2006 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 wheel

Black plate (288,1)
The Tire Pressure Monitoring Systemí
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 when the
tires are cold. Maintain recommended
pressures for the best ride, top handling,
and minimum tire wear.
Refer to the specification charts (page
10-6).
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 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 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
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.
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 10-6) and inspect the
lug nuts for tightness.
8-30
Maintenance and Care
íSome models.
Owner Maintenance
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Form No.8U35-EA-05F

Black plate (289,1)
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.
CAUTION
Limited-Slip Differential system;
don't use the following:
lTires not of the designated size
lTires of different sizes or types at the
same time
lTires 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.
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 5-29.
lBe sure to install the tire pressure
sensors whenever tires or wheels are
replaced. Refer to Tires and Wheels
on page 5-30.
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
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-31
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Form No.8U35-EA-05F

Black plate (290,1)
You should replace it before the band is
across the entire tread.
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.
CAUTION
lA wrong-sized wheel may adversely
affect:
lTire fitlWheel and bearing lifelGround clearancelSnow-chain clearancelSpeedometer calibrationlHeadlight aimlBumper heightlTire Pressure Monitoring SystemlLimited-Slip Differential System
l(With Tire Pressure Monitoring
System)
lWhen 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.
lThe wheels equipped on your
Mazda are specially designed for
installation of the tire pressure
sensors. Do not use non-genuine
wheels, otherwise it may not be
possible to install the tire pressure
sensors.
NOTE
Be sure to install the tire pressure
sensors whenever tires or wheels are
replaced. Refer to Tires and Wheels on
page 5-30.
When replacing a wheel, make sure the
new one is the same as the original factory
wheel in diameter, rim width, and offset.
8-32
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Form No.8U35-EA-05F

Black plate (294,1)
Low-beam bulbs
(Xenon fusion bulbs)
You cannot replace the low beam bulbs by
yourself.
The bulbs must be replaced at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
(Halogen bulbs)
1. If you are changing the right headlight
bulb, start the engine, turn the steering
wheel all the way to the left, and turn
off the engine. If you are changing the
left headlight bulb, turn the steering
wheel to the right.
2. Turn the screws counterclockwise and
remove them.
3. Turn the center section of the plastic
retainers counterclockwise and remove
them, then remove the mudguard.
Removal
Installation
4. Disconnect the electrical connector
from the bulb by pulling it to the rear.
5. Pull off the sealing cover.
6. Unhook the bulb retaining spring.
7. Swing the retaining spring out and
away to free the headlight bulb.
8. Carefully remove the socket and bulb
assembly by pulling it straight back.
8-36
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Form No.8U35-EA-05F

Black plate (295,1)
9. Remove the headlight bulb from the
socket.
10. Install the new socket and bulb
assembly in the reverse order of
removal.
NOTE
lUse the protective cover and carton
for the replacement bulb to dispose
of the old bulb promptly and out of
the reach of children.
lWhen reinstalling the sealing cover,
make sure
faces up.
Front fog light bulbsí
1. If you are changing the right Front fog
light bulb, start the engine, turn the
steering wheel all the way to the left,
and turn off the engine. If you are
changing the left Front fog light bulb,
turn the steering wheel to the right.2. Turn the screws counterclockwise and
remove them.
3. Turn the center section of the plastic
retainers counterclockwise and remove
them, then remove the mudguard.
Removal
Installation
4. Turn the socket and bulb assembly
counterclockwise, and carefully pull it
backward.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-37íSome models. MX-5_8U35-EA-05F_Edition1 Page295
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Form No.8U35-EA-05F

Black plate (296,1)
5. Disconnect the socket and bulb
assembly from the electrical connector
by pressing the tab on the connector
with your finger and pulling it.
6. Install the new socket and bulb
assembly in the reverse order of
removal.
Front turn signal lights
1. If you are changing the right front turn
signal light bulb, start the engine, turn
the steering wheel all the way to the
left, and turn off the engine. If you are
changing the left front turn signal light
bulb, turn the steering wheel to the
right.
2. Turn the screws counterclockwise and
remove them.
3. Turn the center section of the plastic
retainers counterclockwise and remove
them, then remove the mudguard.
Removal
Installation
4. Turn the socket and bulb assembly
counterclockwise and remove it.
5. Disconnect the bulb from the socket.
6. Install the new bulb in the reverse order
of removal.
Parking lights
1. Turn the socket and bulb assembly
counterclockwise and remove it.
8-38
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Form No.8U35-EA-05F

Black plate (308,1)
CAUTION
Don't use steel wool, abrasive cleaners,
or strong detergents containing highly
alkaline or caustic agents on chrome-
plated or anodized aluminum parts.
This may result in damage to the
protective coating and cause
discoloration or paint deterioration.
qUnderbody Maintenance
Road chemicals and salt used for ice and
snow removal and solvents used for dust
control may collect on the underbody. If
not removed, they will speed up rusting
and deterioration of such underbody parts
as fuel lines, frame, floor pan, and exhaust
system, even though these parts may be
coated with anti-corrosive material.
Thoroughly flush the underbody and
wheel housings with lukewarm or cold
water at the end of each winter. Try also
to do this every month.
Pay special attention to these areas
because they easily hide mud and dirt.It
will do more harm than good to wet
down the road grime without removing
it.
The lower edges of doors, rocker panels,
and frame members have drain holes that
should not be clogged. Water trapped
there will cause rusting.
WARNING
Driving with Wet Brakes:
Driving with wet brakes is dangerous.
Increased stopping distance or the
vehicle pulling to one side when
braking could result in a serious
accident. Light braking will indicate
whether the brakes have been affected.
Dry the brakes by driving very slowly
and applying the brakes lightly until
brake performance is normal.
qAluminum Wheel Maintenance
A protective coating is provided over the
aluminum wheels. Special care is needed
to protect this coating.
NOTE
lDon't use a wire brush or any
abrasive cleaner, polishing
compound, or solvent on aluminum
wheels. They may damage the
coating.
lOnly use a mild soap or neutral
detergent and always use a sponge or
soft cloth to clean the wheels.
Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm or
cold water. Also, be sure to clean the
wheels after driving on dusty or
salted roads. This helps prevent
corrosion.
lAvoid washing your vehicle in an
automatic car wash that uses high-
speed or hard brushes.
lIf your aluminum wheels lose luster,
wax the wheels.
8-50
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
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Form No.8U35-EA-05F

Black plate (328,1)
Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS)
This information relates to the tire grading system developed by the U.S. National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration for grading tires by tread wear, traction, and
temperature performance.
qTread Wear
The tread wear 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-a-half 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 because of variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road characteristics and climate.
qTraction-AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. These 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.
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on braking (straight ahead) traction
tests and does not include acceleration cornering (turning), hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.
qTemperature-A, B, C
The temperature grades A (the highest), B, and C, represent 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 temperatures can lead to sudden tire failure.
Grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger vehicle 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.
9-16
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS)
MX-5_8U35-EA-05F_Edition1 Page328
Monday, April 18 2005 4:20 PM
Form No.8U35-EA-05F