Kia Optima: Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance

The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced carefully at the factory to give you the longest tire life and best overall performance.

In most cases, you will not need to have your wheels aligned again. However, if you notice unusual tire wear or your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the alignment may need to be reset. If you notice your vehicle vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your wheels may need to be rebalanced.

✽ NOTICE

Improper wheel weights can damage your vehicle’s aluminum wheels. Use only approved wheel weights.

WARNING - Tire Inflation

• Driving on worn-out tires or mismatched tires is very hazardous. Wornout tires reduce braking effectiveness, steering accuracy, and traction. You are also more likely to have a blowout on a worn-out tire. Replace any tire showing sighs of being worn out.
• When replacing tires, never mix radial, bias-belted, and bias-type tires. All four tires should be of the same size, design and construction. Use only the tire sizes listed on the Tire Label located below the door striker on the driver’s side. Make sure that all tires and wheels are the same size and have the same load-carrying capacity. Use only tire and wheel combinations recommended on the Tire Label or by an authorized Kia dealer. Be sure the tire size matches the wheel size.
• The use of any other tire size or type may seriously affect ride, handling, ground clearance, tire clearance, and speedometer calibration.
• It is best to replace all four tires at the same time. If that is not possible or necessary, then replace the two front or two rear tires as a pair. Replacing just one tire can seriously affect your vehicle’s handling.