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4. Replace the valve cap.
5. Repeat this procedure for each tire, including the spare.
Note: Some spare tires require higher inflation pressure than the other
tires.
6. Visually inspect the tires to make sure there are no nails or other objects embedded that could poke a hole in the tire and cause an air
leak.
7. Check the sidewalls to make sure there are no gouges, cuts, bulges or other irregularities.
Tire and wheel alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole can cause the front end of your
vehicle to become misaligned or damage to your tires. If your vehicle
seems to pull to one side, vibrate or shake when you ’re driving, the
wheels may be out of alignment. Have a qualified technician at a
reputable repair facility check the wheel alignment periodically.
Wheel misalignment in the front or the rear can cause uneven and rapid
treadwear of your tires and should be corrected by a qualified technician
at a reputable repair facility. Front wheel drive (FWD) vehicles, and
those with independent front suspension require alignment of all four
wheels.
The tire should also be balanced periodically. An unbalanced tire and
wheel assembly may result in irregular tire wear.
NOTE: When it is time to replace front tires with new ones, this is an
ideal time to perform an alignment. New tires should be balanced at the
time they are installed.
Tire rotation
Rotating your tires at the recommended interval (as indicated in the
Service Maintenance Guide that comes with your vehicle) will help your
tires wear more evenly providing better tire performance and longer tire
life. Unless otherwise specified, rotate the tires approximately every
8,000 km (5,000 miles).
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Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
Canadian French (fr-can)
Maintenance and Specifications
235
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•Rear Wheel Drive (RWD)
vehicles/Four Wheel Drive (4WD)
vehicles (front tires at top of
diagram)
Sometimes irregular tire wear can be corrected by rotating the tires.
Note: If your tires show uneven wear ask a qualified technician at a
reputable repair facility to check for and correct any wheel misalignment,
tire imbalance or mechanical problem involved before tire rotation.
Tire wear
Measure and inspect the tire tread on all your tires periodically.
Advanced and unusual tire wear can reduce the ability of tread to grip
the road in adverse (wet, snowy, etc.) conditions. Visually check your
tires for uneven wear, looking for high and low areas or unusually
smooth areas. Also check for signs of tire damage.
When the tread is worn down to 4
mm (1/16th of an inch), tires must
be replaced to prevent your vehicle
from skidding and hydroplaning.
Built-in treadwear indicators, or
“wear bars”, which look like narrow
strips of smooth rubber across the
tread will appear on the tire when
2004 Mazda B Series (mbs)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
Canadian French (fr-can)
Maintenance and Specifications
237
Page 250 of 256

refill capacities ........................240
specifications ..................243–244
Exhaust fumes ..........................109
F
Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) ....208
Fluid capacities .........................240
Foglamps .....................................34
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles .......119 driving off road .......................121
electronic shift ........................120
indicator light .........................120
preparing to drive your
vehicle .....................................113
Fuel ............................................208 calculating fuel economy .......214
cap ...........................................211
capacity ...................................240
choosing the right fuel ...........212
detergent in fuel .....................214
filling your vehicle with
fuel ...........................208, 211, 214
filter, specifications ................214
fuel pump shut-off switch .....137
improving fuel economy ........214
octane rating ...................212, 244
quality ......................................213
running out of fuel .................214
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................208
Fuel - flex fuel vehicle
(FFV) .................................208, 212
Fuel pump shut-off switch .......137
Fuses ..................................138–139
G
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............211 Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................214
Gauges .........................................16
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating)
calculating ...............................127
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) calculating ...............................127
H
Hazard flashers .........................137
Headlamps ...................................34 aiming ........................................35
bulb specifications ....................36
daytime running lights .............34
flash to pass ..............................35
high beam .................................35
replacing bulbs .........................37
turning on and off ....................34
Heating heating and air
conditioning system ...........31–32
Hood ..........................................188
I
Ignition ...............................105, 244
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .......................93
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................218
Instrument panel cleaning ...................................177
cluster ................................12, 177
lighting up panel and
interior .......................................35
location of components ............12
2004 Mazda B Series (mbs)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
Canadian French (fr-can)
Index
250