Kia EV2: Driving your vehicle / Winter driving

Severe weather conditions and freezing temperatures in the winter result in greater tyre wear and various operational challenges for your vehicle. To minimise issues related to winter driving and protect your Kia EV2, you should carefully follow the professional suggestions outlined in these sections:

Snowy or icy conditions

To operate your Kia EV2 safely in deep snow, you may need to use dedicated snow tyres or install appropriate tyre chains on your wheels.

If you need snow tyres, select tyres of the exact same size and rating as the original factory equipment. Failure to do so may adversely affect the safety, stability, and handling of your vehicle.

Speeding, rapid acceleration, sudden brake engagement, and sharp turns are potentially very hazardous practices when driving in snowy or icy winter conditions.

When you need to decelerate, leverage the built-in regenerative braking system of your Kia EV2. Sudden brake engagement on slippery snow or ice-covered roads can easily cause dangerous skidding. Keep a generous distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead, and engage the brake pedal smoothly and progressively.

Installing tyre chains on the tyres allows you to drive with greater pulling force in heavy accumulation, but it does not prevent dangerous side skids.

NOTE

Tyre chains are not legal in all jurisdictions and countries. Always check local road laws before using tyre chains.

Snow tyres

If you install snow tyres on your Kia EV2, make sure they are high-quality radial tyres of the exact same size and load-bearing range as the original factory ones. Install snow tyres on all 4 wheels simultaneously to properly balance your vehicle's handling across all weather conditions. Keep in mind that specialized snow tyres may provide lower dry traction than your original summer or all-season tyres. Drive cautiously even when winter roads appear clear and dry, and consult your tyre dealer for maximum speed recommendations.

Do not install studded tyres without first checking state, local, and municipal regulations for possible legal restrictions against their use.

WARNING

Snow tyre size

Snow tyres should always be the exact same size as your original factory equipment. Otherwise, your Kia EV2 safety systems and handling dynamics may be severely and adversely affected.

Tyre chains

Because modern radial tyres feature thinner sidewalls, they can be easily damaged if you install incompatible or aggressive types of tyre chains on them. Therefore, certified snow tyres are often recommended instead of metal tyre chains. Furthermore, do not mount metal tyre chains on vehicles equipped with aluminium alloy wheels, as they can scratch and gouge the wheel finish.

(Except for Australia) If you must use tyre chains on your Kia EV2, use only chains specifically suitable for this vehicle model, such as SAE S class wire chains less than 12mm (0.47 inches) thick or AutoSock fabric snow chains. However, do not use wire chains for 18-inch or 19-inch tyres.

(For Australia) If you must use tyre chains, use only chains suitable for this vehicle, such as SAE S class wire chains less than 12mm (0.47 inches) thick. However, do not use wire chains for 18-inch or 19-inch tyres.

Your vehicle manufacturer warranty does not cover damage caused by improper tyre chain selection or incorrect installation.

When using tyre chains, attach them securely to the designated drive wheels as follows:

FWD: Front Wheel Drive

• FWD versions of the Kia EV2 utilize the front wheels as the power source. Therefore, tyre chains must always be installed on the front tyres.

• Drive slowly and cautiously immediately after installing tyre chains. If you hear any clicking or slapping noise caused by the chains making contact with your vehicle body, slow down immediately until the noise stops. To prevent mechanical damage, remove the chains as soon as you transition to cleared, paved roads.

• Wrongly sized or improperly installed tyre chains can severely damage your Kia EV2 brake lines, suspension components, body panels, and wheels. When installing tyre chains, follow the manufacturer instructions meticulously and install them as tightly as possible. Drive at speeds below 30 km/h (20 mph) or the speed limit recommended by the chain manufacturer, whichever is lower.

CAUTION

• Make sure the tyre chains are the correct size and type for your specific tyres. Incorrect tyre chains can cause extensive damage to your Kia EV2 bodywork and suspension, which may not be covered under warranty. Loose connecting hooks may strike vehicle components, causing the chains to detach while driving. Make sure all tyre chains are certified SAE class S.

• Always inspect your tyre chains for proper fit and tension after driving approximately 0.5-1 km (0.3-0.6 miles). Retighten or readjust the tyre chains immediately if they have loosened up.

Use high quality ethylene glycol coolant

Your Kia EV2 is equipped with a high-quality ethylene glycol coolant formulation. This is the exclusive type of coolant that should be used because it actively prevents internal corrosion in the thermal management and cooling systems, properly lubricates the water pump, and prevents freezing during extreme cold snaps. Be sure to replace or replenish your coolant strictly in accordance with the service schedule outlined in the Maintenance section.

Before winter weather sets in, have your coolant tested professionally to ensure that its freezing point provides adequate protection for the anticipated regional temperatures.

Check 12V battery and cables

Winter weather puts heavy additional burdens on the 12V auxiliary battery and electrical system of your Kia EV2. Visually inspect the 12V battery terminals and cables as described in the Maintenance guide. Have your vehicle thoroughly inspected by a professional workshop prior to freezing weather; Kia recommends visiting an authorised Kia dealer or service partner for expert diagnostics.

To keep locks from freezing

To keep your door locks from freezing shut during sub-zero temperatures, squirt an approved de-icer fluid or medical-grade glycerin directly into the key cylinder opening. If a lock is already frozen solid with ice, apply an approved de-icing fluid to dissolve it. If a mechanical lock is frozen internally, you can carefully thaw it out using a heated key. Always handle a heated key with extreme care using insulated gloves to avoid thermal injury.

Use approved window washer anti-freeze

To keep the fluid in your window washer system from freezing and cracking the reservoir, add an approved automotive window washer anti-freeze solution mixed according to the instructions on the container. High-grade washer anti-freeze is readily available from authorised Kia dealers and most specialized auto parts stores. Never use engine coolant or unauthorized chemical anti-freeze substitutes, as these will permanently ruin the exterior paint finish of your Kia EV2.

Don’t let your parking brake freeze

Under certain severe freezing conditions, your electronic or mechanical parking brake can freeze in place whilst engaged. This is most likely to happen when there is a heavy accumulation of slush, snow, or ice packed around the rear brake calipers, or if the braking components were wet prior to parking. If there is a risk that your parking brake might freeze overnight, park your Kia EV2 securely with the gear selector in P (Park), block the rear wheels firmly with chocks so the vehicle cannot roll, and release the parking brake.

Don’t let ice and snow accumulate under your vehicle

During heavy winter storms, ice and compacted snow can build up heavily underneath the wheel arches and fenders, severely interfering with steering articulation and wheel movement. When driving your Kia EV2 in severe winter conditions where this hazard occurs, periodically pull over and inspect beneath your vehicle to ensure that packed snow does not obstruct the drive wheels and steering linkage.

Carry emergency equipment

Depending on the severity of the winter weather and regional travel conditions, you should always pack and carry appropriate emergency gear in your Kia EV2 trunk. Essential items include certified tyre chains, heavy-duty tow straps, a high-lumen flashlight, emergency flares, a bag of traction sand, a compact folding shovel, quality jumper cables, a sturdy window scraper, warm winter gloves, a protective ground cloth, coveralls, an emergency thermal blanket, and other survival necessities.