2002 MAZDA MODEL TRIBUTE tires

Each day before you drive, check
your tires. If one looks lower than
the others, use a tire gauge to check
pressure of all tires, and adjust if
required. Check tire pressure with a
tire gauge every few weeks
(including spare). Safe operation
requires tires that are neither
underinflated nor overloaded.
Periodically inspect the tire treads and remove stones, nails, glass or
other objects that may be wedged in the tread grooves. Check for holes
or cuts that may permit air leakage from the tire and make necessary
repairs.
Inspect the tire side walls for cuts, bruises and other damage. If internal
damage to the tire is suspected, have the tire demounted and inspected
in case it needs to be repaired or replaced.
Maintenance and Modifications
The suspension and steering systems on your vehicle have been designed
and tested to provide both reasonably safe, predictable performance
whether loaded or empty and durable load carrying capability. For this
reason, Mazda Motor Corporation strongly recommends that you do not
make modifications such as adding or removing parts (such as lift kits or
stabilizer bars) or by using replacement parts not equivalent to the
original factory equipment.
Any modifications to a vehicle that raise the center of gravity can make
it more likely the vehicle will roll over as a result of a loss of control.
Mazda Motor Corporation recommends that caution be used with any
vehicle equipped with a high load or device (such as ladder racks or
pickup box cover).
Failure to maintain your vehicle properly may void the warranty, increase
your repair cost, reduce vehicle performance and operational capabilities
and adversely affect driver and passenger safety. Frequent inspection of
vehicle chassis components is recommended if the vehicle is subjected to
heavy off-road usage.
Driving
156

²Maximum Trailer Weight Rating:Maximum weight of a trailer the
vehicle is permitted to tow. The maximum trailer weight rating is
determined by subtracting the vehicle curb weight for each
engine/transmission combination, any required option weight for trailer
towing and the weight of the driver from the GCWR for the towing
vehicle.
²Maximum Trailer Weight:Maximum weight of a trailer the loaded
vehicle (including occupants and cargo) is permitted to tow. It is
determined by subtracting the weight of the loaded trailer towing
vehicle from the GCWR for the towing vehicle.
²Trailer Weight Range:Specified weight range that the trailer must
fall within that ranges from zero to the maximum trailer weight rating.
NOTE: Remember to figure in the tongue load of your loaded trailer
when figuring the total weight.
WARNING: Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on
the certification label, this could affect vehicle handling and
cause an accident.
Do not use replacement tires with lower load carrying capacities
than the originals because they may lower the vehicle's GVWR
and GAWR limitations. Replacement tires with a higher limit than
the originals do not increase the GVWR and GAWR limitations.
The Safety Certification Label, found on the driver's door pillar, lists
several important vehicle weight rating limitations. Before adding any
additional equipment, refer to these limitations. If you are adding weight
to the front of your vehicle, (potentially including weight added to the
cab), the weight added should not exceed the front axle reserve capacity
(FARC). Additional frontal weight may be added to the front axle reserve
capacity provided you limit your payload in other ways (i.e. restrict the
number of occupants or amount of cargo carried).
You may add equipment throughout your vehicle if the total weight
added is equal to or less than the total axle reserve capacity (TARC)
weight. You should NEVER exceed the total axle reserve capacity.
Always ensure that the weight of occupants, cargo and equipment being
carried is within the weight limitations that have been established for
your vehicle including both gross vehicle weight and front and rear gross
axle weight rating limits.
Driving
158

