2004 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 wheel

7-16
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
To replace the nut
1. Place the key on top of the nut.
2. Place the lug wrench on top of the key,
apply pressure, and turn it clockwise.

Mounting the Tire
1. Remove dirt and grime from the
mounting surfaces of the wheel and
hub, including the hub bolts, with a
cloth.
2. Mount the tire.3. Install the lug nuts with the beveled
edge inward; tighten them by hand.
Removing Dirt and Grime from
Wheels, Hubs and Hub Bolts:
When changing or replacing a tire,
not removing dirt and grime from the
mounting surfaces of the wheel, hub
and hub bolts is dangerous. The lug
nuts could loosen while driving and
cause the tire to come off, resulting in
an accident. Make sure the mounting
surfaces of the wheel, hub and lug
nuts are clean before changing or
replacing tires.
WARNING
Don’t Apply Oil or Grease to Lug
Nuts, Bolts:
Applying oil or grease to lug nuts and
bolts is dangerous. The lug nuts could
loosen while driving and cause the
tire to come off, resulting in an
accident. In addition, lug nuts and
bolts could be damaged if tightened
more than necessary. Do not apply oil
or grease to lug nuts and bolts and do
not tighten the lug nuts beyond the
recommended tightening torque.
WARNING
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 16 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

7-17
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
4. Turn the jack handle counterclockwise
and lower the vehicle. Use the lug
wrench to tighten the nuts in the order
shown.
If you’re unsure of how tight the nuts
should be, have them inspected at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Nut tightening torque:

N·m (kgf·m, ft·lbf) 88—118 (9—12, 65—87)
Loose Lug Nuts:
Improperly or loosely tightened lug
nuts are dangerous. The wheel could
wobble or come off. This could result
in loss of vehicle control and cause a
serious accident. Always securely and
correctly tighten the lug nuts.
Metric Studs and Lug Nuts:
Because the wheel studs and lug nuts
on your Mazda have metric threads,
using a non-metric nut is dangerous.
On a metric stud, it would not secure
the wheel and would damage the stud,
which could cause the wheel to slip
off and cause an accident. Be sure to
reinstall the same nuts you removed
or replace them with metric nuts of
the same configuration.
Incorrect Tire Air Pressure:
Driving on tires with incorrect air
pressure is dangerous. Tires with
incorrect pressure could affect
handling and result in an accident.
Don’t drive with any tires that have
incorrect air pressure.
NOTE
To prevent the jack and tool from
rattling, store them properly.
WARNING
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 17 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

7-23
In Case of an Emergency
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Emergency Towing
We recommend that towing be done only
by an Authorized Mazda Dealer or a
commercial tow-truck service.
Proper lifting and towing are necessary to
prevent damage to the vehicle.
Government and local laws must be
followed.
A towed vehicle usually should have its
rear wheels off the ground. If excessive
damage or other conditions prevent this,
use wheel dollies.
Towing Description
Wheel dollies
Don’t tow the vehicle pointed forward
with driving wheels on the ground.
This may cause internal damage to the
transmission.
Don’t tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage your vehicle. Use
wheel-lift or flatbed equipment.
CAUTION
CAUTION
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7-26
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
An example of “ recreational towing ” is
towing your vehicle behind a motorhome.
The transmission is not designed for
towing this vehicle on all 4 wheels.
When doing recreational towing refer to “
Towing Description ” (page 7-23) and “
Tiedown Hooks ” (page 7-24) and
carefully follow the instructions.
Recreational Towing
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 26 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

8-23
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
For reasons of proper performance, safety,
and better fuel economy, always maintain
recommended tire inflation pressures and
stay within the recommended load limits
and weight distribution.

Tire Inflation Pressure
Inspect all tire pressures monthly
(including the spare*) when the tires are
cold. Maintain recommended pressures
for the best ride, top handling, and
minimum tire wear.
Refer to the specification charts (page
10-7).Tires
Using Different Tire Types:
Driving your vehicle with different
types of tires is dangerous. It could
cause poor handling and poor
braking; leading to loss of control.
Use all radial, all bias-belted, or all
bias-type tires.
Using Wrong-Sized Tires:
Using any other tire size than what is
specified for your Mazda (page 10-7)
is dangerous. It could seriously affect
ride, handling, ground clearance, tire
clearance, and speedometer
calibration. This could cause you to
have an accident. Use only tires that
are the correct size specified for your
Mazda.
Incorrect Tire Inflation:
Overinflation or underinflation of
tires is dangerous. Adverse handling
or unexpected tire failure could result
in a serious accident. Always inflate
the tires to the correct pressure (page
10-7).
WARNING
WARNING
NOTE
•Warm tires normally exceed
recommended pressures. Don’t
release air from warm tires to adjust
the pressure.
•Underinflation can cause reduced
fuel economy and poor sealing of
the tire bead, which will deform the
wheel and cause separation of tire
from rim.
•Overinflation can produce a harsh
ride and a greater possibility of
damage from road hazards.
Keep your tire pressure at the
correct levels. If one frequently
needs inflating, have it inspected.
*Some models.
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 23 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

