Black plate (285,1)
Tires
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.
WARNING
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.
Except for the limited use of the
temporary spare tire, use only the
same type tires (radial, bias-belted,
bias-type) on all four wheels.
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.
qTire Inflation Pressure
WARNING
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).
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System
í
does not alleviate the need to check the
tire condition every day, including
whether the tires all look inflated properly.
Inspect all tire pressure monthly
(including the spare) when the tires are
cold. Maintain recommended pressures
for the best ride, top handling, and
minimum tire wear.
When checking the tire pressures, use of a
digital tire pressure gauge is
recommended.
Refer to the specification charts (page
10-7).
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-37íSome models. Mazda3_8U55-EA-05G_Edition2 Page285
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Form No.8U55-EA-05G
Black plate (286,1)
NOTE
lAlways check tire pressure when
tires are cold.
lWarm tires normally exceed
recommended pressures. Don't
release air from warm tires to adjust
the pressure.
lUnderinflation can cause reduced
fuel economy, uneven and
accelerated tire wear, and poor
sealing of the tire bead, which will
deform the wheel and cause
separation of tire from rim.
lOverinflation can produce a harsh
ride, uneven and accelerated tire
wear, 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.
qTire Rotation
To equalize tread wear, rotate the tires
every 12,000 km (7,500 miles)/8,000
km
*(5,000 miles) or sooner if irregular
wear develops. During rotation, inspect
them for correct balance.
* Unique driving conditions for U.S.A.,
Canada and Puerto Rico
Do not include (TEMPORARY USE ONLY)
spare tire in rotation.Forward
Also, inspect them for uneven wear and
damage. Abnormal wear is usually caused
by one or a combination of the following:
lIncorrect tire pressure
lImproper wheel alignment
lOut-of-balance wheel
lSevere braking
After rotation, inflate all tire pressures to
specification (page 10-7) and inspect the
lug nuts for tightness.
CAUTION
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.
8-38
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Mazda3_8U55-EA-05G_Edition2 Page286
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Form No.8U55-EA-05G
Black plate (287,1)
qReplacing a Tire
WARNING
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
(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)
lWhen tires with steel wire
reinforcement in the sidewalls are
used, the system may not function
correctly even with a genuine wheel.
Refer to System Error Activation on
page 5-25.
lBe sure to install the tire pressure
sensors whenever tires or wheels are
replaced.
Refer to Tires and Wheels on page
5-25.If a tire wears evenly, a wear indicator
will appear as a solid band across the
tread.
Replace the tire when this happens.
New treadTread wear indicator
Worn tread
You should replace it before the band is
across the entire tread.
NOTE
Tires degrade over time, even when
they are not being used on the road. It is
recommended that tires generally be
replaced when they are 6 years or older.
Heat caused by hot climates or frequent
high loading conditions can accelerate
the aging process. You should replace
the spare tire when you replace the
other road tires due to the aging of the
spare tire. Regarding the manufacturing
week and year is indicated with 4 digit.
Refer to The tire labeling on page 9-21.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-39
Mazda3_8U55-EA-05G_Edition2 Page287
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Form No.8U55-EA-05G
Black plate (288,1)
qTemporary Spare Tire
Inspect the temporary spare tire at least
monthly to make sure it's properly inflated
and stored.
NOTE
The temporary spare tire condition
gradually deteriorates even if it has not
been used.
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
2or bar, 60 psi).
CAUTION
lDon'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.
lThe temporary spare tire has a tread
life of less than 5,000 km (3,000
miles). The tread life may be shorter
depending on driving conditions.
lThe 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 8-39).
NOTE
Tires degrade over time, even when
they are not being used on the road. It is
recommended that tires generally be
replaced when they are 6 years or older.
Heat caused by hot climates or frequent
high loading conditions can accelerate
the aging process. You should replace
the spare tire when you replace the
other road tires due to the aging of the
spare tire. Regarding the manufacturing
week and year is indicated with 4 digit.
Refer to The tire labeling on page 9-21.
qReplacing a Wheel
WARNING
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.
8-40
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Mazda3_8U55-EA-05G_Edition2 Page288
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Form No.8U55-EA-05G
Black plate (344,1)
Tire Maintenance
Improper or inadequate vehicle maintenance can cause tires to wear abnormally. Here are
some important maintenance points:
qTire Inflation Pressure
Inspect all tire pressure monthly (including the spare) when the tires are cold. Maintain
recommended pressures for the best ride, top handling, and minimum tire wear. Use the
pressures specified on the vehicle tire information placard or tire label for optimum service.
qTire 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.
Forward
Inspect the tires for uneven wear and damage. Abnormal wear is usually caused by one or a
combination of the following:
lIncorrect tire pressure
lImproper wheel alignment
lOut-of-balance wheel
lSevere braking
After rotation, inflate all tire pressures to specification (page 10-7) and inspect the lug nuts
for tightness.
