Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Wagons Kia Rondo KIA Rondo Handling, Tires, Suspension
35 messages, Last post on Oct 10, 2009 at 2:41 AM
You are in the Kia Rondo Forum. Your Host is kcram
|
|
|---|---|
|
Vehicle handles quite poorly. In twice for alignment checks so far. Handled better after first when all but 2 specs were out, but still had 5 out because vehicle has no camber or caster adjustment. Two weeks later went back, same tech and machine, and 8 were out. Maybe vehicle won't hold alignment either? After loosening lots of things and trying to force any slack in bolt holes, etc. left with 4 out of spec and are sending to another alignment shop for opinion. Total of 14 specs for adjustment, if vehicle had adjustment for all. So handling is still poor. Too much caster likely causing some of hard steering issue. And excessive forces are already (5600 miles) showing a tiny bump of looseness in steering. Vehicle not driven on rough roads. Hard to make a vehicle handle properly if you can not align it!
|
|
|
|
|
Vehicle came with Hankook Optimo tires. Tire has a slant pattern running through tread from one sidewall to the other. Looking at rear of vehicle and tires the slant runs in the same direction on all four. I strongly suspect this is wrong and may contribute to handling issue. I do not know which direction this will pump water but it seems likely it will either through you to the shoulder or into oncoming traffic. I think this is the same tire =http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Hankook&tireModel=Optimo+H418 And carefully checking the tire shown if all four were mounted with the same sidewall to the outside of wheel, the diagonals would either slant to center of vehicle or away from center, left and right side from rear or front as long as you check all from same position. It seems the only way KIA could have gotten differently is they mounted left side tires with one sidewall out and the opposite sidewall out on the right side of vehicle. Dealer offered to turn one side around, but now faced with how the tread was broke in.
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: e_net_rider (Jan 20, 2008 7:32 am) It took awhile to get the point across about how the slant pattern exists and is effected by which sidewall is mounted out. As if they did not realize it. Also told them there seemed to be excessive squirm when driving across rain grooves. He told me that most of the water would be going between the tire ribs, the grooves that separate the grooves. Probed deeper concerning the slant pattern and if standing water existed. Trying to be non-committal he admitted an effect. He suggested having KIA turn two of the tires so that the same sidewall was to the face of the wheel on all four. And told me to have KIA get with them for allowance on different tire model. Pretty sure I will take this up since I learned something else about the tread pattern. Sidewall sipes are only half the tread deep. Wet roads are a huge concern where I live. And beyond wet since pockets of water often stand on roadway and it often rains very hard. Not very cold here, seldom any snow, but traction under other conditions very important. So when buying tires I always look for those with highest traction ratings wet and dry. As to wet and standing water conditions, I've always looked for tires that have sidewall sipes the full depth of tread. I have not tried any of the newer water treads since the sidewall sipe seems to be important for conditions here. Often tires do not have a full depth sidewall sipe, afterall they are testing on new tires. Most new tires start with 10/32" of tread, and considered worn out at 2/32". Often manufacturers make those sipes only halfway of depth to slow wear on outer ribs of tires. But again turning to wet road and hydroplaning, those sipes are completely gone with 5/32" of tread left. A condition I definitely don't want on my vehicles. If 2/32" is worn out, does that mean the sidewall sipes are worn out at 2/32 + 5/32 = 7/32" of remaining tread? Something you should think about because the tire should, would be greatly derated from its new performance at that point of wear under watery conditions. P.S. Tires are the single most important investment for your vehicle. More than brakes because they are only effective to the point of the tire and its traction.
|
|
|
Replying to: e_net_rider (Jan 27, 2008 4:35 am) (Attention site moderator: I wish they would allow you the post details in the left column as regards to your location and what you drive, like on other forums - it seems such a waste of space and time)
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: conwelpic (Jan 28, 2008 3:38 pm) |
|
|
|
|
Replying to: e_net_rider (Jan 20, 2008 7:11 am) After KIA had it to Toyota rack twice and they could not get it in spec, they wanted it run across a third rack to make sure. They asked who I used and I mentioned Rutland, so they sent me there. After a few more hours of baby sitting, they told me some bolts were rounded off and it needed new ones. Was this done at Toyota referral? They passed word to KIA and bolts were ordered, but I get this suspicion. KIA calls that bolts are in. The morning I go to KIA, I check thoroughly and can not find any damaged bolts or nuts. I find at KIA these bolts are the two each side that connect the strut to the steering knuckle. And they tell me it needs to go back to Rutland. They tell me they don't have time, maybe tomorrow because it will take three hours. Say What? They have to unmount struts and open the holes. Now I got the whole picture. They are going to do an unauthorized fix to this new vehicle, the same sort of thing that got Ford into a bunch of lawsuits. This I will not allow. Don't need the trouble of bad accident or sitting in lawyers offices and courts endlessly. True that some struts have an elongated hole for adjustment, but those manufactured that way have a knurled surface at that point to give better bite at metal to metal contact and may use special bolts and nuts that also have knurled surface at points of contact. Certainly not a smooth surface on strut and bolts point of contact. And such an adjustment only works for camber, not caster. Also the rear does not use struts but a four link suspension with separate coil spring and a shock absorber so I can only guess what butchering they may intend to fix those issues.
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: conwelpic (Jan 28, 2008 3:38 pm) 
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: caliberchic (Jan 30, 2008 2:44 pm)
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: e_net_rider (Jan 30, 2008 9:47 am) Contacted KIA customer service. Went into detail and asked for escalation of engineering and told they could not do that. Called main part of dealership and talked to manager. He promised to get back with me before end of day. It is 6:06 PM. In the meantime, I've been busy on the web and email contacting GA consumer affairs relating to Lemon Law. According to them I meet the criteria and by law they should have been giving me copies of everything to date, even under warranty or free service. I've requested copies. Next will be certified mail requesting such and it looks like I need to make time to fill out form notifying them it is their last chance. If not fixed in 7 days I file for buy back or replacement of vehicle. And very happy to learn GA law takes care of you. Not killed by depreciation and such. Settlement is price paid including taxes, etc. divided by 100K miles to determine my cost per mile. Multiply by miles driven and that is it. That should be about $.20 per mile and hopefully settled before 6K miles. |
|
You are here:
Forums
Wagons Kia Rondo KIA Rondo Handling, Tires, Suspension
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2009 Kia Rondo
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
