When to Get Your Kia's Brakes Serviced

It's crucial to have sufficient tread on your tires to ensure proper handling and control of your Kia. Below, your Kia dealer helps you to determine when your Soul, Sportage, or Sorento needs new tires. more Check the Tire Tread Depth If you look closely at your tires and notice that the tread appears worn, check the tread depth. There are a couple of ways you can do this. One way is to use a gauge to measure the tread depth. If it's lower than 2/32 inches, you need to replace your vehicle's tires. Another way is to insert a penny into the grooves between the treads with Lincoln's head pointed down. If you can't see his head, your tread is still good. However, the tread is too shallow if you can see his head. You Can See the Wear Indicator Bars The flat rubber bars that run perpendicular to the direction of the tread are called wear indicator bars. When tires are new, you can barely see the bars, and as you drive and your tires wear down, the bars become more visible. If you can see the bars, your tires are worn and need replacing. The Tires Are Worn Unevenly Different parts of a tire can wear at different rates. Various factors, including improper inflation and misalignment, can cause uneven wear. To avoid this, ensure your tires are always inflated to the proper pressure levels and regularly rotated to prevent uneven tread wear. A Tire Is Damaged Inspect the sidewalls of your tires regularly for cuts or cracks that could cause leaks or, even worse, a blowout. It's crucial not to ignore any damage to the sidewalls of your tires. If the outer surface weakens, it can cause bulges, leading to a blowout. Your Tires Are Old Keep an eye on the age of your tires, even if the tread still looks good and there isn't any visible damage. The combination of extreme temperatures, exposure to sunlight, and road conditions can cause structural changes that can impact the overall safety of your tires. Tire manufacturers suggest replacing tires anywhere between six to ten years. Be sure to check your specific tire brand for more detailed replacement specifications. Install Quality Tires When it's time to replace your car's tires, rely on us for a wide selection of quality brand tires at prices that won't break the bank. We'll even refund you the difference if you find a better price elsewhere within 30 days. Plus, we include a 24-month road hazard coverage on eligible tires, and if you get a flat, we will cover you for up to $20. Tires are expensive, and to help you, we offer financing options through Sunbit with convenient monthly payments. Our helpful tire specialists will assist you in finding the correct quality tires for your model, and our Kia technicians will handle the installation with expert precision. When you've got a good set of tires on your car, your Kia will handle better, and you'll be safer on the road. Stop at Burns Kia today for exceptional customer care, quality tires, and an expert tire installation.

Brake pads are a vital part of your Kia's braking system. They are also a component with a limited lifespan. They wear out as they work, and they have to be replaced regularly. As your local Kia dealer, we'd like to tell you more about how important they are for your safety and how often they need to be replaced. more What Do the Pads Do? The pads fit into the brake calipers. When you use the brakes, pressurized brake fluid forces the calipers against the wheel rotors. The pads have friction material coverings. These coverings generate friction against the smooth rotors and bring them to a stop. The friction material will wear off as time passes, and the pads will need to be replaced. How Often Do You Change the Pads? On average, your pads are good for 30,000 to 50,000 miles before they need replacement. Your car manual will give you the exact replacement time for your particular model. The pads can also wear out faster depending on driving conditions, frequency of braking, and how hard you apply the brakes. The pads are 1/2" thick when they're new, and they wear slightly each time you use the brakes. When the pads reach a thickness of 1/4", they need to be replaced. Signs You Need To Replace Your Pads Glazed Pads Pads become glazed due to extended contact with the wheel rotors. If you ride your brakes, the pads are kept in contact with the rotors. This produces more friction than they're designed for. The surface of the pads becomes smooth and glass-like, and sections of the rotor develop a rough texture. Glazed pads don't provide friction anymore, and this means they need to be replaced ASAP for your safety. Screeching Pads As we've seen, the pads slowly wear down. When your pads reach a thickness of 1/4", a metal spike becomes visible inside the pad. This spike is built into the pad by the manufacturer as a warning. The next time you apply the brakes, the metal spike will scratch against the rotor and produce a harsh screeching sound. When you hear this, it's time to replace your pads. Grinding Noises If the pads aren't replaced when they screech, they will continue to wear down. Once the material covering has worn off, you'll hear a harsh grinding noise. This is the sound of the metal pads damaging the surface of the rotors. Your pads would need to be replaced immediately. Our technicians will also check your rotors for signs of damage that may need repair. Pads are quick and easy to install. Call us today at Burns Kia. Image courtesy of Gustavo Fring via Pexels

Whether you're parking, reversing, cruising on the highway, or navigating busy city traffic, your Kia has state-of-the-art car safety features helping you avoid accidents. Here are five of the best safety and driver assist features you'll find in a modern Kia. If you'd like to see more, ask for a demo at your nearest Kia dealership. more Auto Emergency Braking Not only does your Kia monitor the road head and help you avoid potential collisions with automatic braking, but it can even detect hazards when you're turning left. The system uses forward-facing cameras or radar to detect cars, motorcyclists, cyclists, and even pedestrians wandering across your path. If a hazard is detected, first, you're provided a clear warning signal. And if you're slow to respond, your car brakes for you to avoid a collision, or at least reduce its severity. Blind Spot Collision Avoidance During rush hour, both crowded urban streets and highways can become rather hectic. These busy moments are when drivers are most at risk of changing lanes without noticing a vehicle in their blind spot. Your Kia continually monitors your blind spots on either side. If there's ever something in your blind spot when you intend to change lanes, it warns you clearly and can even help you return safely to the center of your lane. Smart Cruise Control The dangers of driver fatigue are reduced in a modern Kia by Smart Cruise Control, which can take over essential driving functions for you, allowing you to relax and watch the road. By controlling the steering, braking, and acceleration, your car maintains a predetermined distance from the vehicle ahead. It can even come to a complete stop in heavy traffic and start up again within three seconds of stopping. Smart Remote Park Assist If you get a little nervous when it comes to tight parking spots, your Kia can handle it for you. You can sit inside or stand outside your car and tell it to park itself using a command on your key fob. Your car will carefully and accurately control steering, braking, and gas to safely park without any mishap. Safe Exit Warning When you park on the roadside, there's always a hazard when anyone opens the car door into the road. With Safe Exist Warning, your Kia will audibly warn you if either you or a passenger behind you attempts to open the door when another vehicle is approaching. On certain models, you can even have the rear doors remain locked until it's safe to exit. See More at Your Nearest Kia Dealer There are many more sophisticated technological safety and driver assist features in modern Kias. To see them in action, you can always request a test drive of your favorite Kia model at your local dealership. Visit Burns Motors Kia today to learn all about the latest in Kia technology.