9-30
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
Mazda3_8U55-EA-05G_Edition2 Page344
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Form No.8U55-EA-05G
Black plate (371,1)
O
Odometer and Trip Meter .................. 5-29
Outside Mirrors ................................. 3-28
Overhead Lights ................................ 6-43
Overheating ....................................... 7-12
Overloading ...................................... 4-12
P
Paint Damage .................................... 8-59
Parking Brake ..................................... 5-5
Parking in an Emergency .................... 7-2
Power Door Locks .............................. 3-8
Power Steering .................................. 5-17
Fluid ........................................... 8-24
Power steering malfunction indicator
light ............................................ 5-17
Power Windows ................................ 3-16
Push-Starting ..................................... 7-18
R
Rear Door Child Safety Locks ............ 3-9
Rear Seat ............................................. 2-5
Rear Window Defroster .................... 5-54
Rear Window Washer ....................... 5-53
Rear Window Wiper .......................... 5-53
Rearview Mirror ................................ 3-30
Recreational Towing ......................... 7-22
Registering Your Vehicle in A Foreign
Country ............................................. 9-15
Rocking the Vehicle ............................ 4-9
S
Safety Defects, Reporting ................. 9-41
S
Seat Belt System
Automatic locking ...................... 2-11
Belt minder ................................. 2-20
Center-rear position .................... 2-16
Emergency locking .................... 2-11
Except center-rear position ......... 2-12
Extender ..................................... 2-18
Pregnant women ........................ 2-10
Pretensioner and load limiting .... 2-14
Seat belt precautions .................... 2-9
Warning light/beep ..................... 2-19
Seats
Front seat ...................................... 2-2
Rear seat ....................................... 2-5
Security System
Immobilizer system .................... 3-23
Theft-deterrent system ............... 3-26
Service Publications .......................... 9-43
Spare Tire and Tool Storage ................ 7-3
Specifications .................................... 10-4
Speedometer ...................................... 5-29
SRS Air Bags
How the Air Bags Work ............. 2-45
Supplemental restraint systems
precautions ................................. 2-38
Starting the Engine .............................. 5-3
Steering Wheel .................................. 3-28
Horn ........................................... 5-55
Storage Compartments ...................... 6-52
Cargo securing loops .................. 6-53
Cargo sub-compartment ............. 6-53
Center console ............................ 6-53
Flexible Floor Board .................. 6-54
Glove box ................................... 6-52
Sunshade ........................................... 3-22
Sunvisors .......................................... 6-42
Index
11-5
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Form No.8U55-EA-05G
Black plate (372,1)
T
Tachometer ........................................ 5-31
Temporary Spare Tire ....................... 8-40
Theft-Deterrent System ..................... 3-26
Tiedown
Hook .......................................... 7-20
Tire Information ................................ 9-21
Tire Pressure Monitoring System ...... 5-22
System error activation .............. 5-25
Tire pressure monitoring system
warning light .............................. 5-23
Tires and wheels ......................... 5-25
Tires
Inflation pressure ........................ 8-37
Replacement ............................... 8-39
Rotation ...................................... 8-38
Snow tires .................................. 4-10
Spare tire and tool storage ............ 7-3
Specifications ............................. 10-7
Flat Tire ........................................ 7-3
Tire chains .................................. 4-10
Uniform tire quality grading system
(UTQGS) ................................... 9-19
Tool ..................................................... 7-3
Towing
Description ................................. 7-19
Emergency towing ..................... 7-19
Recreational towing ................... 7-22
Trailer towing ............................. 4-13
Trailer Towing .................................. 4-13
Trip Meter ......................................... 5-29
Trunk Lid .......................................... 3-12
Trunk Light ....................................... 3-14
Turn and Lane-Change Signals ......... 5-49
V
Vanity Mirrors ................................... 6-42
Vehicle Information Labels ............... 10-2
W
Warning Lights ................................. 5-33
ABS ............................................ 5-35
Air bag system ........................... 5-38
Automatic transaxle ................... 5-40
Brake system .............................. 5-35
Charging system ......................... 5-36
Check engine .............................. 5-37
Door-ajar .................................... 5-39
Engine oil pressure ..................... 5-37
Front seat belt pretensioner
system ........................................ 5-38
Low fuel ..................................... 5-38
Low washer fluid level ............... 5-40
Seat belt ...................................... 5-38
Tire pressure monitoring
system ........................................ 5-40
Warranty ............................................ 9-12
Washer Fluid ..................................... 8-27
Weights ............................................. 10-5
Wheel Replacement .......................... 8-40
Windows
Power windows .......................... 3-16
Windshield Washer ........................... 5-52
Windshield Wipers ............................ 5-50
Blades replacement .................... 8-30
Winter Driving .................................... 4-9
11-6
Index
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Form No.8U55-EA-05G