8-24
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

Tire Rotation
To equalize tread wear, rotate the tires
every 12,000 km (7,500 miles) or sooner
if irregular wear develops. During
rotation, inspect them for correct balance.
Also, inspect them for uneven wear and
damage. Abnormal wear is usually caused
by one or a combination of the following:
•Incorrect tire pressure
•Improper wheel alignment
•Out-of-balance wheel
•Severe braking
After rotation, inflate all tire pressures to
specification (page 10-7) and inspect the
lug nuts for tightness.

Replacing a Tire
NOTE
Because your vehicle is not equipped
with a spare tire, you cannot do a tire
rotation safely with the jack that comes
with your vehicle. Have an Authorized
Mazda Dealer perform tire rotation.
Front
Rotate unidirectional tires and radial
tires that have an asymmetrical tread
pattern or studs only from front to rear,
not from side to side. Tire performance
will be weakened if rotated from side
to side.
Limited-Slip Differential system;
don’t use the following:
•Tires not of the designated size
•Tires of different sizes or types at
the same time
•Tires not sufficiently inflated
If these instructions aren’t followed,
the rotation of the left and right wheels
will be different and will thus apply a
constant load on the limited-slip
differential.
This will cause a malfunction.
Worn Tires:
Driving with worn tires is dangerous.
Reduced braking, steering, and
traction could result in an accident.
Always use tires that are in good
condition.
CAUTION
CAUTION
WARNING
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8-25
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
If a tire wears evenly, a wear indicator will
appear as a solid band across the tread.
Replace the tire when this happens.
You should replace it before the band is
across the entire tread.

Temporary Spare Tire
Your Mazda is not equipped with a spare
tire. If you require a spare tire, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Inspect the temporary spare tire at least
monthly to make sure it’s properly
inflated and stored.
The temporary spare tire is easier to
handle because of its construction. It is
lighter and smaller than a conventional
tire and should be used only for an
emergency and only for a short distance.
Use the temporary only until the
conventional tire is repaired, which should
be as soon as possible.
Maintain its pressure at 420 kPa
(4.2 kgf/cm
2 or bar, 60 psi). (With Tire Pressure Monitoring
System)

When replacing/repairing the tires or
wheels or both, have the work done by
an Authorized Mazda Dealer, or the
tire pressure sensors may be damaged.
NOTE
(With Tire Pressure Monitoring
System)

•When tires with steel wire
reinforcement in the sidewalls are
used, the system may not function
correctly even with a genuine
wheel.(page 5-26)
•Be sure to install the tire pressure
sensors whenever tires or wheels are
replaced.(page 5-27)
CAUTION
New tread Worn treadTread wear indicator
•Don't use your temporary spare tire
rim with a snow tire or a
conventional tire. Neither will
properly fit and could damage both
tire and rim.
•The temporary spare tire has a tread
life of up to 5,000 km (3,000 miles),
depending on road conditions and
driving habits.
•The temporary spare tire is for
limited use, however, if the tread
wear solid-band indicator appears,
replace the tire with the same type
of temporary spare (page 8-24).
CAUTION
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8-26
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

Replacing a Wheel
When replacing a wheel, make sure the
new one is the same as the original factory
wheel in diameter, rim width, and offset.
Proper tire balancing provides the best
riding comfort and helps reduce tread
wear. Out-of-balance tires can cause
vibration and uneven wear, such as
cupping and flat spots.
Using a Wrong-Sized Wheel:
Using a wrong-sized wheel is
dangerous. Braking and handling
could be affected, leading to loss of
control and an accident. Always use
wheels of the correct size on your
vehicle.
•A wrong-sized wheel may
adversely affect:
Tire fit
Wheel and bearing life
Ground clearance
Snow-chain clearance
Speedometer calibration
Headlight aim
Bumper height
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Limited-Slip Differential System
•(With Tire Pressure Monitoring
System)

When replacing/repairing the
tires or wheels or both, have the
work done by an Authorized
Mazda Dealer, or the tire
pressure sensors may be
damaged.
The wheels equipped on your
Mazda are specially designed for
installation the tire pressure
sensors. Do not use non-genuine
wheels, otherwise it may not be
possible to install the tire
pressure sensors.
WARNING
CAUTION
NOTE
Be sure to install the tire pressure
sensors whenever tires or wheels are
replaced.(page 5-27)
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 26 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM