ing 0.3~0.6 miles (0.5~1.0 km).
• Do not use tire chains on vehicles equipped with alu-
minum wheels. In unavoid-
able circumstance, use a wire
type chain.
• Use wire chains less than 0.47 inches (12 mm) to prevent
damage to the chain’s con-
nection.

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8
Dimensions / 8-2
Bulb wattage / 8-2
Tires and wheels / 8-3
Recommended lubricants and capacities / 8-4
Vehicle identification number (VIN) / 8-6
Vehicle certification label / 8-6
Tire specification and pressure label / 8-7
Engine number / 8-7
Consumer information / 8-8
Reporting safety defects / 8-9
Binding arbitration / 8-9
Specifications, Consumer information,
Reporting safety defects

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83
Specifications, Consumer information, Reporting safety defeccts
TIRES AND WHEELS* Normal load : Up to 3 persons
Inflation pressurekPa (psi)
Front Rear Front Rear
P205/65R16 94H 6.5J×16 225 (33) 225 (33) 225 (33) 225 (33) P215/55R17 93V 6.5J×17 225 (33) 225 (33) 225 (33) 225 (33) 225/45R18 95V 7.5J×18 240 (35) 240 (35) 240 (35) 240 (35)
T125/80D16 97H 4.0T×16 420 420 420 420
(60) (60) (60) (60)
Full size tire
Compact
spare tire Wheel lug nut torque
lb•ft (kg•m, N•m)
65~79
(9~11, 88~107)
Item
Tire
size Wheel size
Normal load
*1
Maximum load

YF HMA 8.QXP 12/24/2009 5:23 PM Page 3

87
Specifications, Consumer information, Reporting safety defeccts
TIRE SPECIFICATION AND
PRESSURE LABELThe tires supplied on your new vehicle
are chosen to provide the best perform-
ance for normal driving.
The tire label located on the driver's side
center pillar gives the tire pressures rec-
ommended for your car.
ENGINE NUMBERThe engine number is stamped on the
engine block as shown in the drawing.

OYF089002

OYF089003N

YF HMA 8.QXP 12/24/2009 5:23 PM Page 7

I3
Index
California perchlorate notice ··················\
··················\
·····7-73
Capacities (Lubricants) ··················\
··················\
················8-4
CareExterior care ··················\
··················\
··················\
········7-64
Interior care ··················\
··················\
··················\
·········7-68
Tire care··················\
··················\
··················\
···············7-36
Cargo weight ··················\
··················\
··················\
············5-50
Center console storage ··················\
··················\
···············4-98
Central door lock switch··················\
··················\
············4-19
Certification label ··················\
··················\
···············5-48, 8-6
Changing tires ··················\
··················\
··················\
··········6-13
Chains Tire chains ··················\
··················\
··················\
···········5-42
Checking tire inflation pressure··················\
··················\
·7-37
Child restraint system ··················\
··················\
················3-29 Passenger seat belt ··················\
··················\
················3-31
Tether anchor system··················\
··················\
·············3-33
Lower anchor system ··················\
··················\
············3-35
Child-protector rear door lock ··················\
··················\
···4-21
Climate control system (Automatic) ··················\
···········4-91 Air conditioning ··················\
··················\
··················\
··4-94
Automatic heating and air conditioning··················\
··4-89
Manual heating and air conditioning ··················\
······4-90
Climate control system (Manual) ··················\
················4-79 Air conditioning ··················\
··················\
··················\
··4-85
Climate control air filter··················\
··················\
········4-87
Heating and air conditioning··················\
··················\
·4-80 Climate control air filter ··················\
··················\
············4-89
Climate control air filter ··················\
··················\
············7-29
Clock (Digital) ··················\
··················\
··················\
·······4-102
Clothes hanger ··················\
··················\
··················\
·······4-102
Combined instrument, see instrument cluster ···············4-46
Compact spare tire ··················\
··················\
··················\
···6-18
Compact spare tire replacement ··················\
··················\
7-41
Compass mirror, see the Electric chromic mirror (ECM)
with homeLink system and compass ··················\
······4-37
Consumer information ··················\
··················\
·················8-8
Coolant ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
···7-23
Cooling fluid, see engine coolant ··················\
················7-23
Crankcase emission control system ··················\
·············7-70
Cruise control system ··················\
··················\
················5-31
Cup holder ··················\
··················\
··················\
·············4-100
Curtain air bag ··················\
··················\
··················\
·········3-54
Dashboard, see instrument cluster ··················\
···············4-46
Dashboard illumination, see instrument panel illumination ··················\
··················\
··················\
·········4-47
Daytime running light··················\
··················\
················4-69
Defogging (Windshield) ··················\
··················\
············4-95
Defogging logic (Windshield) ··················\
··················\
···4-97
Defroster (Rear window) ··················\
··················\
···········4-78
Defrosting (Windshield) ··················\
··················\
············4-95
Digital clock··················\
··················\
··················\
···········4-102
Dimensions ··················\
··················\
··················\
················8-2C
D

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