TRAILER TOWING
Trailer towing with your vehicle may require the use of a trailer tow
option package.
Trailer towing puts additional loads on your vehicle's engine, transaxle,
axle, brakes, tires, and suspension. For your safety and to maximize
vehicle performance, be sure to use the proper equipment while towing.
Follow these guidelines to ensure safe towing procedure:
²Stay within your vehicle's load limits.
²Thoroughly prepare your vehicle for towing. Refer toPreparing to
towin this chapter.
²Use extra caution when driving while trailer towing. Refer toDriving
while you towin this chapter.
²Service your vehicle more frequently if you tow a trailer. Refer to the
ªScheduled Maintenanceº section of this manual.
²Do not tow a trailer until your vehicle has been driven at least 800 km
(500 miles).
²Refer to the instructions included with towing accessories for the
proper installation and adjustment specifications.
Do not exceed the maximum loads listed on the Certification label. For
load specification terms found on the label, refer toVehicle loadingin
this chapter. Remember to figure in the tongue load of your loaded
vehicle when figuring the total weight.
4x2
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)/Trailer Weights
Engine Maximum GCWR
- kg (lbs.)Trailer Weight
Range - kg (lbs.)Maximum
frontal area of
trailer - m
2(ft)2
2.0L w/manual
transmission1,878 (4,140) 453 (1,000) 2.2 (24)
3.0L
w/automatic
transmission2,404 (5,300) 907 (2,000) 2.2 (24)
3.0L
w/automatic
transmission and
towing package3,103 (6,840) 1,587 (3,500) 2.8 (30)
Driving
160

²Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
²Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
²Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
²Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
²Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
²Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant specificationsin
this chapter.
²Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle service maintenance section.
Conditions
²Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
²Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
²Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
²Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
²Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
12±16 km (8±10 miles) of driving.
²Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
²Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
²Close windows for high speed driving.
EPA window sticker
Every new vehicle should have the EPA window sticker. Contact your
dealer if the window sticker is not supplied with your vehicle. The EPA
window sticker should be your guide for the fuel economy comparisons
with other vehicles.
Maintenance and Specifications
231

WARNING: Do not start your engine with the air cleaner
removed and do not remove it while the engine is running.
Changing the air filter element
1. Loosen the clamp that secures the air inlet tube to the engine air
filter cover and disconnect the tube from the cover.
2. Release the clamps that secure the air filter housing cover.
3. Carefully separate the two halves of the air filter housing.
4. Remove the air filter element from the air filter housing.
5. Wipe the air filter housing and cover clean to remove any dirt or
debris and to ensure good sealing.
6. Install a new air filter element.
Be careful not to crimp the filter
element edges between the air
filter housing and cover. This
could cause filter damage and
allow unfiltered air to enter the
engine if not properly seated.
7. Replace the air filter housing cover and secure the clamps.
8. Replace the air inlet tube and secure the clamp.
Note:Failure to use the correct air filter element may result in severe
engine damage. The customer warranty may be voided for any damage to
the engine if the correct air filter element is not used.
INFORMATION ABOUT UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING
New vehicles are fitted with tires
that have a rating on them called
Tire Quality Grades. The Quality
grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For
example:
²Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
Maintenance and Specifications
239

These Tire Quality Grades are determined by standards that the United
States Department of Transportation has set.
Tire Quality Grades apply to new pneumatic tires for use on passenger
cars. They do not apply to deep tread, winter-type snow tires,
space-saver or temporary use spare tires, tires with nominal rim
diameters of 10 to 12 inches or limited production tires as defined in
Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 575.104(c)(2).
U.S. Department of Transportation-Tire quality grades:The U.S.
Department of Transportation requires Mazda to give you the following
information about tire grades exactly as the government has written it.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified
government test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one-half (1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual
conditions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits, service practices, and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction AA A B C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are AA, A, B, and C. The
grades represent the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
NOTE:The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning or peak traction characteristics.
Temperature A B C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing the
tire's resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by
law.
Maintenance and Specifications
240

WARNING: The temperature grade for this tire is established
for a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, underinflation, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can cause heat buildup and
possible tire failure.
SERVICING YOUR TIRES
Checking the tire pressure
²Use an accurate tire pressure gauge.
²Check the tire pressure when tires are cold, after the vehicle has been
parked for at least one hour or has been driven less than 5 km (3
miles).
²Adjust tire pressure to recommended specifications found on the
Certification Label or the Tire Label.
WARNING: Improperly inflated tires can affect vehicle
handling and can fail suddenly, possibly resulting in loss of
vehicle control.
Tire rotation
Because your vehicle's tires perform different jobs, they often wear
differently. To make sure your tires wear evenly and last longer, rotate
them as indicated in the tire manufacturer's owner's manual and/or
Limited Warranty Booklet. If you notice that the tires wear unevenly,
have them checked.
Maintenance and Specifications
241

²Four tire rotation
²Five tire rotation
Replacing the tires
Replace the tires when the wear
band is visible through the tire
treads.
Maintenance and Specifications
242