2005 MAZDA MODEL TRIBUTE spare tire

5. Use the lug wrench to remove
the lug nut from the spare tire
tether.
6. If not replacing the spare or flat
tire to the underbody storage
area, raise winch up into the
installed position.
7. Use the attached Velcro strap
(2) to tie the tether end to the
winch actuator shaft (if
equipped).
Changing the flat tire
8. Loosen each wheel lug nut
one-half turn counterclockwise
but do not remove them until
the wheel is raised off the
ground.
REVIEW COPY
2005 Mazda Tribute(j14), Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)(own2002),
Market:USA_English(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
131

9. Lower the jack from its stored
height to fit under the jacking
notches. Position the jack
according to the following
guides and turn the jack handle
clockwise until the tire is a
maximum of 1 inch (25 mm) off
the ground.
Never use the differentials as a
jacking point.
WARNING: To lessen the risk
of personal injury, do not put
any part of your body under
the vehicle while changing a
tire. Do not start the engine
when your vehicle is on the
jack. The jack is only meant
for changing the tire.
10. Remove the lug nuts with the lug nut wrench.
11. Replace the flat tire with the spare tire, making sure the valve stem
is facing outward. Reinstall lug nuts until the wheel is snug against
the hub. Do not fully tighten the lug nuts until the wheel has been
lowered.
12. Lower the wheel by turning the jack handle counterclockwise.
13. Remove the jack and fully
tighten the lug nuts in the order
shown. Refer toWheel lug nut
torque specificationslater in
this chapter for the proper lug
nut torque specification.
1
4 3
2 5
REVIEW COPY
2005 Mazda Tribute(j14), Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)(own2002),
Market:USA_English(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
133

14. Reinstall the jack and tools in
the cargo area. To replace jack
in vehicle, guide the jack bottom
first in trim opening and
position in bracket, secure
retention clip on upper part of
jack and close thumbscrew.
Make sure the jack is fastened
so it does not rattle when you
drive.
Stowing the flat/spare tire
Note:Failure to follow spare tire stowage instructions may result in
failure of cable or loss of spare tire.
If you are stowing a tire that requires reattaching it to the
vehicle with a tether, perform these steps first, then proceed with
the steps following.
1. Place tire on end with valve
stem facing rearward, away
from vehicle.
2. Place tether into bolt holes in
wheel and attach lug nut using
lug wrench.
3. Lay the tire on the ground with the valve stem facing down. If your
vehicle is equipped with aluminum wheels, remove the wheel center
cap.
4. Slide the wheel partially under the vehicle and install the retainer
through the center of the wheel.
REVIEW COPY
2005 Mazda Tribute(j14), Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)(own2002),
Market:USA_English(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
134

5. Turn the jack handle clockwise until the tire is raised to its original
position underneath the vehicle. The effort to turn the jack handle
increases significantly as the tire contacts the frame. The spare tire
carrier will ratchet when the tire is in the fully stowed position. The
spare tire carrier has a built-in ratchet feature that will not allow you
to overtighten. If the spare tire carrier ratchets with very little effort,
take the vehicle to your authorized Mazda dealer for assistance at
your earliest convenience. If your vehicle is equipped with a trailer
hitch, guide the tire with one hand; keep the rear of the tire tilted
down until the tire clears the bumper.
6. Check that the tire lies flat against the frame assembly. Push against
the tire to make sure it is tightly seated under the vehicle. Loosen
and retighten, if necessary. (Make sure that the tire does not contact
the bumper.)
WARNING: Failure to stow the spare tire may result in the
failure of the winch cable and the loss of the spare tire. A loose
tire on the highway is a very dangerous object to other people
on the road. Check to be sure the tire is firmly mounted; go to a
dealer to have it re-mounted if you have any doubt about spare
tire security.
7. Repeat this tightness check procedure when servicing the spare tire
pressure (every six months), or at any time that the spare tire is
disturbed through service of other components.
WHEEL LUG NUT TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
Retighten the lug nuts to the specified torque at 500 miles (800 km)
after any wheel disturbance (tire rotation, changing a flat tire, wheel
removal, etc.).
Bolt size Wheel lug nut torque*
lb.ft. N•m
M12 x 1.5 100 135
* Torque specifications are for nut and bolt threads free of dirt and
rust. Use only Mazda recommended replacement fasteners.
REVIEW COPY
2005 Mazda Tribute(j14), Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)(own2002),
Market:USA_English(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
135

