Hyundai Tucson Owners Manual
Hazardous driving conditionsDriving your vehicle / Special driving conditions / Hazardous driving conditions
When hazardous driving conditions are encountered such as water, snow, ice, mud or sand:
Drive cautiously and allow extra distance for braking.
Avoid sudden movements in braking or steering.
If stuck in snow, mud, or sand, use second gear. Accelerate slowly to avoid spinning the drive wheels.
WARNING
Downshifting with an automatic transaxle, while driving on slippery surfaces can cause an accident. The sudden change in tire speed could cause the tires to skid. Be careful when downshifting on slippery surfaces.
Use sand, rock salt, or other non-slip material under the drive wheels to provide traction when stalled in ice, snow, or mud.
Rocking the vehicle
If it is necessary to rock the vehicle to free it from snow, sand, or mud, first turn the steering wheel right and left to clear the area around your front wheels. Then, shift back and forth between R (Reverse) and a forward gear. Try to avoid spinning the wheels, and do not race the engine.
To prevent transaxle wear, wait until the wheels stop spinning before shifting gears. Release the accelerator pedal while shifting, and press lightly on the accelerator pedal while the transaxle is in gear. Slowly spinning the wheels in forward and reverse directions causes a rocking motion that may free the vehicle.
WARNING
If the tires spin at high speed the tires can explode, and you or others may be injured. Do not attempt this procedure if people or objects are anywhere near the vehicle. The vehicle can overheat causing an engine compartment fire or other damage. Spin the wheels as little as possible and avoid spinning the wheels at speeds over 35 mph (56 km/h) as indicated on the speedometer.
CAUTION
If you are still stuck after rocking the vehicle a few times, have the vehicle pulled out by a tow vehicle to avoid engine overheating, possible damage to the transaxle, and tire damage. See “Towing” in chapter 6. To prevent damage to the transaxle, turn OFF the ESC prior to rocking the vehicle.
Smooth cornering
Avoid braking or gear changing in corners, especially when roads are wet. Ideally, corners should always be taken under gentle acceleration.
Driving at night
Night driving presents more hazards than driving in the daylight. Here are some important tips to remember:
- Slow down and keep more distance between you and other vehicles, as it may be more difficult to see at night, especially in areas where there may not be any street lights.
- Adjust your mirrors to reduce the glare from other driver's headlights.
- Keep your headlights clean and properly aimed. Dirty or improperly aimed headlights will make it much more difficult to see at night.
- Avoid staring directly at the headlights of oncoming vehicles. You could be temporarily blinded, and it will take several seconds for your eyes to readjust to the darkness.
Driving in the rain
Rain and wet roads can make driving dangerous. Here are a few things to consider when driving in the rain or on slick pavement:
- Slow down and allow extra following distance. A heavy rainfall makes it harder to see and increases the distance needed to stop your vehicle.
- Turn OFF your Cruise Control.
- Replace your windshield wiper blades when they show signs of streaking or missing areas on the windshield.
- Be sure your tires have enough tread. If your tires do not have enough tread, making a quick stop on wet pavement can cause a skid and possibly lead to an accident.
- Turn on your headlights to make it easier for others to see you.
- Driving too fast through large puddles can affect your brakes. If you must go through puddles, try to drive through them slowly.
- If you believe your brakes may be wet, apply them lightly while driving until normal braking operation returns.
Hydroplaning
If the road is wet enough and you are going fast enough, your vehicle may have little or no contact with the road surface and actually ride on the water. The best advice is SLOW DOWN when the road is wet. The risk of hydroplaning increases as the depth of tire tread decreases
Driving in flooded areas
Avoid driving through flooded areas unless you are sure the water is no higher than the bottom of the wheel hub. Drive through any water slowly.
Allow adequate stopping distance because brake performance may be reduced.
After driving through water, dry the brakes by gently applying them several times while the vehicle is moving slowly.
Reducing the risk of a rollover
Your multi-purpose passenger vehicle is defined as a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). SUV’s have higher ground clearance and a narrower track to make them capable of performing in a wide variety of off-road applications. The specific design characteristics give them a higher center of gravity than ordinary vehicles making them more likely to roll over if you make abrupt turns. Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles.
Due to this risk, driver and passengers are strongly recommended to buckle their seat belts. In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt.
There are steps that a driver can make to reduce the risk of a rollover. If at all possible, avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers, do not load your vehicle with heavy cargo on the roof, and never modify your vehicle in any way.
WARNING
Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles. To prevent rollovers or loss of control:
- Take corners at slower speeds than you would with a passenger vehicle.
- Avoid sharp turns and abrupt maneuvers.
- Do not modify your vehicle in any way that you would raise the center of gravity.
- Keep tires properly inflated.
- Do not carry heavy cargo on the roof.
WARNING
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. Make sure all passengers are wearing their seat belts.