TIRE CARE
Improper or inadequate vehicle maintenance can also cause tires to wear
abnormally. Here are some of the important maintenance items:
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
1/16th of an inch (2 mm), 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
the tread is worn down to 1/16th of
an inch (2 mm). When the tire tread
wears down to the same height as
these“wear bars”, the tire is worn
out and should be replaced.
Inspect your tires frequently for any
of the following conditions and
replace them if one or more of the
following conditions exist:
•Fabric showing through the tire
rubber
•Bulges in the tread or sidewalls
•Cracks or cuts on the sidewalls
•Cracks in the tread groove
•Impact damage resulting from use
•Separation in the tread
•Separation in the sidewall
•Severe abrasion on the sidewall
If your vehicle has a leak in the exhaust system, a road tire or the spare
tire may be exposed to hot exhaust temperatures requiring the tire to be
replaced.
REVIEW COPY
2005 Mazda Tribute(j14), Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)(own2002),
Market:USA_English(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
141

Safety practices
Driving habits have a great deal to do with your tire mileage and safety.
•Observe posted speed limits
•Avoid fast starts, stops and turns
•Avoid potholes and objects on the road
•Do not run over curbs or hit the tire against a curb when parking
WARNING: If your vehicle is stuck in snow, mud, sand, etc., do
not rapidly spin the tires; spinning the tires can tear the tire
and cause an explosion. A tire can explode in as little as three
to five seconds.
WARNING: Never spin the tires in excess of the 35 mph (55
km/h) point indicated on the speedometer.
Highway hazards
No matter how carefully you drive there’s always the possibility that you
may eventually have a flat tire on the highway. Drive slowly to the
closest safe area out of traffic. This may further damage the flat tire, but
your safety is more important.
If you feel a sudden vibration or ride disturbance while driving, or you
suspect your tire or vehicle has been damaged, immediately reduce your
speed. Drive with caution until you can safely pull off the road. Stop and
inspect the tires for damage. If a tire is under-inflated or damaged,
deflate it, remove wheel and replace it with your spare tire and wheel. If
you cannot detect a cause, have the vehicle towed to the nearest repair
facility or tire dealer to have the vehicle inspected.
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 cause 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
Mazda dealer check the wheel alignment periodically.
REVIEW COPY
2005 Mazda Tribute(j14), Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)(own2002),
Market:USA_English(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
142

•Rear Wheel Drive (RWD)
vehicles/Four Wheel Drive
(4WD)/All Wheel Drive (AWD)
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
Mazda dealership to check for and correct any wheel misalignment, tire
imbalance or mechanical problem involved before tire rotation.
Note:Your vehicle may be equipped with a dissimilar spare tire/wheel. A
dissimilar spare tire/wheel is defined as a spare tire and/or wheel that is
different in brand, size or appearance from the road tires and wheels. If
you have a dissimilar spare tire/wheel it is intended for temporary use
only and should not be used in a tire rotation.
Note:After having your tires rotated, inflation pressure must be checked
and adjusted to the vehicle requirements.
USING SNOW TIRES AND TRACTION DEVICES
NOTE:Snow tires must be the same size and grade as the tires you
currently have on your vehicle.
The tires on your vehicle have all-weather treads to provide traction in
rain and snow. However, in some climates, using snow tires and traction
devices may be necessary. If you need to use snow tires and chains, it is
recommended that steel wheels are used of the same size and
specification as those originally installed.
REVIEW COPY
2005 Mazda Tribute(j14), Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)(own2002),
Market:USA_English(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
144

Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ........................78, 81–86
Safety Canopy ...........................102
Safety defects, reporting ..........209
Safety restraints ..............78, 81–86
belt minder ...............................88
extension assembly ..................87
for adults .............................82–85
for children .....................107–108
Occupant Classification
Sensor ........................................79
safety belt maintenance ...........92
warning light and chime ..........88
Safety seats for children ..........111
Seat belts (see Safety
restraints) ....................................78
Seats ............................................70
child safety seats ....................111
heated ........................................73
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ..........................................65
Servicing your vehicle ..............221
Setting the clock
AM/FM single CD .....................22
AM/FM/In-dash 6 CD ................26
Side-curtain air bags system
(if equipped) .....................104–105
Snowplowing .................................7
Spark plugs, specifications .......256
Special notice
ambulance conversions ..............7
Specification chart,
lubricants ...................................255
Speed control ..............................51
Starting your vehicle ........158–160
jump starting ..........................191Steering wheel
tilting .........................................45
T
Tilt steering wheel ......................45
Tires ...................................121–122
alignment ................................142
care ..........................................141
changing ..................................128
checking the pressure ............124
inspecting and inflating .........123
label .........................................140
replacing ..................................126
rotating ....................................143
safety practices .......................142
sidewall information ...............136
snow tires and chains ............144
spare tire .........................126–127
terminology .............................123
tire grades ...............................122
treadwear ........................122, 141
Towing .......................................152
recreational towing .................157
trailer towing ..........................152
wrecker ....................................197
Transaxle
fluid, checking and adding
(manual) .................................251
manual operation ....................172
Transmission
automatic operation ...............167
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....167
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................249
fluid, refill capacities ..............253
Turn signal ..................................37
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................256
REVIEW COPY
2005 Mazda Tribute(j14), Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)(own2002),
Market:USA_English(fus)
Index
264